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My Wild Garden: Notes from a Writer's Eden
A joyful round of the seasons in the garden of the best-selling novelist, memoirist, and champion putterer with a wheelbarrow.
On the perimeter of Israel's Jezreel Valley, with the Carmel mountains rising up to the west, Meir Shalev has a large garden, "neither neatly organized nor well-kept," as he cheerfully explains. Often covered in mud and scrapes, Shalev cultivates both nomadic plants and "house dwellers," using his own quirky techniques. He extolls the virtues of the lemon tree; rescues a precious variety of purple snapdragon from the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway; does battle with a saboteur mole rat. He even gives us his superior private recipe for curing olives. The book will attract gardeners and literary readers alike, with its appreciation for the joy of living, quite literally, on earth, and for our borrowed time on a particular patch of it--enhanced, the author continually reminds us, by our honest, respectful dealings with all manner of beings who inhabit it with us.
On the perimeter of Israel's Jezreel Valley, with the Carmel mountains rising up to the west, Meir Shalev has a large garden, "neither neatly organized nor well-kept," as he cheerfully explains. Often covered in mud and scrapes, Shalev cultivates both nomadic plants and "house dwellers," using his own quirky techniques. He extolls the virtues of the lemon tree; rescues a precious variety of purple snapdragon from the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway; does battle with a saboteur mole rat. He even gives us his superior private recipe for curing olives. The book will attract gardeners and literary readers alike, with its appreciation for the joy of living, quite literally, on earth, and for our borrowed time on a particular patch of it--enhanced, the author continually reminds us, by our honest, respectful dealings with all manner of beings who inhabit it with us.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2017
About the author
Meir Shalev
47 books333 followersMeir Shalev was one of Israel’s most celebrated novelists. He received many awards for his work, including the National Jewish Book Award and Israel’s Brenner Prize, both for A Pigeon and a Boy.
A columnist for the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Shalev lived in Jerusalem and in northern Israel with his wife and children.
A columnist for the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Shalev lived in Jerusalem and in northern Israel with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
November 18, 2020
I adore Meir Shalev as a writer and a thinker. When I saw that he had published a new book and that it was a gardening memoir I read it as soon as it became available. I am an avid gardener and have read dozens of gardening memoirs but I have never read a gardening memoir like this one. How could it be anything like the American and British memoirs I have read? Shalev is an Israeli author who grew up on a Moshav (farming community). His grandfather was a professional planter of grapes and as a child Shalev would watch his grandfather woking, completely enchanted. From his father his received lessons about the Bible and all matters of intellectual topics. From both he learned the Talmud. He learned his lessons well and imparts some of his knowledge in this book.
No matter the topic, Shalev writes with great humor, charm, knowledge and honesty. I often went back and listened again to passages, allowing his words to soak in to my brain and my heart. His most important message is to live peaceably with the creatures around the garden, to be a good steward of the land and a good person in general. This, of course, has wider implications for living in peace with his neighbors in Israel (one of the topics on which Shalev writes professionally).
Shalev makes a point, starting with the title, that he grows a wild garden which means he only grows plants which grow in the wild in Israel. For Shalev, the wild nature of it looks right given that it sits on the tip of the Jezreel Valley. He does not have, like his neighbor, a beautifully and professionally designed garden with special plants grown in pots which come from the nurseries which need to be irrigated and cared for year round. Shalev's plants do need care, but of a different kind, and he spends a lot of time doting on them, e.g. replanting them from seed, an exercise in patience because most of the plants he grows from seed take 3 years to show any flowers. Because of his choices he has a limit of about a dozen plants plus trees, including fruit trees, that he grows but his love for these plants and trees is so great that his family and non-gardening friends think he is crazy given the amount of time and effort he puts into attending them. They think he should be writing instead. But he is not able to concentrate on his writing if there is something to be done in his garden. I understand his obsession so well.
