Monday, March 3, 2014

"Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life" by Marta McDowell


"I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter! 'One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time.'"
— From "Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter

It's probably a safe bet that I'm not the only tea lover who is a fan of Beatrix Potter. Whether you fell in love with her children's books or, more recently, admired the Beatrix Potter portrayed by Renee Zellweger in the movie "Miss Potter" (2006), there is much to admire about the English author, artist, and naturalist. As our thoughts turn to spring and gardening, I'd like to recommend a particularly enjoyable new book, "Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The plants and places that inspired the classic children's tales" by Marta McDowell.

Beatrix used the royalties from her books and an inheritance from an aunt to purchase the thirty-four acre Hill Top Farm in the Lake District of England. Beatrix would go on to purchase other farms in an effort to preserve her beloved Lake District, and in her will she left more than four thousand acres to the National Trust. Beatrix also became a breeder of Herdwick sheep, and McDowell notes that in 1930, she was elected president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association.

While Beatrix wrote and illustrated many beloved children's stories, and I'm glad she did, I think that even more than those contributions, I appreciate her attitude. When she couldn't sell that first book, she published it herself before ultimately selling it to a publisher. She could easily have avoided romance after the death of her fiancé, but no, she went on to find love at age forty-seven and married William Heelis. I also appreciate her motivation for continuing to write and illustrate once she was already a successful author. McDowell says, "Beatrix continued writing books and designing spin-off merchandise — toys, china, wallpaper, and the like — in part to fund her garden efforts." And it was also fun to read that Beatrix was, according to McDowell, "a great preserver of fruit, making quantities of jams, jellies, and marmalade. To visitors, she served bread and preserves with tea, a simple country fare." The book includes chapters on each season of the year in Beatrix Potter's gardens, and it is lovely to read about the gardens and see some of her own plant illustrations as well as period photos of the gardens. The book concludes with useful lists of plants that Beatrix grew herself as well as those appearing in her books. If, like me, you're dreaming of gardening while you sip your tea these days, I think you'll enjoy this book!

14 comments:

  1. I have been a fan of Beatrix Potter for years, and this book sounds delightful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great book, Angela. Thank you for sharing it! I'm a fan of Beatrix Potter too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Couldn't love Beatrix Potter more! Do you check in on Susan Branch's blog? She loves her too and her pictures and stories about visiting Hilltop are wonderful.
    Don't have this one but once again you have found something I "need".
    xo Ruthie

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just bought this book on my kindle and love it! Wish I had the real book now!
    ...Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think a lot of us are fans of Beatrix Potter. Thanks for sharing about the book. I will have to look for it. Have a delightful day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like another fab book! So many books...so little time...the story of my life!
    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love Beatrix Potter and have wanted to pick this book up. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like interesting read, and I can hardly wait to get back out in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know I would love this book. Love, love Beatrix Potter and just recently watch the movie for about the 4th time. Oh how I want to visit Hill Top.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Made me smile to read about this. Last week I shared my Beatrix Potter tea pot that I love. I will have to pic this up. Gosh, I can't wait for spring as it is so brutally cold still here. The garden seems so far away!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This made me smile - I really enjoyed it.Peter Rabbit was one of my daughters favorites and I remember reading it to her before bedtime. I live on a farm and now days when I see a rabbit in the field where we've planted I think of that author. Funny I raise sheep too. -Carole

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love your post today! I'm a fan of Beatrix Potter too, Joanie

    ReplyDelete
  13. I had the opportunity to meet the author at the Philadelphia Flower Show. What a delightfu book it is! The flower show was the cure for the long and beastly winter we have had. Ready to get into the garden. A little too early yet, but I found an exquisite orchid to grace my kitchen counter and get me through March.

    Hope you have a sunny day, Angela.

    Mary Jane

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking time to leave a comment! It makes my day to hear from readers!