Spirit of Place: The Making of a New England Garden

by Bill Noble

“Delve into this beautiful book. You’ll come away sharing his passion for the beauty that gardens bring into our lives.” —Sigourney Weaver, environmentalist, actor, trustee of New York Botanical Garden

How does an individual garden relate to the larger landscape? How does it connect to the natural and cultural environment? Does it evoke a sense of place? In Spirit of Place, Bill Noble—a lifelong gardener, and the former director of preservation for the Garden Conservancy—helps gardeners answer these questions by sharing how they influenced the creation of his garden in Vermont.

Throughout, Noble reveals that a garden is never created in a vacuum but is rather the outcome of an individual’s personal vision combined with historical and cultural forces. Sumptuously illustrated, this thoughtful look at the process of garden-making shares insights gleaned over a long career that will inspire you to create a garden rich in context, personal vision, and spirit.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 26, 2020

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and helpful book that tells the story of the author's incredible garden and all of the parts of it. It's filled with endless color photos that will have you wanting to bankrupt yourself buying plants and cursing the fact that you don't have 80 acres to plant all the kinds of gardens Noble has. He is very specific about varieties of plants and provides a wealth of garden information, along with the history of the country property where he rescued old gardens and created new.

I have to admit that I put this book aside a few times in reading it, because it honestly made me a bit sad. Noble has woods, meadows, endless land, help, and resources to create seemingly endless gardens. I love my large corner lot in a tiny town and I have filled it over the years with roses, lilacs, shade gardens, vegetable gardens, hidden gardens, black raspberries, cherries, elderberries, and so on, but it's a little lot in a little town. I can't do a lot of what Noble has done, and this was one of the few garden books I've read that instead of just inspiring me left me a little melancholy, like when your good friend takes another trip to Europe and you really are happy for her but you also decide not to look at her Instagram anymore. :)

All that said, the 5 stars show that I got over that. It's a beautiful book and one that I've loved reading.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read many gardening book straight through, but this one intrigued me. The author talks about purchasing his current home in Vermont over 25 years ago and how he slowly built his gardens based on his plant interests and available space. What I liked about it: although he is a professional garden designer, he talks a lot about creating his garden in pieces and the changes/mistakes he made along the way. Rather than scrape out everything that was there when he arrived, he worked around existing foundations, structures, and plants. He talks a lot about the inspiration for various garden spaces. Although I don’t agree with all the decisions he made, it was nice to go on a journey with him to see why he chose the plants and design features he did. What I did not like about it: one of his design guidelines was he wanted to use native plants. However, the majority of the book talks about all his non-native plant interests. I don’t have an issue with growing exotics, but it did not feel like his plant choices actually met the goal of using native plants. There is one chapter near the end of the book that is primarily about natives in one of his transition gardens. I’m glad he had that discussion, but I wish it was a little more pronounced throughout the book. Nearly all the native plant he used were cultivars or hybrids. So he talks about gardening for the local ecology, it really felt like his primary decisions were based on design and ease f growing. As a professional garden designer, that makes sense. I was, however, disappointed that he did not have more advice for the average gardener, trying to incorporate natives into my landscape.

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos, interesting stories, and I was glad to get some names of beautiful plants I'd love to include in my own New England garden.

[Phillip Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a chronicle of the author's creation of his stunning garden in Vermont. Bill Noble discovered gardening late in life and, after working a number of horticulture-related jobs that included operating a farm stand and serving as a director with the Garden Conservancy, he was eager to create his own garden. He and his partner purchased a 22-acre farmhouse with a mountain view in 1991. Using the knowledge that he had learned from notable gardeners and their gardens, he set about creating the garden that is in tune with its location and one that maintains the “spirit of place”. He writes about these gardens and gardeners who influenced him and how he set about using the same principles in his garden. Helpful lists and outlines of what tasks to do and when are discussed and he writes about mistakes made along the way. The garden includes a 65x45' flower garden, vegetable garden, rock garden, “silver and gold” garden and there is much more. Beautifully photographed vistas and plant combinations as well as informative text will give gardeners much inspiration.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Truly Beautiful Garden Book

The finest compliment I can give a book is that it inspired and excited my imagination. To open a new view or widen my outlook, to give a fresh sense of what is possible. This journal, for it has all of the attributes of a warm homemade country ramble, fulfills those requirements.
Written without appearing pretentious, but inviting you to come strolling through this beautiful landscape at once otherworldly and yet at the same time so approachable. I borrowed this from the Kindle store, but it is going into my permanent collection because i will be reading and referencing it often.

[Sharron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had not read it as an ebook (using the kindle app on my iPad). It was extremely annoying and distracting to find that the caption for every photograph - and there were lots of them - appeared on a different page from the photograph itself. Never again will I borrow, let alone buy, an electronic version of gardening book.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Spirit of Place is a beautifully presented book, a biography really, of the genesis of the gardens and grounds surrounding the author's home. Due out 23th June from Timber Press, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a really inspirational and surprisingly intimate look at the creation of a green space which is a product of the author's vision and creativity and fits into its setting companionably. The author began renovating the gardens in 1991 after he and his partner bought a farmhouse and land in New England. Obviously a garden developed over 30 years (and often following contours laid out over the previous 2 centuries) isn't an undertaking which bears comparison to new gardens. It was valuable to me to follow the development and maturation of these gardens, but also to follow along with the author as he explained in quite detailed fashion about his inspiration and creative process.

