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Into the Garden with Charles: A Memoir
Set in the tiny village of Orient, Long Island, and in New York City, Into the Garden with Charles is a memoir about falling in love. As a boy in suburban New York in 1940s, Clyde Wachsberger daydreams about storybook gardens where magic happens under the huge leaves. Through the 1960s and 1970s, when most gay men disdained monogamy, the author—an artist and set-designer in New York City—searches unsuccessfully for a soul mate. In 1983, approaching middle-age and having given up on finding love, he moves to a three-hundred-year-old house on a third of an acre, where he channels his passion into creating a garden appropriate to his historical home. Then remarkable circumstances lead him to Charles—a connoisseur of art, a gardener, and the man who will become his life-partner. Together they create a garden of sensuous wild beauty.
Into the Garden with Charles is infused with the author's artistic sensibility and is written in a voice that is unaffected, generous, and straightforward. Enriched with the author's paintings—giving it the look and feel of an antique children's book—Into the Garden with Charles is a unique and moving memoir about growing old and falling in love.
Into the Garden with Charles is infused with the author's artistic sensibility and is written in a voice that is unaffected, generous, and straightforward. Enriched with the author's paintings—giving it the look and feel of an antique children's book—Into the Garden with Charles is a unique and moving memoir about growing old and falling in love.
213 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2012
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88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 21, 2013
Those of you who know me fairly well know that I'm the original cynic. So, going into this book I kept thinking "Oh, God, the garden as metaphor for life, love and a relationship. Sheesh!" Also, I never cry. I may say that I sobbed like a little girl during poignant passages of books, but *spoiler* I don't.
Until I had finished this book. I managed to hold out through the end of this memoir until I got to the copyright........the frigging copyright, and realized that it was held by Charles Dean, and not by Clyde "Skip" Wachsberger. That meant that Skip had died from his metastasized cancer. I broke down, went back and re-read the last couple of chapters literally through a veil of tears.
This is not to say that this is a sad book. This is possibly the most life-affirming book I've read recently. In fact, if this were written as fiction it would be unbelievable. Skip's sister just happens to be friends with Peggy Guggenheim's grand-niece, Iris. Who then proceeds to become his personal Auntie Mame. Uh, huh. Or, how about the fact that Skip sees Charles' personal ad after a series of publishing accidents that literally defy belief. But it's all true; and so goddam romantic.
From time to time I got a tad tired of hearing about cuttings and graftings and the like. Every time that happened, though, it was followed by a story that involved dining next to Kitty Carlisle Hart at the Carlyle (where Charles, of course, is best buds with Bobby Short.) See what I mean about never believing it if it were written as an invented story?
Then you get to the parts about Charles' American abstract expressionist art print collection being featured first in Architectural Digest, then acquired by the Library of Congress. Believable, I think not......if it hadn't actually happened.
Or Skip's (gorgeous, and so friggin' colorful) paintings of family and, of course, the garden, being eventually reviewed by Art in America after starting as a small hometown exhibition.
This is an incredible love story. But be aware, it isn't for anyone looking for action, overt sex, or anything beyond what two people can achieve together in making a long life together.
And their dog, Rover (I kid you not, that's the damn dog's name!), their bloody dog turns out to be a TV star on Animal Planet.
This book is "just" two men blessed by finding the other; and exactly what their really sweet story can do to inspire outsized happy feelings in the reader.
Until I had finished this book. I managed to hold out through the end of this memoir until I got to the copyright........the frigging copyright, and realized that it was held by Charles Dean, and not by Clyde "Skip" Wachsberger. That meant that Skip had died from his metastasized cancer. I broke down, went back and re-read the last couple of chapters literally through a veil of tears.
This is not to say that this is a sad book. This is possibly the most life-affirming book I've read recently. In fact, if this were written as fiction it would be unbelievable. Skip's sister just happens to be friends with Peggy Guggenheim's grand-niece, Iris. Who then proceeds to become his personal Auntie Mame. Uh, huh. Or, how about the fact that Skip sees Charles' personal ad after a series of publishing accidents that literally defy belief. But it's all true; and so goddam romantic.
From time to time I got a tad tired of hearing about cuttings and graftings and the like. Every time that happened, though, it was followed by a story that involved dining next to Kitty Carlisle Hart at the Carlyle (where Charles, of course, is best buds with Bobby Short.) See what I mean about never believing it if it were written as an invented story?
