Thanks so much for this insightful post. I found her name when searching for lilac quotes to caption a photo. A search to learn more about her led me to this post. I really appreciate all your work to learn more about her. 💜
Last week, I was looking for good January quotes and stumbled upon "January is the Month for Dreaming" by Jean Hersey. I had never heard her name before, so I did what every determined woman of a certain age does at 1 am and took the long way around the information super highway. From the little material I can find, she sounds amazing. The Shape of a Year arrives from Thriftbooks tomorrow. Can't wait to dig in.
I am currently reading a book by her called "Gardening and Being". It is so lovely I don't want it to end. I realized I have another of her books that I never knew she wrote! And I have since bought another and them always on the hunt for others, like you. In the book Gardening and Being, she talks about Tryon, North Carolina. She had a house called Whispering Pines there. She said she "goes there when she wants to slow down because no one ever hurries in Tryon". I think she lived there when she was growing up? Or just when she was younger.
Thanks so much for this insightful post. I found her name when searching for lilac quotes to caption a photo. A search to learn more about her led me to this post. I really appreciate all your work to learn more about her. 💜
You’re welcome! She’s been one of the most popular lost ladies of garden writing.
Last week, I was looking for good January quotes and stumbled upon "January is the Month for Dreaming" by Jean Hersey. I had never heard her name before, so I did what every determined woman of a certain age does at 1 am and took the long way around the information super highway. From the little material I can find, she sounds amazing. The Shape of a Year arrives from Thriftbooks tomorrow. Can't wait to dig in.
I am currently reading a book by her called "Gardening and Being". It is so lovely I don't want it to end. I realized I have another of her books that I never knew she wrote! And I have since bought another and them always on the hunt for others, like you. In the book Gardening and Being, she talks about Tryon, North Carolina. She had a house called Whispering Pines there. She said she "goes there when she wants to slow down because no one ever hurries in Tryon". I think she lived there when she was growing up? Or just when she was younger.
I have "Gardening and Being!" I thought her home in North Carolina was more of a retirement home? I'll have to do some research to be sure.
I haven't heard of her but now will be looking for her books at local shops, too. I love looking for old gardening books!