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The Gardens of Emily Dickinson

judith farr louise carter

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In this first substantial study of Emily Dickinson's devotion to flowers and gardening, Judith Farr seeks to join both poet and gardener in one creative personality. She casts new light on Dickinson's temperament, her aesthetic sensibility, and her vision of the relationship between art and nature, revealing that the successful gardener's intimate understanding of horticulture helped shape the poet's choice of metaphors for every experience: love and hate, wickedness and virtue, death and immortality.

Gardening, Farr demonstrates, was Dickinson's other vocation, more public than the making of poems but analogous and closely related to it. Over a third of Dickinson's poems and nearly half of her letters allude with passionate intensity to her favorite wildflowers, to traditional blooms like the daisy or gentian, and to the exotic gardenias and jasmines of her conservatory. Each flower was assigned specific connotations by the nineteenth century floral dictionaries she knew; thus, Dickinson's association of various flowers with friends, family, and lovers, like the tropes and scenarios presented in her poems, establishes her participation in the literary and painterly culture of her day. A chapter, "Gardening with Emily Dickinson" by Louise Carter, cites family letters and memoirs to conjecture the kinds of flowers contained in the poet's indoor and outdoor gardens. Carter hypothesizes Dickinson's methods of gardening, explaining how one might grow her flowers today.

Beautifully illustrated and written with verve, "The Gardens of Emily Dickinson" will provide pleasure and insight to a wide audience of scholars, admirers of Dickinson's poetry, and garden lovers everywhere.

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 30,2004
Literary awards
rose mary crawshay prize, 

This edition

Format
368 pages, Paperback
Published
October 31, 2005 by Harvard University Press
ISBN
9780674018297
ASIN
067401829X
Language
English

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About the author

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judith farr

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Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 19 votes)
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19 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Moomochi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This was an interesting book that I read during my Senior Seminar on Emily Dickinson.

It truly unveiled an intriguing aspect of Dickinson that we had merely touched upon in the seminar.

Although it wasn't the most thrilling read or the most exciting paper I composed about it, it did offer an additional dimension to Dickinson.

This not only aided in comprehending some of the symbolism within her poetry but also contributed to getting to know Dickinson better and perceiving her as a real person.

The book delved deeper into her life, her thoughts, and her creative process, providing valuable insights that enhanced our understanding of her works.

It was a worthwhile addition to my study of Emily Dickinson and helped me to gain a more comprehensive perspective on this remarkable poet.
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Mor_God
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I give up.

This task seems to plod along at best through the multitude of meanings of individual flowers. It's a rather complex and perhaps somewhat overwhelming endeavor.

There are just so many different interpretations and symbolic associations that one could explore.

Maybe some other time, when I'm in a different frame of mind or have more energy and inspiration, it will strike my fancy.

For now, I'll set it aside and focus on other things.

But who knows, perhaps in the future, I'll come back to it with a new perspective and a greater appreciation for the beauty and depth of the meanings hidden within each flower.

Until then, I'll wait and see what other opportunities and interests come my way.

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PearlescentGem
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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shubh_kun
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is my favourite book that I've read for my dissertation.

Initially, all I intended was to peruse just one chapter. However, from the very moment I started reading, I found myself completely engrossed and simply could not put it down.

Before I knew it, I had devoured the entire book. It is an absolute treasure trove of information, presenting a wealth of knowledge in a highly engaging and eloquent manner.

The author's writing style is so captivating that it draws the reader in and keeps them hooked from start to finish. Every page is filled with interesting insights and thought-provoking ideas that have truly enhanced my understanding of the subject matter.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who is interested in delving deeper into the topic. It is a must-read for all scholars and enthusiasts alike.
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lollipopling
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I am truly and sincerely going to embark on the wonderful journey of growing some heliotrope in my very own backyard.

Heliotrope is such a beautiful and fragrant flower, and the thought of having it blooming right outside my door fills me with excitement.

I can already envision the vibrant purple blossoms adding a pop of color and charm to my outdoor space.

Not only will it enhance the aesthetic appeal of my backyard, but it will also attract lovely butterflies and bees, creating a lively and harmonious ecosystem.

I will carefully prepare the soil, ensuring it is rich and fertile, and then plant the heliotrope seeds with great care and anticipation.

As the days pass, I will watch with joy as the tiny seedlings emerge and begin to grow into magnificent plants.

I can't wait to see the final result and enjoy the beauty and fragrance of my very own heliotrope garden.
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liniageline89
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is a rather dense text that delves into Emily Dickinson's profound love for flowers, her ingenious use of them in her poetry, and the intricate connection of those poems to her real life situations. I must admit, I found it quite a challenging read.

The best chapter, without a doubt, was Louise Carter's "Gardening with Emily Dickinson". It had a refreshing quality, reading more like a practical and helpful account of Emily Dickinson's gardens rather than a dry doctoral thesis.

Farr, however, has one habit that really irritates me and which I simply don't understand. She inserts words in parentheses right in the middle of sentences, such as in this example: "She had at least two (unconsummated) love affairs with men... ." (p. 34). The truth is, no one can say for certain if Emily Dickinson ever had a consummated love affair. And if the author somehow knows that the two specific relationships she mentions were unconsummated, then why bother putting the word in parentheses? I found this writing style truly puzzling and extremely annoying.

Despite all this, it's clear that this book was the result of thorough research. However, I just couldn't find it very easy to read. I did, though, enjoy the beautiful art and photos that were included, as well as the lovely snippets of Dickinson's poetry.

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Amiable_Raven
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I fucking love Emily Dickinson.

The book about her was really good and it had an amazing perspective.

Emily Dickinson uses Eden as a reference to an ideal state or place. In my opinion, it's really cool and girlboss.

Anyway, it's used to show her desire and temptations. She's so smart for this.

However, it shocked me that the line in a letter to Sue which says "Susan! I would have come out of Eden to open the door for you if I had known you were there" did not make it in the book.

I kind of wish there were more mentions of Sue because in a way, Sue was like an unattainable Eden.

But other than that, the book was fire and I really enjoyed it a lot.

I think Emily Dickinson's works are full of depth and beauty, and I can't wait to explore more of them.
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oponions
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I purchased this book even before I had finished reading it. I knew right away that I would want to have it as a part of my Emily Dickinson collection.

This is an academic work that was published by a professor at a former university. It offers an in-depth study of the significance of flowers, gardens, and landscaping. Not only were they important to the New England Transcendentalists, but also to Emily herself, to the women of her era, and to the later Victorians.

The book critiques and showcases the importance of flower language to Dickinson and her poetic colleagues. It also delves into the symbolism of flowers during that time period. Additionally, there is a very practical section on the gardening of the flowers that are given particular focus.

Overall, this book is highly recommended for anyone who has an interest in Emily Dickinson, the New England Transcendentalists, or the history and symbolism of flowers. It provides a wealth of information and insights that are both engaging and thought-provoking.
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