Then you get to the parts about Charles' American abstract expressionist art print collection being featured first in Architectural Digest, then acquired by the Library of Congress. Believable, I think not......if it hadn't actually happened.
Or Skip's (gorgeous, and so friggin' colorful) paintings of family and, of course, the garden, being eventually reviewed by Art in America after starting as a small hometown exhibition.
This is an incredible love story. But be aware, it isn't for anyone looking for action, overt sex, or anything beyond what two people can achieve together in making a long life together.
And their dog, Rover (I kid you not, that's the damn dog's name!), their bloody dog turns out to be a TV star on Animal Planet.
This book is "just" two men blessed by finding the other; and exactly what their really sweet story can do to inspire outsized happy feelings in the reader.
April 11, 2020
How do I even begin to describe the many ways this memoir touched me – I read this in one five hour sitting. There are no over the top, attention-grabbing headlines or plot devices. No one is murdered or attacked. There’s not a porn actor in sight and if there’s any emotional traumatic suffering and pain – Wachsberger does not let on. It’s just a tale of a middle-aged ex-painter/artist who finds himself the owner of a 300 year old dilapidated saltbox house with a neglected half-acre garden in Orient (Long Island). Skipper’s (as Clyde is known) clear delight and joy in the hours spent planning and clearing that garden literally leaps off the pages. I was quite taken by his search for plants, exotic and visually captivating varieties, from catalogues, cuttings, other people’s gardens etc.
From a quarter-way through the book, a secondary theme emerges – that of Skipper’s quiet longing for a ‘special other’ to share his garden and home with. Having skirted the sexual excesses of the ‘60s and ‘70s, avoided the ravaging epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s … Skipper is resigned to ending his life alone surrounded by the beauty of his plants and trees, his fondness for art and beautiful objects, and of course his other great love – opera. But an amazing coincidental event brings along middle aged New Yorker (maître d’ at the Carlyle Hotel) – Charles Dean, who apart from being a great art collector / connoisseur is also a fellow gardener and plant lover – how truly sweet and wonderful! From their first meeting, and then through shared gardening experiences, the inevitable meeting of each other’s extended family members and lifelong friends, learning to make space for ‘the other’ in two established homes (Orient and New York) … readers get to experience the many many bonding ties that serve to make theirs a strong and loving partnership.
Wachsberger is quite brave sharing so much of his family back history and childhood experiences as well – they serve to highlight what shaped him into the person he became as an adult … his anxiety-gripped mother, his dashing older sister Freddie who instilled and shares Skipper’s passion for art, beautiful things and unusual objects , Skipper’s long standing friendship with Metropolitan Opera’s Martile Rowland. Local characters and neighbours from Orient also make their notable appearances within these pages – coming alive within that quaintly beautiful township setting that is Orient. I had very moist moments when Skipper and Charles each have interactions with their mothers who are nearing the end of their lives. I was crushed with the health news given to our two love-birds towards the second half of the book – a dark shadow that overcast the remainder of the book and yet, does not overwhelm the joy of life, living, planting and growing as exuded by Wachsberger’s writing. To balance things, there are many humorous moments and asides e.g.
“I wrote a long novel about unrequited gay love, called All During Never. I had in mind a hybrid cross: (Gone With the Wind x Now, Voyager) x Auntie Mame. It was romantic and not at all graphic, and it never got published.”
There are many opera references in these pages to entertain the buffs and enthusiasts. For plant lovers – be prepared to be seduced by stunning cultivars of magnolias, peonies, echiums, coleus, old world roses (yes Emilie – Mme Alfred Carriere, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Mme Isaac Perriere all make their appearances as does Josephine Bonaparte herself!). We meet rare delicate plants that fail to thrive, dastardly acts of plant thievery, the horrors of invasive planted cultivars, the dreaded results of marauding animal plant eaters and the hysterical attempts at keeping exotic plants alive through the dark and bitter wintry months. Art enthusiasts will also be pleased to discover Charles’ own notable collection and showing of abstract expressionist prints from the middle decades of the previous century. Finally – how can anyone resist the charm of Charles calling Skipper “honeybun” all through the book – awwww.
The life-stories within this book are shared by a non-remarkable gentleman, who in the telling, becomes a truly remarkable person for me. Several of Wachsberger’s delightful watercolours are scattered thoughout serving as illustrations for the book. The following link provides some pics of Skipper and Charles’ garden at Adsworthy House in Orient: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/... (although I’m scared to think what may have happened to the Orient house and garden post-hurricane Sandy). Come what may - the garden that Skipper and Charles enjoyed together will live on forever in the pages of this memoir.
