American Garden Magazine in 1884 Recommended English Book on Flowers

I remember that my early books on gardening were often written by English authors.

I sometimes wondered why I was reading a book by an English garden writer.

American gardeners have been doing so for a long time.

British horticulturalist  William Robinson wrote the book The English Flower Garden in 1883.

Philadelphia nurseryman Thomas Meehan wrote in the 1884 issue of his magazine Gardener’s Monthly: “Though called the ‘English’ Flower Garden it is in a great measure suited as well to America.  In fact, it is a work which should have a wide sale in our country.”

With such encouragement from the seed and nursery industries, it was no surprise that American gardeners devoured books by Robinson and his contemporary, artist and landscape designer Gertrude Jekyll.

Meehan also wrote in the same issue of GM: “We can cordially commend it [the book] to American readers, as perhaps the most profitable floricultural work that has appeared for many a long day.”

I know I enjoyed reading Robinson’s other book, The Wild Garden, written in 1870.  Why not this one?

Have you read Robinson’s book on flowers yet?