Mabel Osgood Wright (1859–1934)

A delightful book, part fiction, part autobiography, dated (first published in 1901) and at times patronizing and totally politically incorrect, but I loved it nonetheless. The author, named Barbara in the book, has returned to her childhood home after two years in England with her British husband. They move in with Barbara's country doctor father and she is determined to restore the neglected garden to a former glory. What follows is a lovely tale of gardening infatuation, scattered with tales of neighbours, servants and family. A treasure of a book that reminds me of Gene Stratton Porter's novels in respect to the love and knowledge of nature.… (mehr)