A Blessing of Toads: A Gardener's Guide to Living with Nature

by Sharon Lovejoy

Since the very first issue of Country Living Gardener, writer, artist and naturalist Sharon Lovejoy has created the award-winning “Heart’s Ease” column for the magazine. Through this collection of delightful essays and beautiful illustrations, she shares with her readers the boundless joys of a country garden. Lovejoy has chosen to focus on animal life in the garden, including hummingbirds, caterpillars, and dragonflies, but her informative and witty prose also covers traditional plant care. The very titles of her sketches convey pleasure in the vibrant country landscape and the life that teems within it: “The Bumble Bee Rumba,” “Faeries in the Fuschias (sphinx moths),” “Holiday Feasts for the Birds and the Beasts,” and “Conversations with Sunflowers.” This compilation truly is—to borrow another of her titles—“Something to Crow About.”

Genres: Gardening, Essays, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2004

About the author

Naturalist, author, and illustrator Sharon Lovejoy’s passion for nature led her to a lifetime of cultivating wonder for grown-ups and children. Her honors include the National Outdoor Book Award for Children’s Literature, 2010 Gold Award from National Parenting Publications, the key to the city of Indianapolis for her work with youth, numerous Garden Writer’s Association awards, and one of the Best Chapter Books Pick by the International Reading Association for her novel Running Out of Night.

As a graduate with Distinction in Art from San Diego State University, Sharon successfully combined her training in art with her love of botany, natural science and history. She worked as a docent naturalist for the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and for the Smithsonian Institution in the lagoons of Baja, California. Sharon founded Heart's Ease Herb Shop & Gardens in Cambria, California, which gained international acclaim and was featured in numerous books, magazines, and newspapers throughout the world.

Sharon has lectured throughout the United States for over twenty years. She speaks at conferences, educational symposia, museums, botanic gardens, arboreta, and for professional trade associations, libraries, schools, STEM, universities, and gardening organizations.

For 13 years she wrote an award winning column for Country Living GARDENER magazine that was distributed through Canada by The New York Times Syndicate. Sharon is past President of the International Herb Association. She served on the Youth Garden Advisory Panel for the American Horticultural Society and the Advisory Board of KidsGardening.org. Her other professional affiliations include Garden Writers Association, The Authors Guild, Inc., Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Been reading on and off for a couple of years now. Just ok.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. I recommend it to nature lovers and gardeners and teachers. There are tips and tricks as well as anecdotal accounts of the author's experiences. This is one I am not likely to loan to others. I'll buy them a copy as a gift instead...

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful book -- packed with information about plants, critters, and how to enjoy both. Her writing style is easy and enjoyable. Anyone who is interested in nature (flora and fauna) will like this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is full of helpful tips and ideas on welcoming some backyard friends. Her detail of her gardens made me want to close my eyes and imagine sitting in her gardens to listen to the birds calling, the flutter of wings and the heavenly scents of the plants. I also learned some things. If you are a gardener or lover of nature, you will enjoy this book.

[Cindy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found it a calming read, and so informative. I'm going to hold on to ot as a reference book.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I subscribed to the magazine that originally published these columns, I am sure the gentle, pleasant, and inspiring essays would be my favorite part of the magazine. Since I don't, and read them one after another in this collection, I must admit reading them was more of a three star experience than a four star one. They are charming. Adorable. Chock-full of ideas that sound so sweet and easy and wonderful. One after another. And then, a little.... Repetitive. Unrealistic. Sappy. The projects she outlines are like those of a Mother Earth Martha Stewart. Sure! Decorate your outdoor pines for Christmas for the birds! Just bake a batch of birdseed cupcakes, homemade suet, strung raisins and cranberries, no problem! I would dearly love to have a friend who does this project every year. I'll join her on the last day and spend my afternoon. I got a little peevish when I started to tally up the hours and hours of free time she spends sidetracked from whatever it is she says she was supposed to be doing that day. I got jealous. I held it against her a little bit that she seemed to be saying that anyone can do these things. That "just a few minutes a day" EVERY DAY! keeps her houseplants thriving. Also, I am totally with her on loving toads. I don't so much love her exhortations to leave messiness in the garden in order to support the populations of skunks, wasps, caterpillars, and all manner of beasties large and small. I know, the "bad" bugs feed the "good" bugs feed the rest of the world. I still don't want to welcome the bad ones.

Anyway. Each essay was lovely. As a collection, a little overwhelming.

[Linnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovejoy's essays on gardening and wildlife are a pleasure to read. I wish we could be neighbors. I could use some good "organic gardening and lovin' the wildlife" vibes. The tone of the book makes it seem like she could be.

If you want more projects and less talk, read "Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars" instead.

[Julie Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books. Sharon Lovejoy has a wonderful way of sharing her knowledge of the natural world.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming collection of essays on a number of garden topics.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read with delightful watercolors that thrill my soul! I Love Love Love this one!

[R.S. Kellogg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cute. Has some of the same content as the Sunflower Houses book, it seems to me.

[Darrell Mowat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not finish the book, but it is an interesting read for any gardener whom desires to see that life through the lens of a poet of sorts...