The Gardener's Bedside Reader

Library Journal Xpress Reviews – First Look at New Books (Internet site: 96,650 vpm)  March 26, 2008

In this beautifully illustrated anthology, editor Cornell gathers a delightful mix of 24 essays and book excerpts that are the perfect antidote for those times when we can’t actually be in our gardens.

By day, we are tucking our gardens in for the snow-blowy days we know aren't too, too far away.  So, at night, it's not too soon to curl up with great good bedtime reads, about--what else--the garden. The collection of writers tucked inside the covers of “The Gardener's Bedside Reader”, edited by Kari Cornell, well, it's enough to make for the sweetest dream.  There’s ever-brilliant Michael Pollan, who takes us into his rose garden, and Susan Orlean, she of “Orchid Thief” fame.  And, for those of us still mourning Tasha Tudor’s passing last summer, there is Tovah Martin who tiptoes into the great illustrator’s Vermont garden.  Not only is the book spilling with succulent words and passages but there are charming vintage illustrations from seed packets and flower catalogs, and decadent photos of gardens to whip your dreams into a frenzy.
Chicago Tribune, Sunday, October 12, 2008

“The collection of articles in the Bedside Reader is quite impressive…The Bedside Reader is aptly named.  Each article is the perfect length for weary gardeners to get through before falling asleep at night.  Each article is unique and sets the stage for beautiful dreaming about gardening.  I very much recommend this book...it is a pleasure to read.”—Washington Gardener, November/December 2008

“By day, we are tucking our gardens in for the snow-blowy days we know aren't too, too far away.  So, at night, it's not too soon to curl up with great good bedtime reads, about--what else--the garden. The collection of writers tucked inside the covers of The Gardener's Bedside Reader, well, it's enough to make for the sweetest dreams…Not only is the book spilling with succulent words and passages but there are charming vintage illustrations from seed packets and flower catalogs, and decadent photos of gardens to whip your dreams into a frenzy.” – Chicago Tribune, October 12, 2008

“Editor Kari Cornell brings together familiar contemporary voices on plants, gardening, and natural history such as Anna Pavord, Diane Ackerman, Dan Hinkley, Tovah Martin, and Ann Lovejoy. This prose celebrates the backyard garden and might even inspire a little digging, especially after excerpts such as Lee May’s that starts, ‘In this year’s first blushes, promise springs eternal. This is the year I keep a vow to my father and myself; I’ll be growing vegetables again.’ This collection is inspiring, funny, and at times lofty: a good primer to the entertaining range of voices that are contributing to modern garden writing.” – American Gardener July/August 2008