Cover Image: A Year at Brandywine Cottage

A Year at Brandywine Cottage

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Member Reviews

A beautiful book the photographs the gardening advice.A book to sit back and enjoy nthe gardens the seasons.The perfect gift for Gardner’s or anyone who enjoys wandering through beautiful gardens.#netgalley#timberpress

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I volunteered to read this book in exchange for an honest review through netgalley. This book is well written. If you want information about what kind of perennial flowers to plant during which season. Or wether to plant them in red mulch or fertilized soil this is the book for you. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

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A good read when you’re sitting in your house, looking at the snow falling down all around you. People who would appreciate this book the most, I believe, would be advanced gardeners. Beginning gardeners won’t find many “starter” tips on how to start a garden, planning and design concepts, and what regular maintenance is like. However, if you’re looking for a book that presents from an aesthetic viewpoint around texture and more unusual plants,this may be a book to peruse. There were many close-ups of single stems or details within the garden but didn’t always provide you with a whole picture scenario. The author discusses many plants I was not real familiar with, which in itself provided me with something to take away from this book.

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I thought this book would be just a group of descriptions of the author's garden during each of the seasons. While this is definitely part of the book, there are also other things that draw you more in-depth into the garden. For instance, there are detailed profiles of some of the plants, such as snowdrops and hellebores. There are also recipes using plants from the garden (e.g., dandelion salad, summer squash pizza). And, finally, the author's writing style makes you want to read on--never boring, it provides a great amount of wisdom regarding plant selection, color combinations and layering of plants in the garden. I've never been good at garden design and don't find most books helpful in teaching me how to do that, but I felt that the advice in this book was something I could do.

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I love this time of year where everything starts to come to back to life after what always seems to me to be a winter that went on way too long. As I start getting restless for the weather to turn warmer, I love turning to books that inspire the inner gardener in me to start dreaming and that is exact what A Year at Brandywine Cottage did.

Filled with numerous pictures of the gardens at Brandywine Cottage, I very much enjoyed the time I spent in the book, growing more and more envious with each page of the beauty and tranquility created. The book is broken out into 6 seasons of his garden (The six seasons include early spring, late spring, early fall, and late fall) and then chapters by month. In each chapter are descriptions about what grows and blooms that month and what is done in the garden or what is focused on. Then, at the end of the chapter is a recipe that fits the month. Two of my favorites were February’s chapter that includes a very tantalizing heart-shaped dessert and August’s Summer Squash pizza – both of which I am fairly certain I am going to have to try.

I now have several new plants I want to try and find for my own garden as well as reminded me of a wonder flower I had at a previous house and absolutely loved, but haven’t yet planted at my current house: Snowdrops. This dainty white flower is so beautiful and I always loved looking at it every time it bloomed. Plus, it’s one of the first blooms of spring, which is always a welcome sight. I immediately had to look up where I can purchase it when it is time to order bulbs.

Thanks to Netgalley and Timber Press for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

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This is a glorious book, full of wonderful photographs and good information, all written in an easy to read and capturing style.There are even recipes from wild and grown foods.
Unlike other book this is divided into 6 areas of Early Spring, Late Spring, Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall and winter. all have fabulous photos of plants that are special - I did not know there were so many cultivates of the snowdrop. Wonderful section on Witch Hazel, hellebores and much more. This book is a walk in this fabulous garden with the maker, sharing experience and good advise along the way on seasonal know how
A book to read through, and pick up again and again.

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We live in a desert community - reading this book reignited my former love of growing and has inspired me to start planning for my hardiness zone as well as trying to come up with practical solutions to the issues pertaining to growing in the desert. One of my teens perused this as well and wants to try their hand at gardening with me (I'm very happy about that).

My thanks to David Culp, TImber Press, and Netgalley for the review copy. Opinions in this review are my own.

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This is an excellent book, a mix of recipes, life and ideas and the amazing pictures made me wish I was there.
I loved it and I think it's one those book that makes you feel better and happy to see so much beauty.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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The strength of "A Year at Brandywine Cottage" lies in its beautiful color photography. Whether one is a gardener, a decorator, or a reader of garden books, this book has something to offer. The author draws readers into his home and makes them feel as if they are part of the family. The book is divided into sections according to seasons and months. Each section features specific plants that are appropriate for the season. Smaller sections dwell upon specific aspects of the garden and season, such as making gardens "family friendly" for humans as well as feathered and furry friends. Luscious recipes wrap up each section.

I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy lovely photography, warm and insightful commentary, and easy recipes that add to the overall welcome feeling of this book.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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I had technical difficulties reviewing this book--I was finally able to put in in Bluefire reader, but as I tried to review it, it said I had no valid license. I was only able to review about 1/3 of the book--I found the gardening portions very interesting, the recipes seemed a bit dated. I wish you used a kindle version or a more easily accessible version. If I compare it to Margaret Roach, it is not a comprehensive of a book or as sweeping.

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A Year at Brandywine Cottage is an inspirational technique and selection guide by David L. Culp. Due out 31st March 2020 from Timber Press, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a beautifully formatted and well written book following a calendar year through the seasons (there are 6 chapters, summer and winter by themselves and early and late spring and fall treated as 4 distinct entities). Between the photographs and descriptions of different aspects of the cottage gardens the author and his partner have developed over the past 3 decades are naturalistic arrangements of flowers and greenery for inspiration as well as simple and elegant recipes.

The photography by Rob Cardillo is top notch and beautiful. This would make a superlative coffee table book for gardeners, especially those from the eastern continental climate in North America.

