Ken Druse: The Passion for Gardening

Ken Druse’s passion for gardening has always been the unmistakable force behind each of his books. Now, with The Passion for Gardening, Druse writes about this inspiration, the underlying spirit that is shared by all gardeners. This is not a simple how-to book, but a why-to. Why do we garden? And how are our lives immeasurably enriched by the process? As the world around us grows more chaotic each day, Druse, in rich and thoughtful prose, reminds us to slow down, put a trowel to the earth, and consider the wonders and healing powers of tending a garden. Gardening, he tell us, is an antidote for today’s hectic pace.

In The Passion for Gardening, Druse meditates on the issues close to heart of all gardeners: the notions of giving back and of conservation, of taking risks and the creative process of collaborating with nature and one’s community. Along the way, he introduces us to a variety of extraordinary gardeners and their gardens, revealing how they have cultivated their natural spaces and, in turn, have themselves been transformed in the process. Druse visits ten remarkable gardens, including a Michigan landscaper’s 60-acre natural habitat, a West Coast garden inspired by “the Japanese aesthetic,” and Chanticleer, a delightful public estate on Philadelphia’s Main Line that Druse dubs “a paradise in progress.” Of particular note is a special section on Druse’s own garden, including an unprecedented view of nature’s contribution through the seasons that provides us with a deeper understanding of how gardens truly live.

With more than 250 dazzling color photographs, as well as practical advice on replanting shrubs and trees, creating garden paths and sculptures, and controlling pests naturally, The Passion for Gardening is an inspirational and intimate look at gardening for a lifetime.