Shalev also thinks that it's amazing that he ever gets any writing done because there is always something to do be done in the garden or something to enjoy and he enjoys his garden a great deal. The biggest distractions for Shalev can be unwitting strangers tromping all over his plants trying to take a picture of the valley behind his house. Or it can be a war with the Mole Rat which eats the roots of his plants, decimating them ( I know this situation all to well having lived through the same devastation). Or he can go to war with certain weeds which strangle the life out his plants and suck up all the nutrients from the ground. Or it can be that he dropped 2 tiny cyclamen seeds below his desk and he cannot get back to work knowing that those seeds could turn into 2 more plants which will reproduce and turn into innumerable plants over time if only he took the time to find those seeds. Which he does, of course. Shalev confesses that his behavior is a bit irrational because he already has 100 cyclamen plants in his garden. But any gardener understands this irrational and obsessive behavior and can only smile with recognition.
Shalev waxes poetic about his favorite plants, their beauty, fragrance and charm just like any other garden lover and like other gardeners he discusses food and drinks which he makes from his plants and even gives recipes. He also discusses tools, compost, twine, critters which enter his garden (and there are a lot of them because he lives on the edge of a forest) and countless other topics. But what makes this memoir unique is that no matter the topic Shalev goes on interesting and humorous tangents discoursing at length on whatever comes to mind. These tangents often sound rabbinical. For instance, any word in Hebrew has a 3 letter derivation which can make up many other words with varying and keeping meanings which can be linked back to biblical words and passages. Shalev does't miss a chance to go into these word derivations and meanings which I found fascinating. He would start with the simple name of a flower, for instance, and arrive at instruction in philosophy, the Bible, Israeli and/or Arabic history and well as Greek history. Shalev also mentions his time in the army and tells a funny story about sneaking off base to visit a famous local garden (the Bahai Gardens). In another very funny chapter Shalev gives anecdotes about other gardeners who criticize his gardening methods.
The whole time I was listening to this book I wanted to be there, living, learning and gardening with Shalev. In lieu of that I will be buying this book in a paper edition so that I can read and reread favorite passages. Since this is such a unique book it will only have a small audience, especially in this country. But just the right reader will adore this book. You know who you are.
No matter the topic, Shalev writes with great humor, charm, knowledge and honesty. I often went back and listened again to passages, allowing his words to soak in to my brain and my heart. His most important message is to live peaceably with the creatures around the garden, to be a good steward of the land and a good person in general. This, of course, has wider implications for living in peace with his neighbors in Israel (one of the topics on which Shalev writes professionally).
Shalev makes a point, starting with the title, that he grows a wild garden which means he only grows plants which grow in the wild in Israel. For Shalev, the wild nature of it looks right given that it sits on the tip of the Jezreel Valley. He does not have, like his neighbor, a beautifully and professionally designed garden with special plants grown in pots which come from the nurseries which need to be irrigated and cared for year round. Shalev's plants do need care, but of a different kind, and he spends a lot of time doting on them, e.g. replanting them from seed, an exercise in patience because most of the plants he grows from seed take 3 years to show any flowers. Because of his choices he has a limit of about a dozen plants plus trees, including fruit trees, that he grows but his love for these plants and trees is so great that his family and non-gardening friends think he is crazy given the amount of time and effort he puts into attending them. They think he should be writing instead. But he is not able to concentrate on his writing if there is something to be done in his garden. I understand his obsession so well.
Shalev also thinks that it's amazing that he ever gets any writing done because there is always something to do be done in the garden or something to enjoy and he enjoys his garden a great deal. The biggest distractions for Shalev can be unwitting strangers tromping all over his plants trying to take a picture of the valley behind his house. Or it can be a war with the Mole Rat which eats the roots of his plants, decimating them ( I know this situation all to well having lived through the same devastation). Or he can go to war with certain weeds which strangle the life out his plants and suck up all the nutrients from the ground. Or it can be that he dropped 2 tiny cyclamen seeds below his desk and he cannot get back to work knowing that those seeds could turn into 2 more plants which will reproduce and turn into innumerable plants over time if only he took the time to find those seeds. Which he does, of course. Shalev confesses that his behavior is a bit irrational because he already has 100 cyclamen plants in his garden. But any gardener understands this irrational and obsessive behavior and can only smile with recognition.
