Old Herbaceous
by Reginald Arkell
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Delightful descriptions and characterizations enliven this tale of an old-time gardener in an English countryside garden and his love of plants. With tender mentoring and the luck of winning a prize at the flower show, young Herbert becomes what he had dreamed of. This is the amusing story of an awkward orphan child with one leg a bit longer than the other who rises from unremarkable school-boy days spent picking wild-flowers and dodging angry farmers to become the legendary head gardener show more "Old Herbaceous," the most esteemed flower-show judge in the county and a famed horticultural wizard. Old Herbaceous traces his journey from young help to head gardener and although things have changed, the world had started with a garden (in Eden) after all, and things that old don't disappear so easily! Sprinkled with many nuggets of gardening wisdom, this is THE classic novel of the garden and the gardener, a witty and comical portrait, with a main character as unforgettable as P. G. Wodehouse's immortal butler, Jeeves. show lessTags
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This is a gem from James Mustich’s 1000 Books to Read Before You Die. Thanks to a kind teacher who took him under her wing, foundling Herbert Pinnegar developed a love for flowers as a young child. Through a bit of luck and a lot of persistence, young Herbert secured a job in the gardens of a country estate, where over the years he worked his way up the ranks to become head gardener. It’s a sweet, gentle read that spans the years from the late Victorian era to post-World War II, and it will appeal to gardeners and Anglophiles. Warmly recommended.
Well this one is just a cozy read that hit me in just the right way.
Spanning from the late 1800's through the end of WWII, this is the story of a manor house's head gardener, from his inauspicious beginnings as a foundling through to his last days.
I'm left confused about the narrator: for much of the story it feels like you're listening to Old Herbaceous himself telling his story as he looks back; in fact I'm sure it is him. But there are moments of omniscient third person: the narrator lets the reader in on conversations and the internal dialogues of secondary characters that Old Herbaceous couldn't know about. It flows well if you don't focus too hard on it; it didn't throw me out of the story so much as just slow me down a little show more bit.
This was the perfect book for a cold, rainy do-nothing kind of day, and I closed the book smiling. show less
Spanning from the late 1800's through the end of WWII, this is the story of a manor house's head gardener, from his inauspicious beginnings as a foundling through to his last days.
I'm left confused about the narrator: for much of the story it feels like you're listening to Old Herbaceous himself telling his story as he looks back; in fact I'm sure it is him. But there are moments of omniscient third person: the narrator lets the reader in on conversations and the internal dialogues of secondary characters that Old Herbaceous couldn't know about. It flows well if you don't focus too hard on it; it didn't throw me out of the story so much as just slow me down a little show more bit.
This was the perfect book for a cold, rainy do-nothing kind of day, and I closed the book smiling. show less
Herbert Pinnegar reminisces about his life as gardener at the Manor, starting as a 14 year old and ending as head gardener. An orphan left on the doorstep of a kindly village woman with 6 children and possessing one slightly shortened leg, Bert was always a bit of a loner. He was taken under the wing of the local school teacher who was somewhat an authority on wildflowers. At 10 he drew the attention of a local well to do young lady with his exhibit at the flower show. Later when the vicar was giving the boys advice on their future as they graduated mostly sending them into the farming community, the Lady was again present and heard him say he wanted to work with flowers not farm. She was to marry shortly and move to the Manor and she show more told him to go there.
So begins the story of a friendship and a life in gardening, filled with poignant and humorous anecdotes. Since it takes place from 1870 to about 1950 it covers major social changes, 2 wars and technological changes in agriculture, all seen in the microcosm of the Manor. Beautifully written with great characters. show less
So begins the story of a friendship and a life in gardening, filled with poignant and humorous anecdotes. Since it takes place from 1870 to about 1950 it covers major social changes, 2 wars and technological changes in agriculture, all seen in the microcosm of the Manor. Beautifully written with great characters. show less
Testo pacato, a volte leggermente umoristico, sul rapporto tra un giardiniere inglese del secolo scorso e la sua padrona, e le loro vite strettamente legate a quelle del giardino. E' percorso da una malinconia positiva. Un testo che chi ama il giardinaggio adorerà. Per gli altri potrebbe essere un buon libro ma niente più. Perché per capire il rapporto giardiniere-giardino e giardiniere-giardiniere un po' giardinieri lo si deve essere. Ed è una magia che non appartiene a tutti.
Heartfelt, quick read about an old man looking back over his life as head gardener at an English manor house during the Victorian era, the Edwardian era, and two world wars, as well as the comradeship he has with the lady of the house. Very touching.
Witty comic portrait of the career of a head gardener long ago at a Manor house in England. Comfortabe as a pair of old gardening gloves. Particulary liked the love/hate relationship with lawns and gardening in general.
A sweet little book for pure leisurely reading that was a just-right read for me during a busy July.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Old Herbaceous
- Original title
- Old Herbaceous
- Original publication date
- 1951
- People/Characters
- Herbert Pinnegar; Mrs. Charteris
- Important places
- England, UK (a garden)
- Important events
- Novela, Primera Guerra Mundial, Segunda Guerra Mundial. Jardineros
- Epigraph
- La niebla cae sobre el lecho del rio,
ya no quedan rosas,
y aquí estoy yo, a punto de morir,
cuando empieza la cosecha.
Señor, he recorrido millas agotadoras,
Un poco de descanso me vendrá bien.
mu... (show all)y pronto los vecinos estarán en los campos
recogiendo el grano.
Para muchos de ellos,
es extraño el momento
que has elegido.
Aunque en el fondo, da lo mismo, porque
trabajan cada día.
Septiembre puede ser un buen mes
para los carreteros,
así que tú no digas nada cuando yo muera.
Hasta entonces esperaré mi hora:
los carros se habrán detenido
y habrá tiempo para enterrarme.
De Green Fingers Again, REGINAL ALKELL - First words
- It was one of those mild autumn mornings when early mist had turned to soft rain and water dripped from everything.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)- ¿Extraño? En absoluto -dijo la señora Charteris-. Pinnegar era jardinero... sí, jardinero... Y los jardineros son todos un poco así.
- Original language
- English
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- Members
- 307
- Popularity
- 104,181
- Reviews
- 10
- Rating
- (3.86)
- Languages
- English, German, Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 21
- ASINs
- 13
