‘the backyard parables’ and my other books
FRIENDS: “The Backyard Parables” (my third book), released in January 2013, has been called “a blessing” by “Eat, Pray, Love” author Liz Gilbert, and “a love story” by “The Vegetarian Epicure” author Anna Thomas, among other tender feedback. The book was featured in places from “People” magazine to “Good Housekeeping” and “The New York Times.”
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watch the book “trailer” video (below)
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read the preface now online or in a pdf
IF EACH OF YOU who visits here to harvest some of my “horticultural how-to and woo-woo” bought a book, you’d have conspired to create a giant hit! (And I could blog fulltime, and stop answering my accountant’s six-years-running questions about “Now how are you going to monetize this crazy website of yours, Margaret?”) Tee hee, but back to being serious for a second:
I love this latest book with all my heart. I’m so proud of it (and I even shot the cover photo). I hope you will have the chance to read it yourself before too long–whether in hardcover, e-book or audiobook. Just start reading the preface, free, right now by downloading this pdf).
get your own copy now
WANT TO ORDER a copy of “The Backyard Parables”? Some places you can do just that:
my previous books
I HAVE WRITTEN two previous books–one, in 1998, that this website was then named for a decade later, and another (in 2011) about my decision to leave my city fast-lane life and move to my rural garden fulltime. “A Way to Garden” (the book) is a collector’s item now (you can find it at used bookshops sometimes, or used on Amazon or Alibris [dot] com). Plus: An all-new edition comes out in spring 2019. You can purchase “And I Shall Have Some Peace There” at many booksellers, including Amazon (affiliate link).
I heard that your site has information on irrigation, but I am unable to find any. I am specifically interested in drip irrigation for raised beds
Hi, Nick. I have hosted drip irrigation workshops taught by my friend Lee Reich, who is expert in drip systems. That might be the confusion. I don’t have stories about it myself.
Margaret you look wonderful…I wish I could Attend your programs but I am now 92 years young feeling good but slow..Still have my love of life and aa son(David) who is still the same personality…Keep well.Your OLD friend Ruth Spital Flaster
I think of you from time to time, Ruth, and remember many wonderful meals at your house in Brooklyn with you Flasters. How nice of you to say hello!
2 favorite garden books:
Richardson Wright: The Gardener’s Bed Book 1929 (out of print)
Charles Dudley Warner: A Summer in the Garden
I have read & loved all 3 of your books. Thank you!
Whoops posted this in the wrong place!! Sorry about that.
My all time favorite is Gene Stratton Porter, A Girl Of The Limberlost. A book that was published in 1909 and given to me as a child. It had belonged to my grandmother and then my mother and then me. I have probably read it 25 times. Good life lessons teaching values and an appreciation of nature mixed with a little on human failings and forgiveness. If only it could be mandatory reading for every fourth grader.
Just ordered my copy. So excited. Can’t wait. I absolutely adored “And I Shall Have Some Peace There.” Don’t know what took me so long. Thank you for sharing your love, passion and knowledge with your readers Margaret.
Jen
Thanks, Jen, for your kind words and for supporting the book! Very much appreciated on both fronts, and nice to say hello here.
I just started reading Backyard Parables and am so enjoying it. I volunteer at a Botanical Garden and we have a quarterly book club. Our next meeting is in August and this is the book that was chosen for us to read. I am so glad as this is how I found your website. Now I need to find your first two books so I can read them!
That’s good news, Nancy. If your club wants to ever do a Skype “meeting” just let me know! I love “meeting” with book clubs.
I began reading your wonderful book in winter, hoping I’d read as the seasons changed. Life got too busy. Just yesterday, I read of spring inspired executions, and wondered two things. First, I inherited a Hydrangea paniculata which luckily had been trained to be a specimen tree in my front yard. I learned how to prune it from a great gardening article by Bart Ziegler, in The Weekend Gardener, of the WSJ. Second, I planted a Heptcodium miconiodes, a Seven Sons Tree about two months ago, largely because a new neighbor cleared and dug out all trees and shrubs leaving a barren muddy view. I want to be ever happier to see the seasons change. Both trees are beautiful in the fall. How should the Seven Sons grown as a multi trunk tree be pruned? Do you cut a third of the stems down to 6″ after it grows a few years? I do not want to execute it. I have few fragrant trees and certainly none in the fall. Thank you for the fine blog and wonderful books.
Just bought your new book AND sent a copy to my friend for her birthday. I love your garden tips and psychology. And I still like you even though the hellebores that I discovered through you and planted last year did not survive the winter. ;-) It’s part of the trial and error method of gardening that I am getting accustomed to as I read your book.
Thanks, Sue, on all accounts. What a sweet note! I am still trialing and error-ing over here, too! ;)
Congrats Margaret!
Look forward to reading it.
Also wondered if you could restate the source
for those beautiful chairs on your site
Convinced my husband to build them but don’t
Remember where to get the plans
Thanks!
Hi, Fran — and the info on the Wave Hill chairs is at this link.
Just ordered my copy. I have both of your other books and have given additional copies as gifts. I am so glad you keep writing, so glad you are out there. Thanks for keeping the gardening candle lit in your backyard and in our lives!
Just finished reading your book last night. It was a great read in your usual fluid, intimate, insightful manner of writing. There are also more than a few belly laughs such as your confession to eating exclusively with a tablespoon when no one is around to see. Me too, friend. Who can be bothered with a fork? Besides, Emily Post is dead. She’ll never know. Good luck with this, I hope you sell a million!
You just keep creating the nicest books.
Hope this is received as well as they others!
I love that idea of prints! I love that photo also. You have so many beautiful photos I imagine that they would sell very well.From the trees,flowers, the vegetables ( those in a kitchen…inspiring) The frogs are just adorable! Jack the cat… we’ll not look at the rattlesnake though ok? Autograph them…Something to think about, right Mr/Ms accountant?
I just received my copy and will start reading this weekend. If the cover photo is yours what would be the possibility of buying a copy of the photo? (Might be another way to answer the accountant) I love the cover and would love to frame the photo….just wondering. Congratulations, Maureen
Bought the ebook and loving it!! Cover picture is beautiful.
Just got my copy in the mail. They’re calling for more snow today so looking forward to curling up with your book and a pot of tea. Congratulations and keep them coming. ;-)
That was to read, congratulations on the birth of your new book!
Thanks, Dolores!
I just found out that I won a copy from Goodreads!! Very excited. Especially since I just lost my job so I won’t be purchasing any books in the interim.
Congratulations on the GoodReads win, Terri. I hope you will enjoy it. Sad news about the job, of course; so sorry on that score.
Congratulations Margaret! Something to warm your heart on this cold winter day.
Congrats on the new book..if it’s half as good as your last one
it’ll be a grand success…I’ll be ordering today.
Good luck to you and I love your newsletter!
Susan
My copy arrived from Amazon today . . . read the Preface so far. CAN’T WAIT TO DIVE IN!
My pre ordered copy just showed up here today in California! Can’t wait to start reading it.
read half of it yesterday while sitting with my very sick dog, my gardening partner
it is fun and crazy to read things, from the tropical fish as a child to eating from a bowl using a tablespoon, that we have done/do alike
wish you great success with this book!
Trish
Good luck with the book Margaret! I completely ‘get it’. :-)
I know you do, Peter! Love what you are doing in that garden of yours.