Shalev waxes poetic about his favorite plants, their beauty, fragrance and charm just like any other garden lover and like other gardeners he discusses food and drinks which he makes from his plants and even gives recipes. He also discusses tools, compost, twine, critters which enter his garden (and there are a lot of them because he lives on the edge of a forest) and countless other topics. But what makes this memoir unique is that no matter the topic Shalev goes on interesting and humorous tangents discoursing at length on whatever comes to mind. These tangents often sound rabbinical. For instance, any word in Hebrew has a 3 letter derivation which can make up many other words with varying and keeping meanings which can be linked back to biblical words and passages. Shalev does't miss a chance to go into these word derivations and meanings which I found fascinating. He would start with the simple name of a flower, for instance, and arrive at instruction in philosophy, the Bible, Israeli and/or Arabic history and well as Greek history. Shalev also mentions his time in the army and tells a funny story about sneaking off base to visit a famous local garden (the Bahai Gardens). In another very funny chapter Shalev gives anecdotes about other gardeners who criticize his gardening methods.
The whole time I was listening to this book I wanted to be there, living, learning and gardening with Shalev. In lieu of that I will be buying this book in a paper edition so that I can read and reread favorite passages. Since this is such a unique book it will only have a small audience, especially in this country. But just the right reader will adore this book. You know who you are.
Want to read
March 13, 2020I have recently started helping my friend garden and I am already obsessed. Last week I got to prune lettuce!! It was so wholesome and I got some fresh veggies for my labor.
10/10 recommend gardening
10/10 recommend gardening
June 24, 2017
Reading anything by Meir Shalev is always a magical treat. This is no exception. A wonderful, clever, witty, and sensitive book about life in all its forms.
June 16, 2021
I am not saying this is the best book I’ve read this year (2021) but it is certainly the one I’ve enjoyed the most. I savored this book in a way I haven’t savored a book in a long while. And because I borrowed a copy from the library, I am now aching to own a copy for myself. The writing was delicious and the illustrations were gorgeous. The marriage of gardening and writing (although you need not be a gardener nor a writer to enjoy this marvelous book) was a sheer delight.
May 1, 2020
I read an other book of this author before, and it didn’t appeal to me. I got this book ‘by accident’ to read, and I LOVE it. First of all by the lovely pictures and drawings, but also by the impressions, the thoughts he writes. The short chapters, the lightness, it made it to perfect book in these times.
November 10, 2018
Meir Shalev houdt van taal (en dan uiteraard vooral het Hebreeuws), van het land waarin hij geworteld is, van wilde planten (en sommige dieren) en van pure, lekker smakende dingen die je kunt maken van vruchten, kruiden en alles wat het land om je heen kan voortbrengen. Die liefdes worden samengebundeld in de passie van Shalev voor zijn wilde tuin, waar oorlogen worden gevoerd en vredes worden gesloten, liefdes ontluiken, frustraties en woede ontstaan, het dode levend wordt en het levende onvermijdelijk ook sterft. Dat alles beschrijft Shalev in miniatuurtjes. Net als in zijn tuin vindt alles de juiste plek. Het is prachtig geïllustreerd en het is een boek dat je moet lezen op dezelfde manier als je een goede en milde whiskey (Meir Shalev zelf zou kiezen voor limoncello)drinkt: met kleine beetjes tegelijk.
January 1, 2018
קשה להאמין שספר שכל כולו תיאורים של גינה, ועוד כזו שחלק מן השנה היא בעיקר יבשה, מסוגל להעניק לקורא חוויה כה עמוקה. אני מניח שזה בשל השילוב של התיאורים המפורטים, מבלי להיות טרחניים של פרטי חי וצומח והגיונם, עם הומור נהדר, התייחסות לשפה, איזכור תקופות וספרים אחרים של שלו, התייחסויות למקורות היהודיים והישראלים ועוד דברים שבעלי השכלה רחבה יוכלו להתענג עליהם במיוחד, ואילו אחרים ירכשו כאן כזו.
זה אחד מקבוצה קטנה של ספרים בשנים האחרונות שגרמו לי לצפות במשך היום לרגע בו אוכל להמשיך ולקרוא אותו.
