On The Necessity Of Gardening - An Abc Of Art, Botany And Cultivation

by Laurie Cluitmans (editor)

On the Necessity of Gardening' tells the story of the garden as a rich source of inspiration. Over the centuries artists, writers, poets, and thinkers have each described, depicted, and designed the garden in different ways. In medieval art, the garden was a reflection of paradise, a place of harmony and fertility, shielded from worldly problems. In the eighteenth century this image tilted: the garden became a symbol of worldly powers and politics. The Anthropocene is forcing us to radically rethink the role we have given nature in recent decades. Through essays and an extensive abecedarium this book reflects on the garden as a metaphor for society.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Art, Gardening, Plants, Essays

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to say when one is "finished" with what is essentially a reference book, but I think I've spent enough time with this one to give it a review an I will certainly be returning to it :)

This is a truly wonderful book that combines images of art with definitions and quotes and essays about nature and culture. I love how it kind of explodes the traditional idea of what a reference book or an encyclopedia or an art book or a field guide or a research paper is. I've been playing with many of the same ideas in my own work and this book has been a great inspiration for me. A joy to spend time with.

[LindaPf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the “coffee table” book about gardening. It was selected by our Secret Garden Book Club at Ashton Gardens.

[Gina Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book is appealing but actually engaging with it is quite frustrating. Many of the entries could have been replaced with more relevant or interesting topics. It feels overly European academic and at the same time like it is trying hard not to be by peppering some critical and queer theory snippets throughout, often in a repetitive way. I was hoping to be moved, inspired, and fascinated by this book but was ultimately disappointed.