The Roots of My Obsession: Thirty Great Gardeners Reveal Why They Garden

This slim book of short essays by 30 top gardeners is as varied as any garden, with something for every taste and style. It’s a bit like getting a letter (or e-mail) from your favorite gardener. The tone is informal, even if the gardener’s style is not. The reader comes to understand the English accent to Sydney Eddison’s gardening, the surprising Turkish heritage of Fergus Garrett, the yummy crunch behind Rosalind Creasy’s edibles. The essays are bite-sized and intelligent; these gardener-writers are both pithy and reflective, as befits people who know truth and beauty, but also need to weed and mulch. This charming, simple book makes a great gift for gardening friends, who can curl up with it on a rainy day and reflect on their own obsession. (Aug.)