כמה ציטוטים האהובים עלי במיוחד:
עמוד 23: למה חשוב לילדים ולילדות בני ארבע וחמש לדעת את כל זאת? האמת היא שזה לא ממש חשוב. גם מי שאין להם הידע הזה יוכלו לגדול ולהיות אזרחים שומרי חוק ובעלי מקצוע טובים. אולי אף ימציאו אפליקציה חדשה ויושיעו בה את המין האנושי. אבל ילד שלומד דברים כאלה בגיל ארבה יהיה אדם טוב יותר כשיהיה בן שש, ובסיכוי הזה אין להקל ראש.
עמוד 97: חזירי הבר מעוררים בי גם חשש. פעם אחדת אף נאלצתי לטפס ולעמוד על שולחן ההנבטות שלי, כי שמעתי פתאום את נחרות הזעם של נקבה שבאה עם גוריה ובכבר התכונה להסתער. כמה דקות עמדנו זה מול זה, אני על השולחן והיא על הקרקע, קיללנו, נחרנו, דיברנו דופי ועשינו זה לעומת זה תנועות חזיריות. בסופו של דבר הבינה החזירה שאני דוגמה רעה לילדיה, קראה להם והסתלקה.
עמוד 112: טוב, נמאס לי להקליד, אפשר לקרוא.
זה אחד מקבוצה קטנה של ספרים בשנים האחרונות שגרמו לי לצפות במשך היום לרגע בו אוכל להמשיך ולקרוא אותו.
כמה ציטוטים האהובים עלי במיוחד:
עמוד 23: למה חשוב לילדים ולילדות בני ארבע וחמש לדעת את כל זאת? האמת היא שזה לא ממש חשוב. גם מי שאין להם הידע הזה יוכלו לגדול ולהיות אזרחים שומרי חוק ובעלי מקצוע טובים. אולי אף ימציאו אפליקציה חדשה ויושיעו בה את המין האנושי. אבל ילד שלומד דברים כאלה בגיל ארבה יהיה אדם טוב יותר כשיהיה בן שש, ובסיכוי הזה אין להקל ראש.
עמוד 97: חזירי הבר מעוררים בי גם חשש. פעם אחדת אף נאלצתי לטפס ולעמוד על שולחן ההנבטות שלי, כי שמעתי פתאום את נחרות הזעם של נקבה שבאה עם גוריה ובכבר התכונה להסתער. כמה דקות עמדנו זה מול זה, אני על השולחן והיא על הקרקע, קיללנו, נחרנו, דיברנו דופי ועשינו זה לעומת זה תנועות חזיריות. בסופו של דבר הבינה החזירה שאני דוגמה רעה לילדיה, קראה להם והסתלקה.
עמוד 112: טוב, נמאס לי להקליד, אפשר לקרוא.
July 12, 2021
This set of vignettes is a delightful description of gardening and life in Israel.
December 28, 2022
3.5 stars
The writing is great, and I loved learning about the native flora and fauna of Israel. I have some complaints - going too deeply into some Bible stories, the way gender is treated as an utter binary - but overall it was a fun, light listen when I needed exactly that.
More detailed thoughts in my December Mid-Month Wrap Up.
The writing is great, and I loved learning about the native flora and fauna of Israel. I have some complaints - going too deeply into some Bible stories, the way gender is treated as an utter binary - but overall it was a fun, light listen when I needed exactly that.
More detailed thoughts in my December Mid-Month Wrap Up.
August 1, 2020
This book was just a joy to read. As a fellow avid gardener, I appreciated every one of his observations. I laughed along with him, and shed a tear or two as well. I thought about the legacy of gardens, and reflected on my own mortality in relationship to what we sow in so many parts of our lives in anticipation of future generations. I found this book to be such a perfect reflection on how gardening, a seemingly mundane task to some, can be so utterly profound and teach us lessons throughout life that ultimately develop into deep wisdom.
May 9, 2017
A nice book about Meir Shalev's wild flower garden.
In his special humoristic style he gives us a description and anecdotes from his special garden that has mostly wild flowers. The book is flavored with related anecdotes from the old testament, and many funny descriptions from the various tasks, plants, animals and people related to his garden.
The book has sketches of the various corners in his garden and they add to the experience too.
Some of the stories are familiar from reading his weekly column in the newspaper and altogether it is a freshening fun read.
