I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE to study at the boots of masters. I owe Julie Morris, Blithewold’s director of horticulture emerita, and Gail Read, gardens manager, the moon for the chance to gain confidence and voice alongside them in Blithewold’s gardens and greenhouse. I learn something new every day, and more from the garden volunteers there than they might think possible. And I feel incredibly lucky for every minute I spend with expert gardeners and industry professionals, far too numerous to mention by name, who make plant parenthood look easy. My deepest thanks go to Phillip Schwab for encouraging a growing enthusiasm and letting me call his garden my first.
I am beyond grateful to my faithful blog and column readers, especially author Andrew Keys who paid me the biggest compliment ever, and Beverly Christ. Thanks to my proofreaders, Gary Martin and Patricia Green whose goofy notes in the margins made rewriting more fun. I owe Julie Morris another moon for checking the content for horticultural correctness. (Any remaining errors snuck in after.) If not for the team at Timber Press, you wouldn’t even be reading these words. I am especially grateful to Juree Sondker, who so gracefully guided this project from proposal to print, uncluttering my messy thought process along the way, and Mollie Firestone for taking such tremendous care with the manuscript.
I have Marci LeBrun and her constructive criticism to thank for making me a better photographer. For allowing me to take my best shots, a huge round of applause goes to Patricia Bailey and the Hope Street Blooms kids; Gioia Browne and Jim Marsh; Martha Christina; Sean Conway; Layanee DeMerchant; Jim Donahue of Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, Rhode Island; Tim and Leila Gillespie; Pamela Gilpin; Lois Hartley; Andrew Keys; Byron and Laurelynn Martin of Logee’s Greenhouse in Danielson, Connecticut; Heidi McCabe; Pam Meyer; Julie Morris; Jill Nooney and Bob Munger of Bedrock Gardens in Lee, New Hampshire; Cris and Eric Offenburg; Rick Peckham of Peckham’s Greenhouse in Little Compton, Rhode Island; Virginia Purviance; Louis Raymond; Gail Read; Dorothy Swift; Katherine and Chris Tracey of Avant Gardens in Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Margaret Whitehead; and Laura Willson. I used those photo shoots as much for inspiration as for pictures, though I’m thrilled some made it into the book. Thanks also to Karen Binder, Blithewold’s executive director for allowing me to use the photos I take for Blithewold’s garden blog. Layanee DeMerchant, Gail Read, and Phillip Schwab deserve extra thanks for contributing their own photos to help fill my gaps.
I credit my family and friends, especially Mum and Gary, Miki Green, Anna Links, and May Morris for giving me the push of love and encouragement that sent me leaping out of my comfort zone to write this. You’re (all) The Best. And finally, there aren’t words enough to acknowledge my husband, chef, love, Isaiah Lawrence and the million ways he works to make my work easier, and our life together as smooth and sweet as his signature crème brûlée.