THE FRONT PORCH COLLECTION

Continuing gleanings from the rich garner of my Front Porch Collection,this curious little volume is called The Gardener's Year by Karel Capek.Capek apparently was a well recognised Czech writer who coined the word 'robot' for the first time in one of his plays. The Czech original was published in Prague in 1929 and it has been described as "a timeless classic of wit and wisdom,sure to capture the heart and imagination of every gardener."A Sunday Times reviewer at the time of publication of this English translation remarked "This delightful little book is cram full of information,philosophy,and humour." And the Observer enthused "As packed and delightful a volume of humour and entertainment,not without wisdom and poetry,as one can expect to meet in a year's reading" The illustrations are done by Karels brother Josef,himself a well-renowned artist who died in Belsen concentration camp during World War 11. -GOSh.

THE GARDENER'S YEAR

Roses,phloxes,selenium and coreopsis,hemerocallis,gladiolus,campanula,and monk’s-hood, and inula,and dragon’s-head, and marguerite-thank God! Flowers enough yet for these bad conditions! Always something flowers and something is fading; always you must cut withered stalks, murmuring (to the flower, not to yourself):”And with you also it is over.”
Look at those flowers, in very truth they are like women: so beautiful and fresh, you can feast your eyes on them and never see all their beauty, always something escapes you, good Lord, when beauty is so insatiable; but as soon as they begin to fade, I hardly know, but they cease to look after themselves(I am talking of flowers),and if one wished to be brutal, he would say that they look like rags. What a pity, my sweet beauty (I am talking of flowers),what a pity that time is so fleeting; beauty comes to an end, and only the gardener remains.

Karel Capek