Beautiful at All Seasons:

Southern Gardening and Beyond with Elizabeth Lawrence

By Ann L. Armstrong and Lindie Wilson

Duke University Press, 2007, $24.95

When Ann Armstrong purchased the house and garden of Elizabeth Lawrence 20 years ago, she was overwhelmed by the number of "treasures" she discovered on the premises of one of America's most prestigious gardeners -- Elizabeth Lawrence -- who left a legacy in the horticultural world.

This 264-page book is a compilation, aptly written by Armstrong and co-editor Lindie Wilson, that takes readers on a journey of a garden guru who left more than her mark in gardening.

Through a variety of gardening columns, the text blends lore and fact from Lawrence's weekly column when she wrote for The Charlotte Observer.

Lawrence wrote each column like a story, a teaching story that grips readers into learning and becoming better gardeners.

Lawrence's horticultural expertise is shared via conversations and exchanges with gardening friends from all walks of life. The text is easy reading. You can feel the intimacy between person and plant when Lawrence writes about each group.

For example, when she speaks of clematis hybrids, she notes, "They have aristocratic names. Among the English hybrids are many lords and ladies, several duchesses, and at least one monarch."

Lawrence goes on to name King Edward VII, and states that she doesn't know "how they got the reputation for being so hard to grow. They do have a way of disappearing unexpectedly and unaccountably just when they seem to be at their best, but it is not expensive to replace them, and they grow fast."

Each of the eight chapters is captured with such personal intent that the reader can almost feel the experiences come alive. Lawrence met every challenge that presented itself. As she wrote, "gardeners always delight in doing something that another gardener says can't be done."

Aside from drawing the reader into the text of her informational highway, Lawrence is a storyteller who shares experiences and much plant information with her readers, and there is a constant day-to-day expedition and exploration of discovery as she sees and writes about individual gardens, the people involved, growth patterns, colors and species of gardeners.

Another notable area is titled "Importance of Garden Details." It is within this portion of text that Lawrence verbalizes her true feelings about her garden's "awkward age," as she calls it.

She speaks admirably of unsuitable plants, moving plants, and plants that have become a nuisance. Her thoughts and ideas, as she travels across the landscape, are emotionally written onto the page.

There are no illustrations throughout the text, but it isn't necessary because one can visualize through the written word without pictures. Through the collaboration of two editors, Lawrence's greatness will be remembered.

The book is extremely enjoyable and a must for every gardener on the planet as well as for those who simply wish to embark once again on a lovely journey with Elizabeth Lawrence.

Anita Stone is a Raleigh freelance writer. She may be reached at writer7136@yahoo.com.