The Liberty Hyde Bailey Gardener's Companion

A wonderful introduction to the author his love for gardening his life’s philosophy.A book I will dip into to rejoin his life a perfect book for lovers of gardening a true delight to read.#netgalley#cornellu,

I was not familiar at all with Liberty Hyde Bailey and actually picked this up because I thought it was from an early female botanist. That was not the case, but I was not disappointed because the mix of philosophy and appreciation of science and nature made for enjoyable reading. I also learned a lot about the man, and I want to continue reading his works. There's a sense of wonder in all the different parts of nature and gardening, and sitting down for a few moments to read an essay stretched out the reading experience in a way I rarely do with other reading.

This is the perfect collection of essays and writings on gardening for anyone who loves to garden or is generally interested in the hobby. This book feels like a complete collection of anything you would need or want to read related to gardening. The subjects in this book vary so much and include how gardens and plants are thought of and how we can love them, how to grow plants, the wonders of seed germination, flowers and different types of pretty vegetation, fruits and vegetables, and how to view and use the seasons when gardening. Also, it would be a great piece to read during winter or early spring when you want to get outside and start gardening or growing flowers, but can't quite because of the weather. This book will satisfy your whims!

Great book. A lovely tome filled with essays, philosophising and essays. The author love of gardening is obvious and infectious. A perfect rainy day read for when you can't get into the garden yourself. Thankyou to NetGalley for the ARC.

A great book for gardener. It's well written and engrossing. Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This was a great read even though I am not a gardener. The author's love of gardening really shone through in the writing of this book, but not in a boring way. I learned some things that I hadn't known.

This book shows that with the knowledge provided within and how it is written. This is a wonderful collection of poems, essays and more featuring gardening that are inspirational. If you enjoy time in the garden or even being outside this well written book is a nice addition to your library or a great gift to someone in your life that enjoys the subject. It won't disappoint any time of year, but imagine reading while you aren't able to be outside it will fill that void as the descriptions are wonderful. You'll find inspiration within this book as well. It is beautiful. If you are wondering if something is in this book the answer is yes because the author pretty much thought about everything related to gardening,

This is a compilation of Liberty Hyde Bailey’s writings. As the father of modern horticulture his insights are enlightening and encouraging. As a new homeowner beginning to embrace horticulture I have started small, with hardy succulents and watched them thrive. Looking for new inspiration and expanding into perennials I happened across this book and thought it would be a good place to start - from the beginning!

I was pleased to read his works, I am very motivated to expand my gardening in the Spring. His love and joy of growing is beautiful and inspiring. While I plan to start with perennials for the sheer ease of returning each year, I learned quite a bit from the section on annuals. I was surprised to see that half of the watering people apply to plants is unnecessary. I find the most challenging part to growing is knowing when to water. Succulents have been a great start as they’re hardy and thrive with little water. For anyone that knows gardening what I have learned is likely common knowledge and practice, but even the best horticulturists can appreciate Bailey’s writing and his introspection into pioneering modern horticulture. There is something for everyone with a green thumb or an appreciation for plants, their beauty and care.

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Gardener's Companion: Essential Writings is a collection of essays by Liberty Hyde Bailey, edited and curated by Johns Stempien and Linstrom. Released 15th Sep. 2019 by Cornell University on their Comstock imprint, it's 320 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

I was previously unfamiliar with the writer of the enclosed essays, Liberty Hyde Bailey, though his legacy will be familiar to most readers. He was a co-founder of the American Society for Horticultural Science, helped establish the network of extension agencies which still provide advice and training to local gardeners across the USA, helped start the 4-H movement, parcel post, and rural electrification. He was also a gifted writer on themes of conservation, nature, and the outdoors.

The editors provide an entertaining preface and introduction. For readers who are unfamiliar with Liberty Hyde Bailey, the introduction and preface gives some background and context. The remaining 300+ pages are arranged thematically: the garden in the mind, the growing of the plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables, spring to winter, and an epilogue which includes appendices, notes, a really good bibliography for further reading, and an index.

This is a cozy book full of anecdotes and gently written expository essays about relevant topics close to gardeners' hearts. I tried to read it slowly and savor the writing (and LHB was a gifted and accessible writer with a passion for nature to rival Muir, Thoreau, or Whitman).

This would make a wonderful gift for a garden or nature enthusiast as well as a nice addition to the home library. Fans of Muir, Hubbell, White, Bertram and the like will find a wealth of material for cozy garden reading here. It's a treasure of a book and I enjoyed it very much.

Five stars.