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276 ratings | 63 reviews | avg rating:3.91

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Marta McDowell

Goodreads Author

Born

in Palo Alto, California, The United States

Website

http://www.martamcdowell.com

Twitter

martamcdowell

Genre

Gardening, Biography, History

Member Since

February 2013

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I live, garden and write in Chatham, New Jersey where I share my garden with my husband, Kirke, assorted wildlife and approximately 10,000 honey bees. You will often find me at the New York Botanical Garden, where I teach landscape history and gardening courses. My new book, All the Presidents' Gardens, is coming out from Timber Press in October 2016. (I'm excited!) When I'm not gardening I like to read and knit and cook and eat, though not all at the same time.

My husband, Kirke, summarizes my biography as “I am therefore I dig.” ...more

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Marta McDowell’s books

Average rating: 4.09 · 5,280 ratings · 1,117 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales 4.25 avg rating — 1,637 ratings — published 2013 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes that Inspired the Little House Books 4.04 avg rating — 1,291 ratings — published 2017	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet 4.21 avg rating — 665 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unearthing The Secret Garden: The Plants and Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.22 avg rating — 536 ratings — published 2021 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gardening Can Be Murder 3.46 avg rating — 625 ratings — published 2023 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	All the Presidents' Gardens: Madison’s Cabbages to Kennedy’s Roses―How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America 4.07 avg rating — 365 ratings — published 2016 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Emily Dickinson's Gardens: A Celebration of a Poet and Gardener 4.02 avg rating — 58 ratings — published 2004 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Beatrix Potter’s Botanical: The Art of Flowers and Fungi 4.55 avg rating — 29 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Healing Plants: From Elizabeth Blackwell's A Curious Herbal 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder Lib/E: The Frontier Landscapes That Inspired the Little House Books by Marta McDowell (Goodreads Author), Donna Postel (Reader) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Marta McDowell…

Marta is Currently Reading

Marta McDowell is currently reading

The Calamity Club

by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 01, 2026 03:07AM

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Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern (The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts Book 74)

by Mary Beard

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Jul 17, 2026 06:31PM

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Exiles (Aaron Falk, #3)

by Jane Harper (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 05, 2026 06:06PM

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Marta’s Recent Updates

Marta McDowell is currently reading The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 01, 2026 03:07AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern (The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts Book 74) by Mary Beard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 17, 2026 06:31PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Twelve Caesars by Mary Beard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Twelve Caesars by Mary Beard <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading Exiles (Aaron Falk, #3) by Jane Harper (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 05, 2026 06:06PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Exiles by Jane Harper. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Exiles by Jane Harper <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading L. Frank Baum: Creator of Oz: A Biography by Katharine M. Rogers	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 29, 2026 05:28AM · like
Marta McDowell is currently reading Writers & Lovers by Lily King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 25, 2026 01:27PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Writers & Lovers by Lily King. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Writers & Lovers by Lily King <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell rated a book it was amazing The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 25, 2026 01:25PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell rated a book really liked it The Golden Tresses of the Dead (Flavia de Luce, #10) by Alan Bradley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An interesting botanical twist.
Jun 06, 2026 06:38PM · like · see review
Marta McDowell is currently reading Death in Brittany (Commissaire Dupin, #1) by Jean-Luc Bannalec	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 26, 2026 06:06PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell rated a book really liked it Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 01:50PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Theo of Golden by Allen Levi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell rated a book really liked it The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 13, 2026 03:18AM · 3 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Marta McDowell (?)

“I am intrigued by writers who garden and gardeners who write. The pen and the trowel are not interchangeable, but seem often linked.”
― Marta McDowell

tags: gardening

13 likes

“Spring is that wonderful if somewhat delusional time for a gardener when the sap rises and everything seems possible.”
― Marta McDowell, Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales

tags: gardening

3 likes

“Since the late 1840s settlers used close-planted Osage orange trees along the borders of their farms, creating, as the thorny wood filled in over some years of trimming, a living fence “horse-high, bull-strong and hog-tight.” It was barbed wire in the days before barbed wire was invented.”
― Marta McDowell, The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes that Inspired the Little House Books

1 likes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
EVERYONE Has Read...: EHRTBM Winter Olympic Games 1/11-2/24	925	767	Feb 27, 2018 09:07AM
The Seasonal Read...: Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	2368	514	Feb 28, 2018 09:03PM
LOTSA SPELL CHALL...: BOLO #2: Vehicle on the Cover (06.29.19 - 07.12.19)	30	17	Jul 12, 2019 07:04PM
Crazy Challenge C...: August 2019 Reading Recap	15	16	Sep 05, 2019 07:46PM
The Seasonal Read...: * Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	3595	381	Feb 29, 2020 09:00PM
The Seasonal Read...: 20.5 - BIGGER IS BETTER – Bea's task: Spring Hobbies (Gardening and Birds)	97	92	May 25, 2020 07:44AM
The Seasonal Read...: * Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	3410	313	May 31, 2020 09:01PM
The Seasonal Read...: * Summer Challenge 2020: Tasks	14	609	Jul 15, 2020 06:06AM

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Marta’s Quotes

“When I got [my] library card, that was when my life began.”
― Rita Mae Brown

tags: libraries, reading

486 likes

“I am intrigued by writers who garden and gardeners who write. The pen and the trowel are not interchangeable, but seem often linked.”
― Marta McDowell

tags: gardening

13 likes

“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.”
― Carl Reiner

tags: cold, freezing, snow, weather, winter

257 likes

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”
― Elizabeth Lawrence, Through the Garden Gate

tags: childhood

24 likes

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Marta’s Year In Books

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