EBOOK
About
"A visitor from down south stared at my apple tree
and said: 'Those don't grow here you know. It's too cold.'
If the apricot tree in Highlands knew it couldn't live here,
it might stop scattering white blossoms over three lawns." – Bert Almon
Edmonton has a rich and diverse horticultural history. Vacant lot gardeners, rose gardeners, and horticultural societies have all contributed to the beautification of the capital city of Alberta, and through the enthusiasm of florists, seedsmen, and plant breeders the city has developed a distinct horticultural character. In this collection of nine essays, each with a different theme, Kathryn Chase Merrett depicts the development of Edmonton's social, cultural, and physical landscape as it has been shaped by champions of both nature and the garden. Edmontonians and all urbanites interested in gardening and local history, as well as professors and students of history, cultural studies, and urban design, will delight in the colourful storytelling of Why Grow Here. Nine essays explore how gardeners and gardens molded Edmonton's social, cultural, and physical landscape. "I am roughly halfway through the book, and what has amazed me is how much of the rich history our city is connected to the land and those who have shaped it, and turned it to good purposes. I love what I am learning about the people who contributed to giving shape and content to life here. Your writing style is so accessible -- great history and storytelling -- a magic combination in my books. Well done!" I must tell you how fascinating your new book is and how much I learned!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The different essays were very enlightening and so much that I did not know. The section on the Chinese Gardeners and the contribution of Gladys Reeves were totally unknown to me and really are an interesting part of Edmonton's history! "I have just finished your book and am wanting to thank you for writing it. I found all of the essays very interesting, the writing excellent, and the development of themes riveting. I pictured you pouring over sources and enjoying all the small and big discoveries. Loved the way you traced the evolution of the City Beautiful theme to present day community gardens. I enjoyed the book and was impressed by your work on it." 30 B&W photographs, bibliography, notes, index #8 on the Edmonton Journal's Bestsellers list (Edmonton Nonfiction) for the week of August 07, 2015 #10 on the Edmonton Journal's Bestsellers list (Edmonton Nonfiction) for the week of August 14, 2015 "Why Grow Here [is a] lovely read that's full of details that anyone will enjoy." "…well-written, meticulously researched stand-alone essays that illustrate the long history of what [Kathryn Chase Merrett] calls horticultural optimism in Edmonton, Alberta, on the Great Plains' northern edge. She interweaves major horticultural activities and the people who made Edmonton a garden city… Merrett traces a common North American horticultural story: a new settlement concentrates on survival and subsistence first, then slowly on beautification…. What makes Edmonton's story a bit different? I think it is the passionate plant breeders (almost a who's who of northern hybridists) who made it their life's mission to create hardy roses to make Edmonton the "city of roses." "For most Edmontonians and those with an interest in gardening, this book is a must." Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1 Why Grow Here?
2 Donald Ross: Edmonton's "Father of Gardening"
3 Nature's Garden Transformed
4 Among the First
5 The Edmonton Horticultural Society: Working for the City Beautiful
6 Waste Places: Vacant Lot Gardening in Edmonton
7 Edmonton, the Rose City
8 The Invisible Tapestry: Remembering Edmonton's Chinese Gardeners
9 Citizen Gardener
Notes
Sources
Index
and said: 'Those don't grow here you know. It's too cold.'
If the apricot tree in Highlands knew it couldn't live here,
it might stop scattering white blossoms over three lawns." – Bert Almon
Edmonton has a rich and diverse horticultural history. Vacant lot gardeners, rose gardeners, and horticultural societies have all contributed to the beautification of the capital city of Alberta, and through the enthusiasm of florists, seedsmen, and plant breeders the city has developed a distinct horticultural character. In this collection of nine essays, each with a different theme, Kathryn Chase Merrett depicts the development of Edmonton's social, cultural, and physical landscape as it has been shaped by champions of both nature and the garden. Edmontonians and all urbanites interested in gardening and local history, as well as professors and students of history, cultural studies, and urban design, will delight in the colourful storytelling of Why Grow Here. Nine essays explore how gardeners and gardens molded Edmonton's social, cultural, and physical landscape. "I am roughly halfway through the book, and what has amazed me is how much of the rich history our city is connected to the land and those who have shaped it, and turned it to good purposes. I love what I am learning about the people who contributed to giving shape and content to life here. Your writing style is so accessible -- great history and storytelling -- a magic combination in my books. Well done!" I must tell you how fascinating your new book is and how much I learned!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The different essays were very enlightening and so much that I did not know. The section on the Chinese Gardeners and the contribution of Gladys Reeves were totally unknown to me and really are an interesting part of Edmonton's history! "I have just finished your book and am wanting to thank you for writing it. I found all of the essays very interesting, the writing excellent, and the development of themes riveting. I pictured you pouring over sources and enjoying all the small and big discoveries. Loved the way you traced the evolution of the City Beautiful theme to present day community gardens. I enjoyed the book and was impressed by your work on it." 30 B&W photographs, bibliography, notes, index #8 on the Edmonton Journal's Bestsellers list (Edmonton Nonfiction) for the week of August 07, 2015 #10 on the Edmonton Journal's Bestsellers list (Edmonton Nonfiction) for the week of August 14, 2015 "Why Grow Here [is a] lovely read that's full of details that anyone will enjoy." "…well-written, meticulously researched stand-alone essays that illustrate the long history of what [Kathryn Chase Merrett] calls horticultural optimism in Edmonton, Alberta, on the Great Plains' northern edge. She interweaves major horticultural activities and the people who made Edmonton a garden city… Merrett traces a common North American horticultural story: a new settlement concentrates on survival and subsistence first, then slowly on beautification…. What makes Edmonton's story a bit different? I think it is the passionate plant breeders (almost a who's who of northern hybridists) who made it their life's mission to create hardy roses to make Edmonton the "city of roses." "For most Edmontonians and those with an interest in gardening, this book is a must." Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1 Why Grow Here?
2 Donald Ross: Edmonton's "Father of Gardening"
3 Nature's Garden Transformed
4 Among the First
5 The Edmonton Horticultural Society: Working for the City Beautiful
6 Waste Places: Vacant Lot Gardening in Edmonton
7 Edmonton, the Rose City
8 The Invisible Tapestry: Remembering Edmonton's Chinese Gardeners
9 Citizen Gardener
Notes
Sources
Index