In his special humoristic style he gives us a description and anecdotes from his special garden that has mostly wild flowers. The book is flavored with related anecdotes from the old testament, and many funny descriptions from the various tasks, plants, animals and people related to his garden.
The book has sketches of the various corners in his garden and they add to the experience too.
Some of the stories are familiar from reading his weekly column in the newspaper and altogether it is a freshening fun read.
July 4, 2021
Een heerlijk boek dat je leest met een glimlach. Meir Shalev gaat er helemaal vanuit dat planten en bomen net zijn als mensen, maar met een groot verschil: ze kunnen niet van hun plaats af.
Hij praat met zijn bloemen, bemoedigt ze en beschermt ze als het nodig is.
Ik heb het als e-book gelezen, maar miste de mooie afbeeldingen van de planten. Daarom heb ik de editie behouden van het "gewone" boek.
Hij praat met zijn bloemen, bemoedigt ze en beschermt ze als het nodig is.
Ik heb het als e-book gelezen, maar miste de mooie afbeeldingen van de planten. Daarom heb ik de editie behouden van het "gewone" boek.
February 17, 2018
אין לי מילים לתאר עד כמה הספר הקטן הזה מצליח לגעת באנושיות שבתוכנו דרך הגונה של מאיר שלו. קריאת חובה אבל קריאה איטית. זה ספר שמשאירים ליד המיטה וקוראים לאט לאט, כל יום פרק או שניים.
March 1, 2020
מלא קסמאישי חמוץ מתוק
November 21, 2020
2020 bk 381. I picked up this book anticipating an interesting read and look into an Israeli Garden. What I gained was a keeper, a book filled with delightful essays to digest, read slowly, and revisit. The words delightful, insightful, wonder, joy, and awe are perhaps adequate to describe the emotions I felt on reading the many different essays Meir Shaleve has written and shared about his wild flower garden in a village in Israel. The memoir for his cat, the story of his father's poetry being reflected in the garden of the son, the obvious love he has for the climate, land, and place of his home, even the essay on spiders and snakes were all stories that made me feel happy. Even the small drawings scattered throughout the book - and the two pages at the back of the book enhanced the experience of the read. Definitely a keeper and one that will stay near my bedside, to be dipped into on those nights when it is hard to sleep - I'll make a short visit to Shalev's garden and smile.
April 21, 2022
מאיר שלו בכישרונו הרב, בשפתו המרהיבה ובחוש ההומור הידוע שלו הצליח להשאיר אותי קורא בספרו עד סיומו למרות שהנושא. לא ממש בתחומי העניין שלי.
עמה סופרים בארצנו מסוגלים לזה? כנראה שלא הרבה…
עמה סופרים בארצנו מסוגלים לזה? כנראה שלא הרבה…
June 10, 2023
Pure delight for a fellow gardener!
February 25, 2021
This is a book of thoughts about the garden surrounding the author's home that he attempts to keep more 'wild' than cultivated. Admittedly, he does purchase some of his trees - specifically mentioned was a beloved lemon tree - from professionals but most of his flowers are transplanted from the side of the road just before they're buried or dug up by construction equipment.
Considering himself a 'modest grower of wildflowers', Shalev - who lives in Israel - talks about his garden as well as what the animals, birds and plants have taught him over the years.
Owls and mole rat and beetles. The poppies and chinaberry tree and woodpeckers. Various types of squill and an olive tree and snapdragons. Cedar and cyclamen and bats. Anemones and snakes and spiders. Lemon trees and making lemoncello. Water and drought and asking for rain. Sabras - or prickly pears - and thorns and chopping down a tree. Collectors disease and patience and persistence. Going barefoot and connecting with the earth.
All of them and more are topics that Shalev touches on. It may seem a bit disorganized but these are more like a collection of thoughts in short article form. Each one is only a few pages long.
And the illustrations provided by Refaella Shir are absolutely gorgeous. Bright colorful watercolors of flowers as well as full page black-and-white scenery. The illustrations are almost enough to make the reader want to plant their own garden.
2021-038
Considering himself a 'modest grower of wildflowers', Shalev - who lives in Israel - talks about his garden as well as what the animals, birds and plants have taught him over the years.
