I SAW MY FIRST COPIES of “The Backyard Parables” today—and even though it’s not out officially till January 15, ‘tis the season to be generous. Here are two ways you can win one of the first books off the presses:
1. GOODREADS [DOT] COM, like a giant virtual book club, is hosting a giveaway of five copies of “The Backyard Parables.” You have to be a Goodreads member, which is free—and a great resource for any reader. I’m a member, and so are many of my author friends. Enter their giveaway by clicking here.
2. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, I’ve got five books to share, too. Here’s how that will work:
I’ll use the random-number tool on random [dot] org to select one winner a day from December 26-30, at 6 PM Eastern daily. The rules:
- You must be a subscriber to my email newsletter to win. (If you’re not yet, it’s free—all you do is put your email in the little “bubble” at the top right of any page on the blog, just above the green frog, then click the gray “JOIN…” button below that…or click here to get started.
- To enter, comment below by telling me something (besides my book!) that was on your holiday-gift wishlist.
- You can only enter once.
get your own copy on publication day
WANT TO BE GUARANTEED you’ll have a copy of “The Backyard Parables” in your hands on publication date, January 15? Order now (specific details on shipping methods and arrival dates are at each vendor’s “The Backyard Parables” page, links below):
Wishing for a fountain – some moving water feature – for the birds.
Having my daughter home from Los Angeles-and my wish came true!
I’m wishing for snow on Christmas. It just isn’t the same without it.
Keeping my fingers crossed for Nigel Slater’s Kitchen Diaries II. Loved KD I so much, I can’t wait for the sequel.
Thank you, Margaret, for another year of great garden writing!
My Christmas list included 10 glass globes for creating mini land and sea scapes with assorted fabulous xepiphytes. I’ve been enjoying creating them. I’ve got two hanging in the bathroom, two more in the kitchen window and a few I’m sharing. Also a new Le Crueset pot in Carribean blue-my color, with trivets-for winter soups.
I actually asked for lawn bags … I can never have enough to fill with the invasive weeds that have gone to seed. I compost the leaves, and the leafier parts of larger weeds, but the vines and seed heads I bundle up for pickup.
I would love a garden dabbler!
I’d love a copy!
On my wishlist is a good pair of pruners…preferably one of those bypass ones with the self ratcheting feature to ease the effort!
A garden journal sounds wonderful too, but I’m not consistent in taking notes.
Oh Santa, pruners please!
And your book! Merry Christmas! Love reading your work!
All I ever want are books–in addition to yours, I’m hoping for the new Grace Coddington memoir! After a tough growing season of drought and heat and now drought and cold, I’m ready to curl up inside and read about your fantastic garden in NY!
I would love to have a garden designer come over and tell me how to pull the garden together. Have a Merry Merry and a Happy Happy!!
I’d like a good bottle of wine to sip with a good book.
On my wishlist – good health to my husband and a great pair of Felco pruners!
I love running the trails on our 65-acre tree farm, but as the weather turns my feet get soggy. So I am hoping Santa brings me a pair of Gortex running shoes. I imagine wearing them not only for running but for gardening, clearing the raspberry patch, tending to my two beehives, tapping the sugar maple grove in the spring… you get the idea. And I hope I win a copy of your book. Lovely words from a lovely lady.
My wish list consists mostly of plant-related items including more terrariums and a book about Begonias (my newest passion).
Congratulations on the new book! The cover is so lovely. On my list: spacious times of good food, laughter, family, and play.
As I take my “long winter’s nap” instead of dreaming of “sugar plum fairies” I’ll be dreaming of what next summer’s garden will look like and all the new flowers and vegetables I can plant.
Snow!
Wishing for snow, snow, snow and peace between extended family members.
I asked for good quality gardening gloves!
Hello…well frankly, this my dear would be a gift worth waiting for..(enough about the book) My wish list; they we gardeners grow enough veggies to share with others, share plants, get dirty and laugh more…at the sunshine, squirrels, birds…treasure each moment…..MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE…. Dottie
Peace of mind.
