Unearthing The Secret Garden: The Plants and Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett

I loved the classic story "The Secret Garden" and I also love gardening. This book is a perfect marriage of the two. The book is a treasure trove of photos, illustrations, and botanical paintings. The book also includes a complete list of the authors plants, flowers and fruit trees in all of her gardens. I highly recommend this book to all fans of Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I've long been a fan of Marta MacDowell's elegant and knowledgeable garden-related prose. For me, as a gardener, a writer, and a reader, my cup overflows when she turns her discerning eye to writers and their gardens. Beatrix Potter, Emily Dickenson, Laura Ingalls Wilder have all received their due from this fine writer. But, oh! when she takes on Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden, it is a match made in gardening heaven.I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in saying that The Secret Garden is one of the formative and best beloved books of my childhood. MacDowell's account of Burnett's life and writing and gardens is a sumptuous feast of delights. Much like Louisa May Alcott, Burnett turned to writing ‘pot-boilers’ to support herself and her family. With the publication of Little Lord Fauntleroy, she became a very wealthy woman--and was enabled to support her gardening passion in a manner most of us can only dream of. Gardeners! Cartloads of rose bushes! Delphiniums by the bushel!During the course of her life, Burnett made gardens at three homes--one in England, one on Long Island, and one in Bermuda. MacDowell details the making of these wonderlands in such vivid description that the photographs and illustrations of which the book is full, are hardly necessary, delightful though they are.And learning about Burnett herself was fascinating. I've had an almost lifelong acquaintance with Mary Lenox (The Secret Garden) and Sara Crewe (A Little Princess) and I loved seeing how they echoed bits of their creator's life.Highly recommended, especially for gardeners and fans of The Secret Garden.

I enjoyed the book so much I gave it as a Christmas gift for friends.

Unearthing The Secret Garden is also subtitled The Plants and Places That Inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett. Marta McDowell’s book is actually about the second part of the title, the places that Frances Hodgson Burnett lived and the gardens that she loved when she was at those places. While some of The Secret Garden is incorporated into the book it is mostly about the author of that book.I did not discover The Secret Garden until I was an adult. It is a story I learned to love especially the positive changes and growth in the young characters. However, I never realized how much that Frances Hodgson Burnett's gardens play in her enjoyment of life. Along with the narrative there are garden photographs that include Frances Hodgson Burnett, more recent drawings, and plant photos.Unearthing The Secret Garden is an interesting easy to read book. I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed The Secret Garden but also to those who enjoys visiting gardens.The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Fascinating and extremely deep revelation of the past of the author of the Secret Garden and of her own real and still famous English gardens. Superb early and later photographs of this marvelous gardener's execution of new and exciting garden designs for her time and location, as well as exquisite drawings illustrating the folks who made the Secret Garden so provocatively personal.

This used book arrived very promptly in a bubble wrapper that also had a piece of cardboard, which added extra protection. Additionally, the book looks brand new. The book is for a relative and so I have no actual review of it.

I couldn't put this book down. I finished it in two days. I usually lose interest in a book after a few chapters. Not this one. Very easy reading with many photos and illustrations. Well written and researched. Well done. 🌹

This book really unearths Frances Hodgson Burnett’s life and gardens. From the depths of her early upbringing on , we see how Burnett grew to be self-made, independent, far ahead of her times, hard working and well travelled. The books outlines how flowers made the woman and her gardens and her writings. The book makes me want to garden and to look at others’ gardens. It digs up memories of gardens and experiences too. I loved the tie-ins to Burnett’s books and gardens too. Easy and entertaining reading I was sorry when The book ended.

This is a thoroughly researched book that uncovers many of the references and people , to revealing the meaning behind the secret garden and, it’s author.Beautifully illustrated throughout, and well written.