Owls and mole rat and beetles. The poppies and chinaberry tree and woodpeckers. Various types of squill and an olive tree and snapdragons. Cedar and cyclamen and bats. Anemones and snakes and spiders. Lemon trees and making lemoncello. Water and drought and asking for rain. Sabras - or prickly pears - and thorns and chopping down a tree. Collectors disease and patience and persistence. Going barefoot and connecting with the earth.
All of them and more are topics that Shalev touches on. It may seem a bit disorganized but these are more like a collection of thoughts in short article form. Each one is only a few pages long.
And the illustrations provided by Refaella Shir are absolutely gorgeous. Bright colorful watercolors of flowers as well as full page black-and-white scenery. The illustrations are almost enough to make the reader want to plant their own garden.
2021-038
Read
August 14, 2018Warm aanbevolen. Alleen weet ik niet meteen aan wie. Zelf aarzelend begonnen, na enkele hoofdstukjes beginnen twijfelen. Maar uiteindelijk met heel veel leesplezier verslonden. Ja, het gaat over plantjes, en dieren en over klusjes in de tuin. Maar het gaat ook over taal, en over Israël en over de Bijbel. Nooit nadrukkelijk maar hier en daar een zaadje en een scheutje water. Het gaat ook over de schrijver en over zijn vader. En je krijgt zin om (nog) meer van Shalev te lezen. Aanbevolen aan lezers dus.
March 26, 2020
Thanks to Knopf Books for my ARC
As long as you do not expect this book to be something it's not, it's delightful. It's chock full of beautifully poetic observations, gardening tips, and even a few recipes. But it is very much a series of "notes," not a memoir or anything like that in the traditional sense.
With that being said, the notes do sort of seem to have some sort of logical flow to them. Even if this book just sort of gently bears you along on Shalev's observations, it still feels like a well-ordered, cohesive whole.
As long as you do not expect this book to be something it's not, it's delightful. It's chock full of beautifully poetic observations, gardening tips, and even a few recipes. But it is very much a series of "notes," not a memoir or anything like that in the traditional sense.
With that being said, the notes do sort of seem to have some sort of logical flow to them. Even if this book just sort of gently bears you along on Shalev's observations, it still feels like a well-ordered, cohesive whole.
August 10, 2021
i am not a gardener- i actually dont know the first thing about gardening. u need no prior knowledge of gardening 2 become fully immersed in this book- altho after reading, i am tempted 2 pick up the hobby.
this book is a work of art- from the breathtaking illustrations 2 the poetry of shalev's language- i fell in love w this book. the parallels between gardening and the principles of existence weave 2gether effortlessly in this beautiful novel. whether u are an avid gardener or a voracious reader, this book contains multitudes 4 everyone 2 dwell on.
this book is a work of art- from the breathtaking illustrations 2 the poetry of shalev's language- i fell in love w this book. the parallels between gardening and the principles of existence weave 2gether effortlessly in this beautiful novel. whether u are an avid gardener or a voracious reader, this book contains multitudes 4 everyone 2 dwell on.
February 29, 2020
לקח לי המון זמן מרגע שקניתי את הספר עד שקראתי אותו. פחדתי קצת שישעמם אותי. אבל - זוהי דוגמה נפלאה לספר בלי עלילה שהוא בכל זאת מרתק. הוא מורכב מסיפורונים קטנים על גינת הבר של שלו, וניתן ממש לראות את האיריסים ולהריח את פריחת הלימון. הוא משעשע וכנה וחכם ואני חושבת שגם אלו שלא מתעניינים בגינון יהנו ממנו.
July 18, 2021
Un bon livre pour ceux qui sont passionnés par la botanique. Shalev écrit de belles anecdotes sur les créatures et les plantes de son jardin sauvage situé en Israël. Ponctué de références bibliques et de petits mots d'humour, ce livre a été un plaisir à lire et une belle découverte parmi les traductions de 2020.
February 28, 2022
Heerlijk boek voor wie van tuinieren houdt en en passant wil genieten van tal van uitweidingen over t Hebreeuws, geschiedenis, ultra-orthodoxe tuiniers, spaghetti met salie en zo nog wat vermakelijke verhalen.
