Tara Austen Weaver – författare

For fans of Anne Lamott, a profoundly moving memoir of rediscovering, reinventing, and reconnecting, as an estranged mother and daughter come together to revive a long-abandoned garden and ultimately their relationship and themselves.  Peeling paint, stained floors, vined-over windows, a neglected and wild garden—Tara Austen Weaver can’t get the Seattle real estate listing out of her head. Any sane person would have seen the abandoned property for what it was: a ramshackle half-acre filled with dead grass, blackberry vines, and trouble. But Tara sees potential and promise—not only for the edible bounty the garden could yield for her family, but for the personal renewal she and her mother might reap along the way.   So begins Orchard House, a story of rehabilitation and cultivation—of land and soul. Through bleak winters, springs that sputter with rain and cold, golden days of summer, and autumns full of apples, pears, and pumpkins, this evocative memoir recounts the Weavers’ trials and triumphs, detailing what grew and what didn’t, the obstacles overcome and the lessons learned. Inexorably, as mother and daughter tend this wild patch and the fruits of their labor begin to flourish, green shoots of hope emerge from the darkness of their past.   For everyone who has ever planted something that they wished would survive—or tried to mend something that seemed forever broken—Orchard House is a tale of healing and growth set in a most unlikely place.Praise for Orchard House  “This touching memoir chronicles how the act of transforming a garden together—of ‘planting hope’—helps a mother and daughter reconnect and revive the sense of groundedness that had been lost within their relationship and themselves. . . . [Orchard House] deftly [captures] the love, laughter, trials and tears that make motherhood the joy and job it truly is.”—American Way   “Honest and moving . . . [the story of] one woman’s initiation into intensive gardening with her mother, which changed a neglected space into something beautiful and bountiful and shifted their relationship as well.”—Kirkus Reviews   “Fascinating, tender, often heartbreaking . . . The perfect gift for a mother or a daughter with an appreciation for the transformative power of gardening.”—HGTV Gardens   “A wise exploration of family roots . . . Nurturing a garden is a lovely metaphor for healing a family. . . . [Orchard House] could serve as a handbook for both.”—Shelf Awareness   “With buoyant grace and empathic insights, Weaver offers an ardent tribute to both the science of perseverance and the art of letting go.”—Booklist“This is a glorious book—lyrical, honest, compassionate, and wise. It reminds us that gardens and families are messy businesses, but from them we can harvest hope and food and moments of grace.”—Erica Bauermeister, author of The School of Essential Ingredients  “Filled with sensuous descriptions, this beguiling story enchants. Gardeners and non-gardeners alike will delight in this lyrical tale of how a garden grows a family.”—Diana Abu-Jaber, author of The Language of Baklava and Birds of Paradise“Orchard House is a glorious and deeply moving story of one family’s redemption. If Anne Lamott and Wendell Berry ever had a literary love child, Tara Austen Weaver might well be her.”—Elissa Altman, author of Poor Man’s FeastFrom the Hardcover edition.

This delightful celebration of the dahlia reads like a “very smart love letter to cultivating beauty” and features 60+ vintage-inspired full-color botanical illustrations (Seattle Times). “Next time you are lucky enough to be someone’s houseguest, consider arriving with a bouquet of either one of the Little Book of Flowers.”—The New York TimesDahlias are the showboats of the flower world—colorful, flamboyant, and spectacular. They're also one of the most satisfying flowers to grow, with a long season, plentiful blooms, and are adaptable to most climates with proper care. They're very easy to propagate, and can be hybridized. There are numerous dahlia flower forms and more than 50,000 recognized cultivars!This charming little hardcover book includes:60+ full-color botanical illustrationsbasic botany and historyeverything you need to know to grow gorgeous blooms in the garden (including dividing tubers to propagate more flowers)tips for creating beautiful arrangements and preserving flowersquotes, lore, and notable gardens and growersLike a bouquet of dahlias, this book is an affordable little luxury for gardeners and flower lovers—the perfect hostess gift or Mother's Day present. It’s part of the collectible mini gift book series Little Book of Natural Wonders.

This charming celebration of the peony reads like a “very smart love letter to cultivating beauty” and features 60+ vintage-inspired full-color botanical illustrations (Seattle Times). “Delightful…Next time you are lucky enough to be someone’s houseguest, consider arriving with a bouquet of either one of the Little Book of Flowers.”-The New York TimesPeonies are queens of the spring garden, a romantic flower long popular in bridal bouquets (symbolizing prosperity and a happy marriage). In bloom for only a few weeks, they have passionate fans who love them despite—or perhaps because of—their short season. They can live to be 100 years, and are one of the easiest flowers to grow, with many different shapes and colors available, and a delicate scent. This charming little hardcover book includes:60+ full-color botanical illustrationsbasic botany and historyeverything you need to know to grow gorgeous blooms in the gardentips for creating beautiful arrangements and preserving flowersquotes, lore, and notable gardens and growersLike a bouquet of peonies, this book is an affordable little luxury for gardeners and flower lovers—the perfect hostess gift or Mother’s Day present. It’s part of the collectible mini gift book series Little Book of Natural Wonders.

After a drab winter, tulips triumphantly emerge from the spring garden, a colourful symbol of rebirth. These humble bulbs have been celebrated, stolen, carried across oceans; at times they have been considered as precious as rubies. Happily for us, these days they are affordable luxuries—and easy to grow as well.This charming little hardback book includes:40+ full-colour botanical illustrationsBasic botany and historyEverything you need to know to grow gorgeous blooms in the gardenTips for creating beautiful arrangementsQuotes, lore, and notable gardens and growersLike a bouquet of tulips, this book is the perfect hostess gift or Mother's Day present for gardeners and flower lovers. It’s part of the collectible mini gift book series Little Book of Natural Wonders.

Hummingbirds are beautiful and mesmerising. Did you know they can flick their tongue twelve times a second? Or that they “tile” their nests with pieces of lichen and moss (the nests themselves are spun from spiderwebs and thistledown)? Or that some species sing and dance as they woo their mates? Perhaps it’s no surprise that hummingbirds elicit such enthusiasm from those who love them.This small-format hardback book includes:45 lifelike ink-and-watercolour drawings showcasing all the species commonly found in the US and Canada, as well as the most frequent visitors—often depicted with their favourite flowers. Includes all males and many females.Fascinating facts on cultural history, folklore, migration patterns, habitat, lifecycle, biology, and anatomyInformation on creating your own hummingbird haven using feeders, flowers, water, and shelterBirdwatching tips and best places to visit to see hummingbirdsThis book is part of the collectible mini book series Little Book of Natural Wonders, and makes a gorgeous gift (or irresistible treat for yourself) for all hummingbird lovers!

These essays by renowned travel writers explore the many lures of Tuscany — its rolling hills, sunny climate, friendly people, and superb food and wine. This extraordinary region comes alive in tales of harvesting grapes, hunting for truffles, hiking ancient Etruscan paths, and glorying in the region’s bountiful art, music, history, and above all, romance. Some of the writers have made Tuscany their home, others came to vacation or study. But the spell of the region pervades all of these accounts. Authors include Frances Mayes, Matthew Spender, Jan Morris, Ferenc Mate, and Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, among others.