The text is erudite and more formal than casual, but always understandable and accessible. The photography is glorious, often breathtaking and filled with inspiration and takeaway lessons for readers no matter what size and shape their gardens. The chapters cover individual areas of the plantings and highlight photos show particular specimens in situ (with botanical nomenclature included).

This is an inspiring and educational book, full of usable advice and help. Since the book is absolutely full of color photographs and the text is relatively small and densely packed, I strongly recommend a color monitor or the hardcover format. I tried accessing the book on three different e-readers and whilst compatibility wasn't an issue, the full effect of the photography was much diminished.

Five stars. Lots and lots (and lots) of inspiration. Aesthetically one of the better garden inspiration books I've seen lately.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

[Tex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. D
With the Covid pandemic raging all around us, many are turning to gardening for spiritual, emotional, and even physical healing. Reading of this book couldn’t have come at a better time for me.
Even as my own northern New England gardens are not ready to be worked in quite yet, I needed something to make me feel connected to a hobby I am passionate about. Following the author’s narrative throughout the book, listening to his creative reasoning for particular plants, and he trying to pay homage to the past history of his property really helped me bridge the connections I have to my own gardens. The photography is beautiful, and inspires the reader to try some of the planting combinations that are shown.
This book can be enjoyed solely on doing a picture walk through the book.
Thank you, Spirit of Place, for helping me refocus my inspirations and goals for my own garden this spring.

#netgalley
#spiritofplace

[Martina · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's ironic this book was titled "Spirit of Place" and "Making of a New England Garden," because there's hardly a nod to the native ecology of New England in its pages and photographs. Instead, the author waxes poetic about exotic plants from far flung regions, and his efforts to grow them in a place for which they never involved. Birds and pollinators -- which are essential for a vibrant garden -- are nowhere in evidence, as the author seems to consider plants as a purely aesthetic experience for the delight of a human audience. He has subjugated the true spirit of the place and created an artificial show piece of his own whims and imagination. I don't begrudge him his hobby as a collector, but it's a travesty to call this a New England garden, or to extoll it as having a spirit of place.

[Alexandria]

Really enjoyed this for his perspective on historical examples of the “New England garden”. Always cool to learn a little bit more about the history of the landscape I find myself in (Saint Gaudens being very close to work).

As I work more and more each year to bring a greater vision to my own garden, I appreciate just how much labor has been required for what appears to be an easy and natural landscape.

I find I don’t love the use of poplars(which Bill Noble seems to love and depend on) , or at least I feel there’s a manner of using them that I’d prefer but of which I’m not totally aware. I like and agree with planting a vegetable garden close to the house and integrated with the rest of the garden, treating the food as ornamental and beautiful in its own right too.

[R.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title doesn't lie: it is indeed about the making, on both large and small scales, of Bill Noble's Vermont garden. He discusses each section of his gardens individually, usually starting with structural and contextual overviews, then delving into the many plants that make it up. If he hadn't spent so much time listing all the plants in each garden space and instead used his wonderful writing style towards more meditative essays, I would've enjoyed the work better as a whole. Still, it delivers what it promises, and it's a wealth of knowledge for anyone wanting insight into all the trials and errors of making a garden--especially one that turned out to be as renowned as Noble's.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped this would be a really strong reference book...and it is but not as clear as I wanted it to be. Loved the story of how the author transformed the landscape of his Vermont farm into a series of gardens. the photographs are gorgeous. I think i was just looking for more details on the plants themselves and on landscape gardening technique. I got some of that and a view into Noble's creative process.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very detailed look at the authors journey to create his garden. It is a great guide for someone wanting to create a garden space from scratch. It has pretty in-depth information on just about every aspect of researching creating a garden area.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
#NetGalley
#SpiritofPlace

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about the building of a garden and a fascinating trip into a garden in the making.
I liked the style of writing and the details that can help you to build a garden from scratch.
I loved it and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[The Shakti Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully photographed garden design book to savour. Bill Noble shares his experiences of becoming a self taught gardener and developing the garden of his own property. Perfect reading for those wishing build on existing gardens and use introduced plants to blend into natural indigenous landscapes.

*eArc supplies by publisher and Netgalley

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirit of Place gave me the gardening fix that I needed during this pandemic! There is something so inspiring about visiting a beautiful & well thought out garden. The gardens and their origins, from property selection to the stages of garden design and planting were helpful in thinking about creating one's own garden. The pictures are beautiful and the book is lovely.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Noble is a professional gardener who talks about his own garden in Vermont that he started in 1991. The photographs are lovely and the variety of plants outstanding but at the moment I’m into native plants and that really isn’t his strength. However it is hard not to be impressed by the colors of his many perennial beds.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read about how the author made a garden in a place that already had a history and a bracing climate, made even more difficult with climate change. Please note, this is a book on how Mr. Noble made his garden, not a how-to book on gardening. The pictures are lovely, but it's not a coffee table book.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and peaceful read. I felt very validated and encouraged as an amateur gardener and inspired by what Mr. Noble has created.

[Tina Panik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delight for gardeners of all levels.

[Resa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It reads like a wonderful garden stroll. Be sure to have your tea ready.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted more instructions then observation, however, an incredible read. I learned a lot from every page

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book about an iconic garden, but it was a little prosey for me.