I’m reading your lovely tribute to Mary Delany, as I’m watching two hummingbirds drinking from the native honeysuckle outside my window. I can imagine Mary creating a collage of the delicate honeysuckle flower. Once again, you have introduced me to an incredible woman and her beautiful artwork. Thank you!
Thanks, I think so too! And good point, to think of all we’ve lost. Mary Delany had a lot going on in her life, but she wasn’t interrupted constantly by emails, texts, social media etc.
What a beautiful post, Sarah—Mary’s story, her captivating art, Molly’s poem, your garden. Molly is a neighbor, as delightful as you’d imagine. I’ll make sure she sees this.
Thank you! I didn’t know about her either, until my friend Meg introduced me. And now I feel like could keep on writing about her and looking at those collages.
Thanks, Ann! That means a lot, coming from you! And I know that you know the feeling of wanting to write a lot more about a subject, more than one posts’s worth. 💕
Oh, good! It’s an intriguing mix of biography (some of it a little speculative, imagining how Mary Delany might have felt in different situations) and memoir. And a beautiful book.
Thank you! And same—I recently found a box of old letters from my high school and college years, and it turns out I wrote regularly to people I wasn’t even that close with, not just my close friends. I miss that too.
I’m reading your lovely tribute to Mary Delany, as I’m watching two hummingbirds drinking from the native honeysuckle outside my window. I can imagine Mary creating a collage of the delicate honeysuckle flower. Once again, you have introduced me to an incredible woman and her beautiful artwork. Thank you!
Agreed!
Beautiful, Barb! I’ll have to look and see if Mary Delany made a honeysuckle collage.
You always introduce us to the most interesting creatives!
Thank you, Kris! I learned about Mary Delany from my creative friend Meg!
What incredible botanical drawings. Wow.
They are incredible! And each one is a collage of tiny papers plated one on top of the other.
like a form of flat twilling; so creative yet the scientific precision stuns me
I think stunning is the right word! Combining art and science so beautifully….
What an amazing woman. Makes me think that in this age of media overload we’ve lost so much potential in ourselves and others. Many thanks
Thanks, I think so too! And good point, to think of all we’ve lost. Mary Delany had a lot going on in her life, but she wasn’t interrupted constantly by emails, texts, social media etc.
What a beautiful post, Sarah—Mary’s story, her captivating art, Molly’s poem, your garden. Molly is a neighbor, as delightful as you’d imagine. I’ll make sure she sees this.
Thank you, Rona! And I didn’t know that Molly is your neighbor! (Though I knew about Toronto.)
Wow - I had never heard of Mary Delany, but now I am absolutely intrigued. What a woman! Thanks for sharing
Same here! She is simply fascinating!
I love the artful mixing of poetry and history and gardening here— and the photos are gorgeous!
Thank you, Victoria! Mary Delany is a fascinating character.
So interesting—thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Victoria! Her work is really incredible.
Stunning artwork! I did not know about Mary Delany. Thanks so much for this.
Thank you! I didn’t know about her either, until my friend Meg introduced me. And now I feel like could keep on writing about her and looking at those collages.
This is utterly delightful, Sarah!
Thanks, Ann! I can’t believe I never knew about Mary Delany until a few weeks ago.
A fantastic post, Sarah - so interesting. Stunning artwork.
Thanks, Ann! That means a lot, coming from you! And I know that you know the feeling of wanting to write a lot more about a subject, more than one posts’s worth. 💕
Thanks for sharing this book with me! I'm off to find it. Another great review...
Oh, good! It’s an intriguing mix of biography (some of it a little speculative, imagining how Mary Delany might have felt in different situations) and memoir. And a beautiful book.
Beautiful gardens and collages. I used to write so many letters as a child and teen. I miss that.
Thank you! And same—I recently found a box of old letters from my high school and college years, and it turns out I wrote regularly to people I wasn’t even that close with, not just my close friends. I miss that too.
Incredibly interesting! And love the garden views at the end!
Thank you, Odette! Heading out to the garden now to cut some bellflowers.
😍😍😍
Meant to say - your flowers are gorgeous!
Thank you! It’s been an especially pretty spring and I’ve taken lots of photos…
Love Mrs. Delaney - and you introduce her so well. Especially nice that you included examples of her extraordinary work.
Thank you! I’m not sure why I never learned about her years ago, but better late than never! Her work is extraordinary.