Really lovely book, five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

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A Year at Brandywine Cottage: Six Seasons of Beauty, Bounty, and Blooms
by David L. Culp
I felt like this was a love letter to the author's garden. It read like a journal of a year's activity in the garden with additions of recipes, in-depth studies of some of the plants and their varieties, and beautiful photos.

This book is specific to the author's climate and region and not everyone will be able to use every bit of advice. Who cares! When I visit gardens, I marvel at the design and diversity. I do not expect to replicate it at home.

This is the kind of book I like to have during rainy days, hot afternoons, frosty mornings and lazy weekends. It is best enjoyed a few chapters at a time. It is inspirational and lovely and reminds me why I love to garden.

Fans of Dulcy Mahar and Margaret Roach will want to add this to their bookshelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for this eARC in return for an un-biased review.

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We have now made it to March, so spring is not too far away.  Still, where I live, it is rainy and gray today.  What a perfect day to spend time in the gardens of Brandywine Cottage. 

The photographs throughout the book are just gorgeous!  The text is very informative as well but I think that I spent more time admiring the photos as I read and browsed.  There are recipes, practical tips, information about plants and much more to read. 

The gardens are organized by six, not four, seasons.  After reading what the author has to say, this made sense. 

I dreamed about gardens in all seasons after reading this delightful volume. Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to spend time at the cottage.  All opinions are my own.

AYearatBrandywineCottage #NetGalley

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A lovely and inspiring look at the author's garden, month by month, through an entire year. Lots of gorgeous photography, and even recipes using garden produce for each month. Culp and his partner live in a beautiful country home in Pennsylvania, and their love for growing things is evident on every page. You'll immediately want to plant daffodil bulbs, cut fresh flowers for your table, or make a batch of dandelion salad.

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A Year at Brandywine Cottage by David L. Culp. It covers six seasons of beauty, bounty, and blooms. Six seasons include winter, early spring, late spring, summer, early fall, and late fall. For me, the key to the book is again the cultivation of a garden over a prolonged period of time. In this instance, Culp spent more than 30 years cultivating this two-acre space. It is an intimate beauty. Culp guides you through the property, walking down paths and pointing out details along the way. Extra attention is given to specific plants, such as hellebores in early spring and irises in late spring. Around every corner is thoughtful color or interesting texture. The great addition to this book is recipes. Every month features seasonal delights from Sautéed Fiddlehead Ferns in April to Butternut Squash Risotto in November. And Rob Cardillo’s photographs are amazing!

A more detailed blog about this book can be found at https://patch405.com/2020/02/27/serendipity/

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is going to be a great gift for all the gardeners in my life. Lots of ideas and lovely photos too.

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A lovely garden book that's more an inspirational, whimsical tour than a how-to/plant-specific guide. I love how Culp describes his garden and the various plants in it - you can tell how much joy and passion he has. The garden is lovely as well, though I would've liked to see an overview or diagram of the whole thing. My climate (Colorado) is quite different from the one Culp's cottage is in, so I can't use many of the plants he showcases, however I will definitely take inspiration from how he plans and lays things out.

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In 2012, David Culp enchanted garden lovers with his beautiful book The Layered Garden. (I was taken aback when I pulled the copy from my shelf to check the publication date - has it really been 8 years? It seems like a few years ago). Now he is back with a luscious follow-up that documents a full year at the beautiful cottage he shares with partner Michael Alderfur in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Beginning in February (late winter to some of us but Culp labels it "Early Spring"), he shows us the glory of this sleepy phase in the garden when most people, especially non-gardeners, are oblivious to any plant life. A tour through this garden dashes that notion and proves that there is much to behold - the emerging bulbs of crocus, dwarf iris, glory-of-the-snow, winter aconite, witch hazels and the author's large collection of snowdrops. As the early winter season progresses into March, daffodils and hellebores take center stage.

Each subsequent chapter showcases not only what is blooming that month but also details the chores that have to be done and the history of the garden's development. Culp, who grew up on a farm and who has been interested in plants from an early age, shares many amusing childhood anecdotes and how they influenced his gardening life. Interesting sidebars pop-up throughout the narrative that discuss topics such as how to propagate hellbores, creating a terrarium and how to establish a meadow garden.

In addition to the garden, there are recipes that highlight vegetables that are in season ("Sauteed Fiddlehead Ferns", "Summer Squash Pizza", "Cheese Pie" to name just a few). The indoors are just as beautiful, with decor of beautiful wreaths, flower and plant arrangements, houseplants and Christmas trees.

The photographs by Rob Cardillo really capture the beauty of the garden and home in all of the seasons. This is an inspiring book that will provide readers with ideas and advise for their own gardens, not to mention getting you exhilarated for the upcoming season.

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This is an extremely beautiful book. You do not have to be a gardener to appreciate this book. Lush gardens are created on a two acre space producing season by season color. Much thought and design has gone into this book giving gardeners a beautiful reference and source for inspiration. I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

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Absolutely stunning photographs of the various plants and foliage around the cottage. The addition of the recipes highlighting the produce and leafy greens was a nice touch. Unfortunately, the writer went into too much depth as he ruminated about the various sub species of the same type of plant for me to enjoy reading it. He lost me around the 25% mark and I couldn’t finish reading, just skimming the rest, stopping to read the recipes and really take in the beauty of the pictures. I’m sure that better gardeners than me will find this book fascinating as I am just happy to occasionally weed my garden after the initial spring planting. This being a “me” problem, not the author’s. I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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