tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post9081518340891661502..comments2024-03-29T14:03:27.321+02:00Comments on Dispatches from Vilnius: Arcadian gardensJames Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-59635623166853951042011-07-04T06:59:04.140+03:002011-07-04T06:59:04.140+03:00bosox here,This does look like an interesting read...bosox here,This does look like an interesting read.Sorry to hear about Robert.His not being here is missed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-16792602634162992352011-07-03T17:39:22.635+03:002011-07-03T17:39:22.635+03:00There was an Arcadian idyll, especially in regard ...There was an Arcadian idyll, especially in regard to Jefferson. Washington wasn't quite so obsessed. I suppose she likens them both to "gentleman farmers," a very English thing, but alas the industrial revolution was quickly supplanting this kind of lifestyle, much to Jefferson's chagrin.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-91990402614847877452011-07-03T17:24:17.445+03:002011-07-03T17:24:17.445+03:00Well, she conflates "gardening" with agr...Well, she conflates "gardening" with agriculture of all sorts and explains that in the opening. But she writes as if Washington's obsession with his trees etc sets the stage for American environmentalism. A bit of a stretch I think, although interesting to think about.<br /><br />There are a few themes during that period that do seem to help define American character: no taxes, avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-37606212474414428202011-07-03T12:28:58.099+03:002011-07-03T12:28:58.099+03:00Wulf wrote a previous book on other famous "g...Wulf wrote a previous book on other famous "gardeners" from around the world. Hard to think of Washington as a gardener, or for that matter Jefferson, as they both had extensive plantations, and were pursuing agriculture from a commercial interest. Unfortunately, neither was particularly successful in this regard.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-51197271565007546832011-07-03T11:27:19.134+03:002011-07-03T11:27:19.134+03:00I just sent Robert a short e-mail message. I take...I just sent Robert a short e-mail message. I take it that he recommended this book to you, Avrds?Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-76589438123219731322011-07-03T06:47:34.196+03:002011-07-03T06:47:34.196+03:00I started this tonight and it's lovely, but sh...I started this tonight and it's lovely, but she seems to miss the fact, at least with Washington, that this was an agricultural nation. She does make an interesting point, however. Washington took the "revolutionary" approach to planting his estate with native trees and shrubs. But she seems to dismiss the fact that when he expresses delight in planting the trees "with his avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-3583046463997573162011-07-02T23:37:03.024+03:002011-07-02T23:37:03.024+03:00Thanks for the update. I will email him.Thanks for the update. I will email him.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-35287660181008431662011-07-02T21:54:54.945+03:002011-07-02T21:54:54.945+03:00Robert suffered another stroke. He wrote to tell ...Robert suffered another stroke. He wrote to tell me a couple weeks back. I assumed he wrote others as well. I haven't heard more on his condition, but the fact that he was able to write seems to indicate it is milder this time around. We should all send him our best during this time.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-5407078737156857592011-07-02T21:44:15.000+03:002011-07-02T21:44:15.000+03:00I have this one in my stack if anyone is intereste...I have this one in my stack if anyone is interested in reading it with me. I think it looks fascinating, and a nice bridge into my other Robert Whelan books. I also have the one on Uncle Tom's Cabin coming.<br /><br />Speaking of Robert, was he ever able to get back in?avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.com