Books by the month

I love to read books that are divided into months. A while back, I read Richardson Wright's The Gardener's Bed-Book, published in 1929, which is not only by the month, but by the day of the month. Each night before bed, for an entire year, I read that day's entry. It was a delightful reading experience.


One of the best, and most encouraging books as a woman begins to age, is From The Orange Mailbox, Notes From a Few Country Acres by A. Carman Clark, a woman from Maine. She recently died, but was still gardening and writing up until the end. The book contains a year of wonderful monthly essays that cover gardening and life itself.



Another New England gardening writer, this one from New Hampshire, is Henry Hohmeyer. He has a book called Notes From the Garden, Reflections and Observations of an Organic Gardener. A book like this is my bread and butter, my sustenance, my text for gardening information.


Most of Gladys Taber's books are written by the month. They are filled with seasonal delights, quotes, ruminations on weather and country living.

Currently I am reading an author I first heard of in a book of gardening essays edited by Jane Garmey called The Writer in the Garden.


I was delighted by the writing and sense of humor of Henry Mitchell who wrote gardening pieces for the Washington Post. I've just begun his One Man's Garden, and will read January and February, and then each month as it comes. I love the idea of it sitting in my book basket in the kitchen right through next December.