April 3, 2018
Vriendelijk boek, van het type verzamelde columns. Grappig en informatief, beslist geen roman. Dus die moet je ernaast lezen....
November 9, 2021
Amazing! Such an enjoyable read. So much fun involved in reading this beautiful book. Highly recommend for gardening lovers/ just for a light read.:)
July 16, 2017
Meir Shalev erzählt in seinem Buch „Mein Wildgarten“ viele kleine Geschichten über seinen Wildgarten und den Lebewesen, die sich in diesem tummeln. Aufmerksam beobachtet er die Gewohnheiten der Tierwelt und das Wachsen, Blühen und Sterben der Pflanzen. Shalev berichtet jedoch nicht nur ausschließlich über seinen Wildgarten, sondern streut noch Erzählungen aus Mythologie und Volkssagen, Bibelstellen und -verse und Anekdoten aus seinem Leben ein. Nicht selten ist er dabei witzig, und das auf eine sehr charmante Art. Shalev lässt uns teilhaben an seinen innersten Gedanken und Gefühlen zu seinen Wildpflanzen und den Gartenbewohnern. Er lehrt uns, wie man richtig sät und anpflanzt, wie man eine Pflanze am Leben erhalten kann, sollte sie plötzlich dahindarben, und er zeigt uns, wie man neben der Schönheit des Gartens zusätzlich eine kleine Freude für die Geschmacksknospen ernten kann. Im Buch sind wunderschöne Illustrationen gestreut, teils farbig, teils in Grau gehalten, die uns die Schönheit der beschriebenen Blumen und Pflanzen näher bringen sollen – was sie auch tun! Jede einzelne Illustration ist ein wahrer Augenschmaus.
"Ich bin kein Naturforscher und auch keiner von denen, die Bäume umarmen und mit Sträuchern sprechen, aber selbst Laien wie ich merken, dass Pflanzen Empfindungen und Reaktionen zeigen können und komplexer und höher entwickelt sind, als wir komplexere und hochentwickelte Säuger es anderen Existenzformen zuzusprechen bereit sind."
In „Mein Wildgarten“ kann man einen wahren Schatz an tollen Erzählungen und Anekdoten entdecken. Shalev schafft es, seinen Wildgarten, Bibelpassagen, Kuriositäten und wundersame Fakten der Etymologie bestimmter hebräischer oder arabischer Wörter thematisch unter einen Hut zu packen, und versehen mit vielen wunderschönen Illustrationen kam dann dieses Perlchen heraus. Der Autor erzählt, wie er vor etlichen Jahren sein kleines Häuschen mit angrenzendem Garten gekauft und in diesem begonnen hat, Wildpflanzen hochzuziehen, dabei immerfort weiterzulernen über die Welt der Pflanzen und besonders, wie man auf die speziellen Bedürfnisse jedes einzelnen Baums und Strauchs eingeht. Shalev empfindet eine tiefe Zuneigung für seinen Wildgarten und alles, was in ihm wächst und wohnt, so schmerzt es ihn besonders, wenn eine geliebte Blume auf einmal nicht mehr wächst oder aber ein langjähriger Freund in Form eines Baumes plötzlich ausdörrt und nicht mehr zu retten ist. So pflegt Shalev intensive Beziehungen zu seinen Pflanzen und imitiert das ein oder andere Mal sogar Gespräche zwischen diesen.
Die vollständige Rezension findet ihr auf meinem Blog: http://killmonotony.wordpress.com
"Ich bin kein Naturforscher und auch keiner von denen, die Bäume umarmen und mit Sträuchern sprechen, aber selbst Laien wie ich merken, dass Pflanzen Empfindungen und Reaktionen zeigen können und komplexer und höher entwickelt sind, als wir komplexere und hochentwickelte Säuger es anderen Existenzformen zuzusprechen bereit sind."
