I've just discovered that my copy of 'Sissinghurst: An Unfinished History' has gone missing. What's worse, I had two copies at one stage, and consequently gave one away!
'The Poetics of Gardens' (pictured) also went missing a few years ago, and then after publicly singing its praises and lamenting it loss, Richard Padgett very kindly hunted down two copies - one for himself and one for me. Hence the pic!
I really wish I knew where my original copy of 'Garden Design' by Sylvia Crowe ended up. My uncle, on a trip to London in 1985, spent the day on the tube getting around bookshops to find it for me. After reading it many times, and accessing it continually, I went to grab it about three years ago and couldn't find it. I've since tracked down another copy, but it's not the same.
What garden books have you lost track of?
What gardening books have mysterious gone missing from your library?
Discussion
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Bergonias by Peter Sharp.
Ouch. monographs are particularly painful to lose
Issue 3 of Earth Garden lent to a fellow student in 1973 and breaking my complete run of early issues!
NOOOO!!!!
Your book that had photos of your visit to some gardens in Benalla , after a visit to Benalla Botanica back around 2009. Sorry to sayi’ve forgotten the name , but not the pictures. Your newsletters are memorable , thank you. Bett L.
Ah, Betty. The book was ‘The Gardenist’. What a great event that was – Benalla Botanica. I think it was 2007?. The first one was in 2004. They flew me back from Ireland to MC it! What a crazy honour!
My first gardening book given to me by my father, the 1969 first edition of “What Flower is That” by Stirling Macoboy. A great size for looking at in bed, the updated version too big and chunky. I tracked a second hand one down for sentimental reasons, but not the same. I would spend hours looking at that book then we’d head off to a nursery for my purchases together. I also feel very guilty when I see “Cherish The Earth” by Beatrice Bligh in my collection as it is inscribed with a note from the Bligh family and was lent to me by my University Professor in 1976.
Yes, I have similar guilt over a copy of The Secret Garden lent by a family up the road to my kids in 2003. For at least 15 years I’ve imagined out the whole scenario of my handing it back, and consequently have avoided doing it. Maybe I’ll return it on the 20 year anniversary
The first gardening book Ibought in 1969 and a favorite too, and I still have it!
Painting the roses white by Barbara Wenzel. So delightful. I must’ve lent it to someone. I have a longer list of books I wouldn’t let leave my possession!
I have that!! if you want to borrow it some time…
Some Australian bookshop-owning friends of Christopher Lloyd’s sent it to him in about 1990, so when he came to Australia, he requested that I set up a lunch including BW. She was hilarious.
What an honour!
Rosehips and Crabapples by Susan Irvine. I loaned to a good gardening friend and we moved in separate physical locations after a time. I have no regrets, she loved it as much as me and I have since bought a replacement. My mum commented once that I have a ‘library’ of gardening books, somewhat true and I am a little addicted to buying them.
I must find a friend who has that. I was never aware of it. Perhaps I could ‘borrow’ it from them!
I know it’s like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted but – can recommend Library Thing at http://www.LibraryThing.com. you list all your own books online as a catalogue, and it helps you track them when you lend them out – IF you lend them out!
Wow I literally picked this book up at a free library share stand today. What a coincidence!
The first gardening book Ibought in 1969 and a favorite too, and I still have it!
I have a rule about books. I never lend them which possibly sounds mean but some people will turn the top corner as a book mark and also not have the same respect for the book you have. Many have cost a lot to purchase and I don’t want to lose them.