From a quarter-way through the book, a secondary theme emerges – that of Skipper’s quiet longing for a ‘special other’ to share his garden and home with. Having skirted the sexual excesses of the ‘60s and ‘70s, avoided the ravaging epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s … Skipper is resigned to ending his life alone surrounded by the beauty of his plants and trees, his fondness for art and beautiful objects, and of course his other great love – opera. But an amazing coincidental event brings along middle aged New Yorker (maître d’ at the Carlyle Hotel) – Charles Dean, who apart from being a great art collector / connoisseur is also a fellow gardener and plant lover – how truly sweet and wonderful! From their first meeting, and then through shared gardening experiences, the inevitable meeting of each other’s extended family members and lifelong friends, learning to make space for ‘the other’ in two established homes (Orient and New York) … readers get to experience the many many bonding ties that serve to make theirs a strong and loving partnership.
Wachsberger is quite brave sharing so much of his family back history and childhood experiences as well – they serve to highlight what shaped him into the person he became as an adult … his anxiety-gripped mother, his dashing older sister Freddie who instilled and shares Skipper’s passion for art, beautiful things and unusual objects , Skipper’s long standing friendship with Metropolitan Opera’s Martile Rowland. Local characters and neighbours from Orient also make their notable appearances within these pages – coming alive within that quaintly beautiful township setting that is Orient. I had very moist moments when Skipper and Charles each have interactions with their mothers who are nearing the end of their lives. I was crushed with the health news given to our two love-birds towards the second half of the book – a dark shadow that overcast the remainder of the book and yet, does not overwhelm the joy of life, living, planting and growing as exuded by Wachsberger’s writing. To balance things, there are many humorous moments and asides e.g.
“I wrote a long novel about unrequited gay love, called All During Never. I had in mind a hybrid cross: (Gone With the Wind x Now, Voyager) x Auntie Mame. It was romantic and not at all graphic, and it never got published.”
There are many opera references in these pages to entertain the buffs and enthusiasts. For plant lovers – be prepared to be seduced by stunning cultivars of magnolias, peonies, echiums, coleus, old world roses (yes Emilie – Mme Alfred Carriere, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Mme Isaac Perriere all make their appearances as does Josephine Bonaparte herself!). We meet rare delicate plants that fail to thrive, dastardly acts of plant thievery, the horrors of invasive planted cultivars, the dreaded results of marauding animal plant eaters and the hysterical attempts at keeping exotic plants alive through the dark and bitter wintry months. Art enthusiasts will also be pleased to discover Charles’ own notable collection and showing of abstract expressionist prints from the middle decades of the previous century. Finally – how can anyone resist the charm of Charles calling Skipper “honeybun” all through the book – awwww.
The life-stories within this book are shared by a non-remarkable gentleman, who in the telling, becomes a truly remarkable person for me. Several of Wachsberger’s delightful watercolours are scattered thoughout serving as illustrations for the book. The following link provides some pics of Skipper and Charles’ garden at Adsworthy House in Orient: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/... (although I’m scared to think what may have happened to the Orient house and garden post-hurricane Sandy). Come what may - the garden that Skipper and Charles enjoyed together will live on forever in the pages of this memoir.
June 18, 2012
Beautifully written memoir by a guy who finds the love of his life (Charles) in his early 50s. Together they grow a garden in Orient, Long Island. Lots of reflection and plants (and a dog or two), all of which makes for a very touching read.
June 4, 2012
It’s been a long time since I held in my hands a book that transported me back to the magic of early reading. Everything about Into the Garden with Charles – its evocative title; its cover illustration of crimsom hollyhocks and the dozen other water color illustrations on glossy white pages; the simply-told story of a shy, lonely man who late in life finds the romance he has dreamed of – beguiled me in the way of childhood classics such as The Secret Garden. I didn’t want to put it down and when it ended, I wanted to start at the beginning again. Although I succumbed to this book like a girl, the adult part of me wondered: How in this age of irony had this gay middle-aged New Yorker managed to skate so close to cliché and sentimentality and yet write a memoir that reads like the most romantic of love letters?
for my full review go to www.theartsfuse.com
for my full review go to www.theartsfuse.com
September 12, 2011
I enjoyed this book very much. Lent to me by Bill McClintock, a personal friend, I delayed in reading it until he asked me to return it. I finished it in a few days and felt I should mark down some of the remarkable plants mentioned in the book to consider putting into my garden--not nearly what the author's garden must be like. In any case, it's the story of one man's love for his garden and for the man he finally finds to fulfill his life. Charles, a matre'de at the Carlye Hotel in New York is a remarkable individual as well.
