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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: 4.08 · 4,976 ratings · 1,052 reviews · 16 distinct works • Similar authors

	Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales 4.25 avg rating — 1,569 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 4.03 avg rating — 1,251 ratings — published 2017 — 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
	Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet 4.21 avg rating — 628 ratings — published 2019 — 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
	Unearthing The Secret Garden: The Plants and Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.22 avg rating — 493 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 3.47 avg rating — 559 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 4.06 avg rating — 352 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 — 55 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
	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) 3.67 avg rating — 3 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
	Healing Plants: From Elizabeth Blackwell's A Curious Herbal it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 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
	Looking for Peter Rabbit: Miss Potter And Her Botanic Garden 4.50 avg rating — 2 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

Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient World

by Mary Beard

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The Director

by Daniel Kehlmann

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The Hummingbird

by Sandro Veronesi

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Dec 05, 2025 07:27PM

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Marta McDowell is currently reading Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient World 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
32 minutes ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Emperor of Rome by Mary Beard. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Emperor of Rome by Mary Beard <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading The Director by Daniel Kehlmann	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
1 hour, 37 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Director by Daniel Kehlmann. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Director by Daniel Kehlmann <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi	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
Dec 05, 2025 07:27PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1) by Kevin Kwan (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
Nov 25, 2025 01:52AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading Green Grow the Dollars: An Emma Lathen by Emma Lathen	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
Nov 21, 2025 06:12PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Green Grow the Dollars by Emma Lathen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Green Grow the Dollars by Emma Lathen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading Flesh by David Szalay	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
Nov 21, 2025 02:28AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Flesh by David Szalay. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Flesh by David Szalay <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading Awakenings by Oliver Sacks	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
Nov 14, 2025 07:10PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Awakenings by Oliver Sacks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Awakenings by Oliver Sacks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading The Bee Sting by Paul Murray	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
Nov 12, 2025 10:42AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Bee Sting by Paul Murray <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell is currently reading The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old by Hendrik Groen	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
Nov 09, 2025 06:36PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old by Hendrik Groen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old by Hendrik Groen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Marta McDowell finished reading The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club, #5) by Richard Osman Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	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
Nov 09, 2025 03:56AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman <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

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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	507	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	376	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	310	May 31, 2020 09:01PM
The Seasonal Read...: * Summer Challenge 2020: Tasks	14	607	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

255 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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