Emily Dickinson's gardens : a celebration of a poet and a gardener

A beautifully illustrated gift book exploring the flowers and poems of the beloved "Belle of Amherst" A woman who found great solace in gardens, Emily Dickinson filled her poetry with references to her flowers. Now, in Emily Dickinson's Gardens, author Marta McDowell invites poetry and gardening lovers alike to explore the words and wildflowers of one of America's best-loved poets. Each chapter of this illustrated book follows a different season in the gardens, conservatories, and Amherst environs where the poet tended, collected, and drew inspiration from flowers. "Here is a brighter garden" where you will discover: Excerpts from Dickinson's poetry and letters Historical details about the poet's life, emphasizing her horticultural interests Plus: Instructions on how to create an Emily Dickinson garden of your own, including plans, design ideas, plant sources, and growing tips Front Cover ......Page 1 Title Page ......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Contents ......Page 5 Acknowledgments......Page 7 Introduction......Page 9 Early Spring......Page 13 The Dickinson Homestead circa 1870......Page 14 Emily’s garden, based on her descriptions and the recollections of her friends and family ......Page 15 A Gardener’s Home and a Gardening Family......Page 16 Edward Dickinson, Emily’s father, and Emily Norcross Dickinson, Emily’s mother......Page 17 Emily, Austin, and Lavinia at ages nine, ten, and seven......Page 18 Early Spring in Emily Dickinson’s Garden......Page 19 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Early Spring Flowers......Page 20 An Early Spring Garden Primer......Page 25 How to Prune Old Garden Roses......Page 26 The Education of a Gardener......Page 29 The Herbarium......Page 32 “I Was Always Attached to Mud”......Page 36 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Spring Ephemerals......Page 38 Late Spring in Emily Dickinson’s Garden......Page 41 Spring Cleaning......Page 43 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Late Spring Flowers......Page 46 A Late Spring Garden Primer......Page 53 A Gardener’s Homecoming......Page 61 Travels of a Gardener......Page 62 Horticultural Hall, where Emily saw the exhibition in 1846......Page 64 Off to College......Page 65 Home Is Where the Garden Is......Page 66 The Pen and the Trowel......Page 68 Early Summer in Emily Dickinson’s Garden......Page 69 A Little Catalogue of Early Summer Flowers......Page 74 Flower structures in Emily’s botany book......Page 84 Plants Beyond the Garden Beds......Page 86 An Early Summer Garden Primer......Page 91 Seeds and seedlings, from Emily’s botany book......Page 93 A Gardener’s Ground......Page 95 The Daylily Introduction......Page 97 “The Little Garden Within”......Page 99 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Conservatory Plants......Page 103 The Gardening Sisters......Page 105 Austin and the Fine Art of Landscape Gardening......Page 108 A Little Catalogue of Austin’s Specimen Trees......Page 110 Sister Sue’s Gardens......Page 111 The Little Ones......Page 112 Late Summer in Emily Dickinson’s Garden......Page 114 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Flowering Vines......Page 125 Color in Emily’s Garden......Page 129 A Late Summer Garden Primer......Page 136 How to Create a Butterfly Utopia......Page 137 A Gardener’s Town......Page 139 Scenes from a Town......Page 141 To the Show......Page 149 Autumn in Emily Dickinson’s Garden......Page 150 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Autumn Flowers......Page 152 Cool- Weather Vegetables......Page 155 A Season of Nut and Fruit......Page 157 The Orchard......Page 161 A Little Catalogue of Emily’s Apples......Page 162 Outside-In......Page 167 An Autumn Garden Primer......Page 171 Requiem for a Gardener......Page 173 “You Are a Great Poet—”......Page 177 Amherst’s New Belle......Page 180 “Thy Daisy Draped for Thee”......Page 183 Winter in Emily Dickinson’s Garden......Page 184 A Winter Garden Primer......Page 191 A Poet’s Legacy......Page 197 A Gardener’s Legacy......Page 199 Resources ......Page 203 Notes ......Page 209 Credits ......Page 215 Index ......Page 217 Marta Mcdowell Guides Poetry And Gardening Lovers Alike Through An In-depth Exploration Of The Words And Flowers Of America's Most Beloved Poet -- Book Jacket. Early Spring : Emily Dickinson's Garden -- Late Spring : The Education Of A Gardener -- Early Summer : A Gardener's Homecoming -- Late Summer : A Gardener's Ground -- Autumn : A Gardener's Town -- Winter : Requiem For A Gardener. Marta Mcdowell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 195-200) And Index. Explores the words and wildflowers of an American poet. Each chapter of this illustrated book follows a different season in the gardens, conservatories, and Amherst environs where the poet tended, collected, and drew inspiration from flowers.