In „Mein Wildgarten“ kann man einen wahren Schatz an tollen Erzählungen und Anekdoten entdecken. Shalev schafft es, seinen Wildgarten, Bibelpassagen, Kuriositäten und wundersame Fakten der Etymologie bestimmter hebräischer oder arabischer Wörter thematisch unter einen Hut zu packen, und versehen mit vielen wunderschönen Illustrationen kam dann dieses Perlchen heraus. Der Autor erzählt, wie er vor etlichen Jahren sein kleines Häuschen mit angrenzendem Garten gekauft und in diesem begonnen hat, Wildpflanzen hochzuziehen, dabei immerfort weiterzulernen über die Welt der Pflanzen und besonders, wie man auf die speziellen Bedürfnisse jedes einzelnen Baums und Strauchs eingeht. Shalev empfindet eine tiefe Zuneigung für seinen Wildgarten und alles, was in ihm wächst und wohnt, so schmerzt es ihn besonders, wenn eine geliebte Blume auf einmal nicht mehr wächst oder aber ein langjähriger Freund in Form eines Baumes plötzlich ausdörrt und nicht mehr zu retten ist. So pflegt Shalev intensive Beziehungen zu seinen Pflanzen und imitiert das ein oder andere Mal sogar Gespräche zwischen diesen.
Die vollständige Rezension findet ihr auf meinem Blog: http://killmonotony.wordpress.com
February 14, 2023
Even though this garden is in Israel, we also have the mediterranean climate and many plantings fit perfectly into the chaparral here. Each section is delightful. The Flora, the Fauna, his observation
and comments are a constant treat. Gardeners have a certain spirit that transcends all other characteristics. Every time this genre is read I feel like opening the door to the secret garden and or
unlocking the garden with the long lost key as in the children's book, Secret Garden. This is an ageless subject that adapts to every daily experience whether it is house plants, a vegetable patch, a grove of trees, or any combination.
The most delightful part of this book is the congenial author and his obvious caretaking abilities seen on each page. The illustrations are added contributions to enjoy!
and comments are a constant treat. Gardeners have a certain spirit that transcends all other characteristics. Every time this genre is read I feel like opening the door to the secret garden and or
unlocking the garden with the long lost key as in the children's book, Secret Garden. This is an ageless subject that adapts to every daily experience whether it is house plants, a vegetable patch, a grove of trees, or any combination.
The most delightful part of this book is the congenial author and his obvious caretaking abilities seen on each page. The illustrations are added contributions to enjoy!
November 24, 2022
Oh yes, this one is staying on my bookshelf for forever, and everyone is getting a copy for Christmas. Maybe with a bottle of limoncello, some wildflower seeds, or some fresh olives. A collection of parables and life-love stories for plant lovers, writers, travelers, wanna-be travelers, storytellers, food lovers, quiet adventurers, peacemakers and gardeners of every age and skill.
Some of the most amazing books I've read this year (2022) were released or written during the 2020 lockdown, and really celebrate the quiet moments in life. The stories are all at once warmly familiar and delightfully new.
Some of the most amazing books I've read this year (2022) were released or written during the 2020 lockdown, and really celebrate the quiet moments in life. The stories are all at once warmly familiar and delightfully new.
April 23, 2023
My Wild Garden by Meir Shalev is a stunning work of art that beautifully captures the essence of nature and the human experience. Shalev's prose is truly poetic, weaving together vivid descriptions of the flora and fauna in his garden with deep insights into the joys and struggles of life.
Reading this book feels like taking a journey through time and space, as Shalev transports the reader to a world where the wonders of the natural world converge with the complexities of the human heart. Whether you're an avid gardener or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the outdoors, My Wild Garden is sure to captivate and inspire you.
From the first page to the last, Shalev's writing is infused with a sense of wonder and awe at the sheer power and majesty of nature. His vivid descriptions are brought to life by his keen eye for detail and his ability to evoke emotion and beauty through his words.
My Wild Garden is a true masterpiece of nature writing, and a must-read for anyone who loves the natural world and the beauty of life itself.
Reading this book feels like taking a journey through time and space, as Shalev transports the reader to a world where the wonders of the natural world converge with the complexities of the human heart. Whether you're an avid gardener or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the outdoors, My Wild Garden is sure to captivate and inspire you.
From the first page to the last, Shalev's writing is infused with a sense of wonder and awe at the sheer power and majesty of nature. His vivid descriptions are brought to life by his keen eye for detail and his ability to evoke emotion and beauty through his words.
My Wild Garden is a true masterpiece of nature writing, and a must-read for anyone who loves the natural world and the beauty of life itself.
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