The Davis Vantage Vue weather station that you brought to our attention. I had been looking for a new one, have had a few of the cheaper models, like the one that has not worked for a while now. Thank you.
Hi Margaret – a big fan of your website and newsletter! All I’ve asked for are gardening books – specifically yours, and one on container gardening, plus a new pair of Felco pruners. Happy Holidays!
I’m wishing for a house full of family. Two more days and my wish comes true!
I asked for flower bulbs (any variety).
My family wished for snow. I wished the snow blower to start on the first try.
We both got our wishes!
William T. Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners: A Handbook on the Origin and Meaning of the Botanical Names of some Cultivated Plants. I’m SUCH a geek.
After many hospital stays and surgeries this past year, we each received the best gift: that each of us is healthy and healed. But if my ‘Santa’ is so inclined, I do have a large metal trash can on my wish list so I can mix and keep a big container of my own seed starting mixture right next to my potting table.
Keep writing Margaret. I love your blog!
Remaining cancer free. I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer 15 years ago when my 3 children were babies and even after all this time having it remain scares the heck out of me.
My husband and I quit exchanging gifts a few years ago. We have been downsizing so any gift has to be consumable, or readable, or something for the garden & nothing that takes space for a long time. My stepdaughter suggested that we wrap a book from our bookshelf and exchange. We initially bought art together each Christmas until our walls were full and then we agreed to stop with the Christmas gifts exhange for each other altogether. We give meaningful small gifts all year long, mostly through things we do for each other.We get great pleasure in giving gifts to our grandkids and great nieces and nephew. My true gift is my husband and I pray for one more healthy year together.
New workboots!
I asked for some new garden tools as I broke the handle on my favorite digging fork!
I asked for plants and got a gift certificate to a nice nursery from my husband (we opened presents last night cause we’ll be fly8ing to visit relatives tomorrow). Thanks for the free book offer!
I really reallly wanted a garden house to hold all those gardening tools that get scattered about. The old truck cap I have been using for 30+ years has just about had it. It’s not to be though. I need to start a fund.
I probably should ask for a fulltime gardener to help me on my 5 acre parcel!!!
Can’t think of any “stuff” that I want. I’d like to be a blessing to others in 2013.
A yoga dvd to keep me limber enough to keep on gardening.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE….all the best to one and all….and a special heart felt best wishes to you Margaret….on my hoilday-wish list is a copy of David Hicks, My Kind of Garden….briefly saw a copy of the book awhile ago, now wish to have it….again, all the best everyone.
My wish is to have my whole family home for Christmas, my son and daughter’s boyfriend both work in N.Dakota ..they are going to be here!
Among other books: Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, The Unexpected Houseplant: 220 Extraordinary Choices for Every Spot in Your Home, a few CD’s and a heavy duty chain saw for working on the overgrown trails leading through the back 40! Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!
I wish for a Happy Family and new pyjamas and slippers (to lounge in while reading the seed catalogs!)
My wish list included a composter, mulcher/shredder, canning supplies, and maybe a bottle tree for my garden! Hope your holidays are wonderful!
I wish for improved health for myself, my husband, and all our extended family and friends.
The list was very short as I have been blessed having all the family together under one roof this year. That said, a new camera to better photograph my garden adventures! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Jack!
I received a clean report on a biopsy taken recently. So I have already received my most wanted gift. My list included several warm items of clothing so that I can enjoy gardening without feeling too cold. Good health and a great new year to all.
Silk long johns are on my wish list. That way I can still be outdoors in the cold!
A home for a couple of kittens I rescued in September. They are available for adoption at Pixie Project in Portland, OR (see Riley and Mouse) http://www.pixieproject.org/page/2/
I’ve wished for a more peaceful world for my grandchildren to grow up in. Loved reading your book’s excerpt. Look forward to its publication.
My husband bought me a Buddha fountain that adds so much peace to our conservatory. We will be able to enjoy it all winter.
Merry Christmas Margaret and all the gardeners around the world. My wish is for healing on a personal level, and national and global level. Gardening is a good start.