Elizabeth and Her German Garden

Elizabeth tells the story of her year in a diary kept while she and her family lived on her husband's estate in the country. Elizabeth gently mocks her husband, her friends, and others she knows as she tells how she made efforts to create a beautiful garden.

A few samples from the book:

“...if Eve had had a spade in Paradise and known what to do with it, we should not have had all that sad business of the apple.”

“Happiness is so wholesome; it invigorates and warms me into piety far more effectually than any amount of trials and griefs, and an unexpected pleasure is the surest means of bringing me to my knees. In spite of the protestations of some peculiarly constructed persons that they are the better for trials, I don't believe it. Such things must sour us, just as happiness must sweeten us, and make us kinder, and more gentle.”

‘“I hope you are not going to be ill,” said Irais with great concern, “because there is only a cow-doctor to be had here, and though he means well, I believe he is rather rough.” Minora was plainly startled. “But what do you do if you are ill?” she asked. “Oh, we are never ill,” said I; “the very knowledge that there would be no one to cure us seems to keep us healthy.”'

I loved all the gardening parts in this story. The human-interest parts, and Elizabeth's rather dysfunctional marriage and friends, weren't as enjoyable, but I truly enjoyed her talks about learning how to garden and the little incidents with her children and servants. I totally identified with her desire to fill her life with nothing but garden, library, tea, and loving her little daughters! Perhaps she isn't eccentric after all...or does that make me eccentric?