Imaginative Small Gardens

Time for another antique gardening book review, this time Imaginative Small Gardens by Nancy Grasby (Hearthside Press, New York, 1963). Grasby (1900-1990) was born in Australia, moved to the United States to study landscape design at University of California, set up a landscape architect firm in New York, and published Imaginative Small Gardens from her experience. My copy of the book was previously owned by two gardening sisters, Martha Fuller and Irene (Fuller) Baird, and left for us when we bought their house in Southern California. Martha and Irene were childhood friends of my Grandma Char and her three sisters (Mary Bina, Rachel, and Blessing) when they all lived in South Dakota. Later they continued the friendship after everyone moved to Southern California. Our last antique gardening book was The Complete Book of Garden Magic.

The Introduction indicates that the book is for beginners, and focuses on properties up to 100 x 75 feet, of which the garden is a smaller part. Grasby dedicated the book to Lester Rowntree, which immediately captured my interest (recall Plant Hunters: Lester Rowntree). Part I of the book provides information about planning, construction, drainage, soil, and hardscape, and includes multiple planting plans. Glossy black and white plates give examples of landscaping treatments, and drawings illustrate the various plans. The book also provides a list of design principles for working with a smaller lot, such as:

• A long narrow strip of land can be made to seem shorter by breaking it into smaller areas or by introducing different levels.
• A small property can be made to look larger by running a diagonal axis from one corner to another.
• The garden plan should take into account the approach from the street, as well as the view from inside the house.
• Path widths should be in scale with the property. Four feet wide is the ideal for main paths, with a three feet minimum for any path.
• Plantings should be in scale with the house.
• A formal arrangement of plants and paths can work well in a small garden, with the right scale of plants.

Part II of the book describes how to select plant material for color, fragrance, foliage, and durability. Grasby recommends some plants in various categories, such as trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, and flowers/bulbs. She provides both common and species names, and indicates they are only examples, with many more species available for specific climates and planting conditions. The book focuses on plants for Midwestern, Southern, and East Coast gardens, but Grasby makes a point to include plants for California and the West Coast as well.

Sample garden plan for a long, narrow Brownstone backyard
(This book is in the public domain in the United States of America)

The garden plans and their explanations were especially interesting, describing goals, challenges to overcome, and design principles to follow. My favorite plan is for a square garden, which can be planted in several ways (such as for flowers, herbs, or fruits and vegetables). A portion of the planting area is positioned on an axis, which does seem to make the garden look larger. Click on the photos to better see the detail.

Square garden designed for flowers

Square garden designed for herbs

Square garden designed for fruits and vegetables

The back matter includes a reference section and a comprehensive index. Library recommendations include Taylor's Encyclopedia of Gardening (Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston Mass.), which is now published in separate volumes by category. Other titles include the Sunset Western Garden Book (Lane Book Co., Menlo Park, CA); Garden Design by Sylvia Crowe (Hearthside Press, Inc.); and T. H. Everett's Lawns and Landscaping Handbook (Everett Book No. 302, Fawcett Publications Inc., Greenwich (Conn.).

I recommend this book for anyone interested in small garden design, garden history, and women landscapers. The design information is current and relevant (Grasby refers to Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, and recommends plants that are in keeping with the garden's region and climate for best results). In closing, I learned that in 1938, Grasby was an apprentice to Lester Rowntree on a plant collection trip to Mexico (which satisfied my curiosity about why Grasby dedicating the book to Rowntree)!