Love Letter to a Garden wasn't at all what I expected....and in the most beautiful and surprising way. I was thinking it would be a book of essays about gardening and those promised recipes from Roxane Gay, Ms. Millman's wife. Instead....it's a small book jam packed with beautiful paintings, drawings and photographs, as well as philosophical observations about gardening and life. And those recipes from Ms. Gay! I'm an aspirational and relatively unsuccessful gardener and Love Letter to a Garden and Ms. Millman have inspired me to persevere. Thanks to Netgalley and Timber Press for the opportunity to read Love Letter to a Garden. I received a complimentary copy of the book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

I adored Love Letter to a Garden by Debbie Millman. It’s a tender, beautifully crafted tribute to the slow, messy, and deeply personal act of gardening—and it hit me right in the heart. Millman’s story of evolving from a self-proclaimed “bad gardener” to someone who nurtures a living, breathing space resonated with me in ways I didn’t expect. Her journey reminded me so much of myself growing up, fumbling through my own attempts to coax life from the earth.

Like Millman, I’ve carried plants—and their stories—across thresholds of my life. When she writes about digging up her neighbor’s rhododendron after they passed away to bring it into her own yard, I felt a pang of recognition. I did the same thing when I had to sell my parents’ house. I couldn’t bear to leave everything behind, so I unearthed one of their lilies, its roots tangled with memories, and replanted it in my own soil. That act was less about gardening and more about holding onto something precious—a thread connecting past and present.

Millman’s book also stirred up vivid childhood memories for me. As a little girl, I’d pluck seeds from the fruit my mother fed me—peaches, apples, whatever I could get my hands on—and plant them in Tupperware containers filled with sticky clay soil from our backyard. I’d line them up on my bedroom windowsill, much to my mother’s dismay. The mess was undeniable—smudges of dirt on the glass, a snaggled chaos of sprouting attempts—and the view from the street was far from picturesque. But to me, those containers were tiny worlds of possibility. Reading Millman’s reflections brought that scrappy, determined little gardener back to life in my mind.

What I love most about this book is how it captures gardening as a philosophy, not just a task. It’s about patience, persistence, and the quiet joy of watching something grow alongside you. The simple recipes from Roxane Gay, using ingredients from Millman’s garden, add a delicious warmth to the story, while the visual beauty of the book itself makes it a treasure to hold. Love Letter to a Garden is a gem—small, sparkling, and meant to be shared. It’s the kind of book that plants a seed in you, one I know will keep growing in my own heart.

Many thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this delightful book.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

What a delight this book was to read. Beautiful, moving, inspiring, and fresh are all words I would use to describe this book and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of nature and gardening.

My cottage core lesbian heart is delighted by this lovely little gem of a book! Debbie's musings and art are very comforting and grounding, and Roxane Gay's recipes are super accessible and inspiring.

I found this book to be a delightful combination of illustrations, photographs, watercolors and drawings that brought the book to life. Debbie Millman tells us the story of her adventures into gardening. It is a reflection on her successes and pitfalls. I found the recipes to be an added bonus in this beautiful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. It was refreshing on a cold winter day.





Thanks to Net Galley and Timber Press for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

I recently had the chance to review an ARC of Debbie Millman’s Love Letter to a Garden, and it was not what I expected—in the best way. This book is absolutely charming.

First, the illustrations are stunning—a blend of photos, watercolors, and drawings that create a nostalgic, heartfelt atmosphere. I especially connected with the words in this book because, like the author, my love for gardening began in adulthood, though it was my grandmother who first introduced me to it.

She takes readers on a journey through the seasons of a garden and life itself, touching on the surge of gardening during the pandemic—a time when many turned to growing their own food and finding solace in nature. The book beautifully reflects on both the joys and challenges of gardening, reminding us that, like life, gardens experience both loss and renewal. As a bonus, I loved the inclusion of recipes at the end, using ingredients straight from the garden. A Love Letter to the Garden is more than just a book about plants—it’s a reflection on resilience, growth, and the beauty of life itself. A truly lovely read.

Love Letter to a Garden by Debbie Millman

I added Love Letter to a Garden to my wishlist because Debbie Millman is a graphic design hero. I've seen her speak at Adobe Max and listened to her podcast, Design Matters. I have at least two of her books about brand/graphic design on my bookshelf already (no pressure!).

Love Letter to a Garden is a lovely piece of visual storytelling about how Debbie fell in love with gardening—and the perspective that having your hands connected to the earth brings. It also touches on how COVID changed not only our lives but also our physical surroundings.

Nestled amongst Debbie's paintings/illustrations of the bounty of their garden are recipes by Roxane Gay. This book will be gifted to many art, gardening, and cooking lovers.

Love Letter to a Garden will be available on April 15, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for providing me with a copy for review.

Thumbsup 👍.

As expected, the graphic design is gorgeous.

Go read a book!

Body count: 0.

This short, beautifully illustrated book is a gift to anyone who loves nature and gardening, or who wants to learn the best way to go about pursuing any new endeavor (especially one they are intimidated by). The bonus is that it includes fresh, healthy recipes to use garden produce. Inspirational and reflective -- ideal "winter reading" for gardeners.

"Love Letter to a Garden" by Debbie Millman is a heartfelt reflection on her evolving journey as a gardener. Starting with gifted houseplants and inspiration from a lone city peony, she cultivated gardens in both New York and Los Angeles. Interwoven with recipes from her wife, Roxane Gay, this book is a charming and inspiring celebration of growth, perseverance, and the deep connection between gardens and the heart.

What a lovely little book about flowers and the love for them! It’s a very short book that you can read in 30 minutes or less with lovely illustrations. As a flower lover, I really enjoyed this book, I recognized myself in it!
5 stars out of 5 for me!!!

Debbie Millman has written a gorgeous thoughtful ode to life to the bounty from the garden.Her thoughtful words and the beautiful illustrations make this a feast for the eyes& her wife’s Roxanne Gays recipes using the gifts from the authors garden make for a spectacular meal..I will be giving Love Letter to a Garden to dear friends.#netgalley#timberpress.