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February 5, 2016A gay horticulturalist wet dream story. It is a love story, but not so much of an LGBT one. It is more of a love for plants and gardens and the renewal quality of them. The flower descriptions are wonderful, but it seriously lacks the pictures and photos of the various plants--I wanted to see the plants! I do love the fact that the gay love is found after 50. It is also wonderfully typeset and the few illustrated paintings of family and friends are well done....but the where are the pictures of the garden!!!!!
August 7, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, but then I'm also a gardener and I love to sit in my garden and just stare at things and will them to grow. I too, sit in the winter with the cold and snow swirling outside and look at all the plant and seed booklets I get and make list...and then never order anything. This was a book that I did not want to end, I felt at peace reading it and I just wanted to continue to visit the garden with both of them and Rover.
July 22, 2020
An abundance of love for gardening and plants runs throughout this simply endearing memoir. The author takes us into his life, sharing with us his struggles, hopes and loves. Reading this book was a very calming experience. It gives hope, above all, that the answers we seek are just within our reach.
February 26, 2014
What a wonderful book to read as a long cold winter here in Michigan drifts into March. It is memoir beautifully describing the seasons in life as well as the seasons in the garden.
January 5, 2014
One of the best books I've read in a long time. I took my time with it because I didn't want it to end.
August 18, 2016
If you love gardening this is a great book. Along with the garden a nice story about Charles.
June 16, 2018
I loved every word of this sensitive, moving story. so happy it's not fiction!! I couldn't wait to finish it and then I was sad it was over.
October 24, 2018
Touching, gentle and well written. A wonderful story!
January 3, 2022
I am lucky enough to live near Orient, NY, and to have met Clyde "Skip" Wachsberger, the author, and the Charles of the title, some years ago. That in no way colors my affection for this book. This is a lovely true story of a lonely man, seeking love, who eventually buys a 300-year-old, rundown house in Orient NY (a good 100 miles from NYC) just so he can plant a garden there. This book is so many things - a memoir, a love story (the circumstances of how Skip and Charles meet is a story in itself) and a treatise on gardening. There are two MAJOR problems with this book. The first is despite the lovely watercolor illustrations, you will read this book and want to SEE all the plants - flowers and trees - described in such loving detail, either in photos or better yet in person. The second problem, if you are at all like me, is you will WANT to own (or be owned by) every single plant described herein, whether your planting zone is adaptable to it, or not. Such a lovely story of every kind of love - love within a community, love between two partners destined for each other, love for an adorable dog, love for plants of any kind, and love of life. I recommend this book for ANYONE who has ever longed to discover a "secret garden"....and for anyone with a pulse. What a delightful way to start the New Year in 2022. Future books I read this year have a high bar to meet!
June 25, 2024
all of the other reviews on this book say it better than i would so i’ll keep it short and sweet: this book was a hug; both a read that i want to keep a secret and one that i want everyone to experience; very special to read through the lens of a book recommended by my little gardener whom i love very much (golly, this book is making me sappy!). truly just a delight, sad it’s over but i might just go crazy and buy a copy (something i never, ever do)
February 11, 2016
A lovely memoir by Clyde Wachsberger (1945-2011) that centers on his two true loves: his garden in the small Long Island community of Orient and his found-at-midlife beloved, Charles. The account is, by turns, poetic, amusing, and poignant and is illustrated throughout with Clyde's watercolors. Not only will many gardeners appreciate this book, but it may appeal to old-house lovers (his Orient house was 300 years old). Part of the book's appeal is the gentle love story, which reminds us that love can come unexpectedly, even as we're thinking it may be a lost cause. A book I'll be happy to reread.
July 19, 2013
Lovely prose, but the essence of this memoir seems to be, "Love is wonderful, gardening is amazing, so what could be more fabulous than two gay men kissing each other over rakes and pruning shears?" Not a book I'd call "essential reading."
January 25, 2013
An absolutely gardening memoir by the author who found love later in life and shared his garden with his new love. It was a joy to read.
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March 9, 2016NO CD
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews