Green Thoughts: A Writer in the Garden

Modern Library Gardening

by Eleanor Perényi, Michael Pollan (Editor), Allen Lacy (Introduction)

“Unlike any other gardening book I know, with its Old World charm, its down-to-earth practicality, its whimsy and sophistication.”—Brooke Astor, The New York Times Book Review A classic in the literature of the garden, Green Thoughts is a beautifully written and highly original collection of seventy-two essays, alphabetically arranged, on topics ranging from “Annuals” and “Artichokes” to “Weeds” and “Wildflowers.” An amateur gardener for over thirty years, Eleanor Perényi draws upon her wide-ranging knowledge of gardening lore to create a delightful, witty blend of how-to advice, informed opinion, historical insight, and philosophical musing. There are entries in praise of earthworms and in protest of rock gardens, a treatise on the sexual politics of tending plants, and a paean to the salubrious effect of gardening (see “Longevity” ). Twenty years after its initial publication, Green Thoughts remains as much a joy to read as ever. This Modern Library edition is published with a new Introduction by Allen Lacy, former gardening columnist for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and the author of numerous gardening books.“You do not have to be a good gardener to fall in love with Green Thoughts. It reads with the intrepid assurance of a classic.”—Mary McCarthy, The New York Review of Books “One of those dangerous reference works that you reach for at a moment of horticultural crisis or indecision only to find yourself an hour later browsing far beyond the page where you began.”— The New Yorker

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Essays, Nature, Plants, Memoir, Writing

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Eleanor Spencer Stone Perényi (1918-2009) was a gardener and author on gardening.

She wrote Green Thoughts, a collection of essays based on her own experiences as a gardener. The book drew on her work on her husband’s castle (described in her 1946 publication More Was Lost). Green Thoughts was reviewed by Brooke Astor in The New York Times.

Perenyi was given an award in literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1982.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is of course no such thing as a green thumb. Gardening is a vocation like any other—a calling, if you like, but not a gift from heaven. One acquires the necessary skills and knowledge to do it successfully, or one doesn’t. The ancients gardened without guidance from books, by eye and by hand, and while I am a devotee of gardening books and love to study and quarrel with them, I don’t think they are a substitute for practical experience, any more than cookbooks are.”

I'd give this book six stars if I could. A thoroughly delightful assortment (the book is arranged in alphabetical chapters on seemingly random topics, from Annuals to Women in the Garden) with salient advice, even decades after it was published, and a wisdom and cleverness about gardening. She's also a talented stylist and a pleasure to read.

Also, it me:

“The athletic tend to look down on gardening—until they try it. Then I am amused to hear their moans and groans: ‘My back, I can’t believe it.’ I can. I go through it every spring, and the cult of fitness has no part in my psychology. I loathe sport in nearly all its forms except horseback riding. But I figure my chances for a long life are at least as good as the average athlete’s, and maybe a lot better.”

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do I enjoy as nighttime reading? Biographies or gardening essays. This book was a true gem. It will definitely join the classics on my bookshelves as one I will refer to often and reread. I felt this was also a bit of an autobiographical book as you can’t help but get to know someone through their essays. I love that she organized this book in alphabetical order. I love her love of literature and how widely she read. I have added many books to my to-read list from her casual quotes or mentions.

[Sophy H]

I'm going to leave this unrated as I haven't "finished" the book.

In fact, this is the type of title that is best to dip in and out of to see Perenyi's musings on different aspects of the garden and gardening. It isn't something I'd recommend trying to read from start to finish.

Some great inspirational thinking in here and a book which I plan to return to as I feel compelled to.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read on a variety of gardening topics. At times, the writing is fun, opinionated, and quirky; at other times, simply informational. A good balance.

[Mary Soderstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books that mark you because they crystallize what you’ve been thinking about a subject, or because they lead you deeper into a particular world of endeavor. Green Thoughts: A Writer in the Garden by Eleanor Perenyi was one such for me. For the first part of my life I took gardens and flowering plants for granted—they were part of the landscape, part of the set on the stage of my life, but no more real or important that the cut-out trees toted by the advancing hordes in Macbeth.

But some time in my 30s I fell in love with plants, and began trying to grow them indoors in this wintry climate and outside during the far too short summer season.

Perenyi’s book was published when I was in the throes of trying to figure out how to make the most of a small city garden plot. Her essays on compost inspired me to keep at it: my chicken-wire contraption is probably the oldest in my neighborhood, and whatever gardening success I have is, in part, owed to it. But Perenyi also linked gardening to the wider world, with an essay on the origin of peonies, and ruminations on dahlias and the wisdom of using a push mower instead of a power one. Over the years I’ve returned to the book frequently, for ideas, encouragement and pleasure.

Eleanor Perenyi at the age of 91a few years ago. To everything there is a season, as she wrote in an essay on autumn in Green Thoughts: “When will the final curtain fall? Heavier dews presage the morning when the moisture will have turned to ice, glazing the shriveled dahlias and lima beans, and the annuals will be blasted beyond recall. These deaths are stingless. I wouldn’t want it otherwise. I gardened one year in a tropical country and found that eternal bloom led to ennui.”

It is fittimg--and perhaps not accidental--that she died just as the North American spring burst forth.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book written with style and grace. I love the author's voice and wit. I read about 6 different "essays" and I'm looking forward to picking it up again and reading more. Take your time turning the pages. Pick this book up when you need a sweet escape.

[Holli · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite essay is the one about Toads.

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays on a large variety of garden-related topics, arranged rather prosaically in alphabetical order, starting with "Annuals" and ending with "Woman's Place." Ms. Perenyi was a woman of culture and sophistication, well-read and well-travelled, and it shows in her musings on everything from compost to garlic to creating standards. She refers frequently to the writings of others (not only gardeners) and expresses pithy opinions on their opinions. (For example, she takes a bit of a swipe at Henry Beston, decrying his thoughts on herbs as overly romantic). But every one of these essays is rooted in real gardening, mainly in Connecticut, but in Hungary as well (where the author lived after her marriage), and many of the topics have been extensively researched. Even non-gardeners would enjoy this book.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I could have met the author. She seems like one of those sort of cranky but lovable characters you sometimes meet and end up really caring about. Loved the author picture with her out in her garden with her cigarette and whiskey glass (not that I condone smoking :)).

[Emily Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book broken out alphabetically into different sections, each focusing on a different topic of gardening. A good read for the gardening-inclined, whether well-versed or not. It definitely gave me a lot of new plants and methods to research, history to dive into, and design to ponder for my own garden. I enjoyed the writer's wit and found myself chuckling at the end sentences of many of the sections.

Unfortunate that the last section had to be a feminist study on the history of the "superiority" of landscape design/other things (a man's world) vs the inferior women's world of flowers - how she interprets men's role in gardening both historically and now to be unfairly given more importance than women's. If I cared more, I might look into more of the history (that she explains by saying "of course we know" this or "obviously" that, also through uncharitable analysis of historical writings) of how the different sexes fell into different roles in the garden-sphere over time to see how much merit her arguments have. Women have seen their fair share of injustice throughout history, but now living through the 4th wave of feminism, I couldn't help but sigh and roll my eyes at this part. If women still haven't jumped into landscape design at this point, perhaps it was for good reason after all. Who knows, and who cares! Give me flowers or give me death!

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and sometimes funny read. I found this through a random mention in something else I was reading, and I’m glad the library had it. I will say, you are often very, very aware how white, Western, and upper class she is.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I started this book months ago and set it aside around 100 pages in because it just wasn't holding my attention, for the most part. The passages up to"Lawns" dragged a little, with the exception of Compost and Earthworms. actually Compost got me pretty interested and I ended up with The Rodale Book of Composting and I now have my own pile rotting away in the backyard. while at times the author comes off a little snobby and particular, I think that's to be expected in a gardening book, and even though I aspire to have the type of garden she so obviously disdained (with native plants and wildflowers that aren't tidied up at the end of every season), I kind of enjoyed how opinionated she was. every person moderately serious about gardening has things that they have strong opinions on and are particular about. I can probably also partially credit this book with nudging me into growing some vegetables this year. some of my favorite topics were: Annuals, Lawns, Magic, Making Notes, Mulches (of all things, yes, it was interesting!), Partly Cloudy, Pests and Diseases, Seeds, Toads, Tomato, Tree Houses, Two Gardeners, Wildflowers, and Woman's Place.

[Gwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dulcy Mahar, the late and beloved Oregonian columnist, recommended Eleanor Perenyi's writings as both thought-provoking and inspirational. I picked up Green Thoughts expecting something similar to Dulcy's friendly, whimsical prose. Nothing could be further than the truth. "Opinionated" was the word Dulcy used to describe Perenyi, with more tact than I would have used. My first impression of Perenyi was that she was a stuck-up, cantankerous old you-know-what.

You-know-what she may be, but she knows how to write. One essay led to another, and I found myself growing fond of her. Yes, she's cantankerous, and yes, she's stuck up, but she's also eloquent and intelligent and thoughtful. I don't think I'd want her as my next-door-neighbor, but I'd love her on my bookshelf.

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very subject matter specific and heavy. She’s sarcastic about gardening which is an achievement. And racist—less of an achievement—although still impressive that she managed to fit that into a gardening book. Very much herself without a filter. Forward thinking about organic planting and pesticides considering this was written sometime after the World Wars (I believe).

Lots of good information about gardening though. I will use it as a reference, often.

[Rachel Kopel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the endless piles of library book sale finds. Perenyi is a delight, an excellent writer and gardener and well able to combine the two. I enjoyed several months of reading one or two entries at bedtime and am sorry this book is finished. Passing is along to a reading gardner/ gardening reader friend.

[Robbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is WONDERFUL! If you are a gardener or want to be a gardener, you will fall in love with this informative and VERY entertaining book.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read this in Maggie Smith's voice, it is even better. Love her. I'll never look at petunias the same way again.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

" 'A writer who gardens is sooner or later going to write a book about the subject,' Eleanor Petenyi observes in her Foreword. 'One acquires one's opinions and prejudices, discovers a trick or two, learns to question supposedly expert judgments, reads, saves clipp0ings and is eventually overtaken by the desire to pass it all on.'

"Perhaps America has produced too few writers who garden. In any case, there has not before been a gardening book quite like this one by the distinguished biographer of Liszt. At once highly useful and highly personal Green Thoughts is filled with practical advice, opinions and prejudices, unexpected bits of history and down-to-earth warnings about the present state of horticulture, especially in this country. From Annuals, a tribute to and discussion of those plants that 'flower, set seed and die withing a single season [yet] perform prodigies in their brief lives' to Woman's Place, an astonishing glimpse into sexism in the garden through the years, this book is designed to enchant and instruct the casual admirer of flowers or aficionado of fresh vegetables quite as much as the ardent delver in the earth.

"If you have ever wondered which vegetables it is worthwhile to grow in a small garden (and, incidentally, if there are imaginative ways in which to serve them); whether it is your imagination or sweet peas have actually lost their fragrance in recent years; why dahlias are called dahlias and tulips, tulips; or any one of a number of such questions, you will find an answer in these pages. Here is a book to keep, to cherish and to refer to frequently."
~~back cover

A most charming book, one that's not quickly read but rather sipped and savored. I loved that Eleanor is a crusty old lady with such firm and often contrary opinions, which she of course doesn't mind in the least sharing. She doesn't cover everything about gardening in an exhaustive matter, but only those subjects that interest her; often they're surprising, as is Woman's Place, the last essay in the book.

If I was a more vigorous gardener I'd certainly keep this book for its practical advice. But alas, I'm not.

[Parvathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have rarely had a plant I didn’t manage to kill. And I really can’t tell the difference between peonies and dahlias and asters and daisies. And yet, here I was reading a book on gardening. It is an astonishing book, a collection of 72 essays alphabetically arranged, on topics ranging from flowers and vegetables to earthworms, birds, seasons and tree houses. There is a display of wide ranging knowledge, all of it narrated in a tone of whimsy; there is strong opinion - on tasteful colours suitable for a garden (blue and white are the colours of the discriminating), rock gardens ( Europeans simply don’t understand the principles of one), on pesticides ( decidedly uncool), on earthworms (definitely not a pest), on composting (a practice as old as agriculture and not the fad that it has become now). After a while I gave up googling the names of the flowers and plants and just lay back and enjoyed (and envied) Perenyi’s sheer passion for a hobby that seems so out of reach for mere mortals like me. My eyes would glaze over from time to time, but they would snap back to attention over a beautifully crafted line or an original opinion. “Thoreau has always struck me as an exhibitionist, a thoroughly unsympathetic character who thought he was more original than he was. The fact is that most of his countrymen agreed with him, which is one of the reasons for the slovenliness of the American backyard.” Struggling through Walden suddenly seems like such a waste of time. Or sample this other - “There is of course no such thing as a green thumb. Gardening is a vocation like any other- a calling, if you like, but not a gift from heaven. One acquires the necessary skills and knowledge to do it successfully, or one doesn’t.” So much for my lament of possessing a black thumb.
All of the information here can be overwhelming if read at one go. But if you manage to keep it by your bedside and read a chapter or two a day, the rewards are great - you are sure to go to bed with a smile on your face, ready to dream of pretty flowers and fragrant herbs and luscious fruits. Quite a joy.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of brief essays on a wide range of gardening topics, listed in alphabetical order. That feels odd. But kind of as practical as the rest of the book.

In all honesty, I did not love, love this book. But I have to give it credit for introducing me to gardening history. I had to pause and look something up almost every other page. So lots to learn.

The author is also a bit much (think the ever-opinionated Martha Stewart). But if you think of her as a pal just chatting up this or that topic, the read will be more fun. And she has a way with thoughts and words. For example —

‘When I spot a tree house on someone’s property, I know civilized people live there, people whose idea of happiness goes beyond the provision of color TV. At the very least, they have made the gift of privacy and independence to a child, and if the child rejects those, he is past saving.’

There is always that little judgy sting at the end.

[Peter Herrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! And I'm only up to 'B' (in her alphabetized collection of 'green' observations).
Every item (e.g. Asters, Azaleas, ...etc) is loaded with noteworthy info, plus her own take - likes, dislikes, etc. Some really original insights about how horticulture/agriculture has evolved, and differences between N. American, British (and Rest_of_World [Europe, Asia so far]) plants and plant customs. She also connects these with the arts (Monet, etc), architecture, and even ballet- both contemporary and historical. She also has thoughts about what other writers have written on this topic (she's read them all). Likely, because of her hundreds - thousands - of ideas, not all readers will agree with all .. but they're always food for thought, regardless. I've borrowed this, but will purchase as a fantastic reference book - as well as pleasant to read in it's own right. Just brilliant.

[Elizabeth Strauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep dipping in and out of this book as my interest in gardening grows, as does my love of Eleanor Perenyi's no-fuss opinions about all things. Her writing is absolutely charming, flavored with so much experience and research (but not in a research-y way), and I find it so empowering as I stand in my garden, contemplating how things grow and my relationship to them as facilitator. She answers questions I never knew I had about things like peonies and mulch, compels me to take notes about weather and when things bloom, and makes me wish I could time travel to Connecticut to visit with her in her own garden when she wrote these essays. I am not finished with this book per se, just finished my first read.

[Janet Meenehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you enjoy the witticisms of the folks of the British isles regarding gardens? If so, this book is for you. A very well written delight of the authors view of her gardening experience. The organization of the book is alphabetical by chapters on topics, including specific plants techniques, such as mulching, pruning, etc. it’s a bit tedious to read all the way through as if it were a novel because you want to soak up all the pieces and not forget them.

I found some of the topics and information to be a bit dated, they’re still quite useful at least in terms of direction,. And what other author would spend nine pages to review catalogs for you?

I really think it should be on my physical bookshelf permanently.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short essays on gardens and gardening is by turns amusing, informative, glorious, persnickety, hopeful, scornful, and lovely. Many of the essays spoke to me like a beloved friend of the heart, others irked me, and on balance I am just glad to have finally finished it. The sequence of essays is arranged alphabetically by title, and I think the disjointedness of topics (lawns, lilies, longevity, etc) detracted from my enjoyment of the work as a whole.

[Bjipson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of fun, but I found that I could easily put this one down. I'm sure much of that is due to the structure -- short-ish, alphabetically arranged essays on various garden topics. The book is considered a classic, but that means that some of the author's expertise is out of date. Her writing is vivid, and she is sure of herself, but I don't always agree with her.

[Annette]

How I wish I had written more quotes for this one. As I look back, the quotes I saved aren't so great out of context, but I enjoyed the reading a whole lot. She made me laugh out loud several times, and I've recommended the book to so many! Great fun!

(Although I'm not sharing any quotes, I made several notes in my gardening journal....)

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

For avid gardeners, this is both a chatty and snarky little book of essays, as well as a trove of informational narratives about the art and craft of gardening. Her chapter on roses and the ridiculous names they have been given by breeders couldn't be funnier. I have read and re-read these essays for pure pleasure. She is a wonderful writer.

[pandamans · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Already I am something of a freak in the community on account of my vegetables, herbs and fruits. I foresee the day when I graduate from freak to witch.”

“The rose world, like Detroit, seems to have put its faith in perpetually new ‘styling’ to attract a fickle public, and I predict that the results will be the same.”

[Mary Rank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author brought humor and playfulness to most of the essays in this book about gardening. She wrote about everything from annuals to earthworms to hedges to pests and diseases. If she were writing blogs today, she would have a huge following.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book without a lot of knowledge about gardening and found the essays to bring me into a deeper appreciation for something I have taken for granted. It makes me want to further explore this subject matter.