Home » Plants & Animals » Cottage Garden » The Contemporary Garden Journal: Readers, Writers and Publishers

The Contemporary Garden Journal: Readers, Writers and Publishers

© Barbara M. Martin

Here's a time-tested model garden journalist: Thomas Jefferson. This man kept a detailed account. He was a serious gardener and a prolific correspondent, and that's how we are fortunate to know so much about his gardens at Monticello as well as garden practices during the time he gardened. I am thankful for his efforts, and indeed he was a rarity among gardeners — a copious and diligent recorder.

I say a rarity with good reason. How many of us have achieved results more closely akin to Rhonda's Gardening Journals? At least she started, not once but twice, which is better than many of us can say.

I will admit to using a book to record seed starting, bulb planting and tree planting. The book is falling apart, which I suppose testifies to constant use over the years. In all fairness, I believe it reflects one trip too many out into the spring mud, but that's another story! And in all honesty, it is a mere record — no personal thoughts or opinions to speak of there!

Here is a community garden journal with great beginnings and revealing entries. Amazing how much we learn beyond the Clinton Community Garden in Hell's Kitchen! But why did he stop? I suppose I could e-mail and ask, but that would almost seem like an intrusion, don't you think? (I haven't asked Rhonda, either!)

Maybe I am hyper-sensitive and mistakenly assume such a personal garden journal to be akin to a "Dear Diary" where we confess terrible deeds like forgetting to water a full flat of expensive mail-order plants so many times they all died or neglecting to plant an entire sack full of horribly rare bulbs and letting them freeze and rot on the back porch? Or remembering negative thoughts like so-and-so gave a talk and slides and it was sooooooo boring and really, their garden isn't worth diddly when you get right down to looking at it? Or collecting photos torn out of magazines from the doctors' office (you know you're supposed to leave the magazine intact for the next person to "enjoy" while they sweat out the inevitable wait)? Or recording those great combinations we plan to replicate at home!?! (This may be a bad thing in particular for garden designers, but I believe imitation is the very best form of flattery, don't you!)

So why do gardeners keep journals? For some it may be a scientific interest such as Travis Saling so recently encouraged in his Suite 101 A Time for Reflection (and I certainly concur!). Good gardening has to begin with observation! (See my own recent Garden Observer!)