Let’s take a quick look at Tasha Tudor’s creative life and gardens, her books and crafts, and how she influenced the generation of gardeners, artists and makers.
If you want a Tudor-inspired cottage garden, take a look at cottage style garden flowers and how I started Delphinium.
The Creative World of Tasha Tudor
Tasha Tudor’s Garden, or more precisely, her deep garden, can be glimpsed for the first time through illustrations in her children’s book.
I was never drawn to the story, but even as a child I studied the garden scenes in great detail.
You cannot share images here due to copyright, but you can easily find them online or in your local library.
I think part of the charm was how similar her Vermont plants were to what she knew at her Canadian home. It really stirred something inside me and I knew one day I had to have a garden covered in my own flowers.
Tasha Tudor at home
In the early 1990s, several books were published featuring Tasha Tudor gardens, daily life and handicrafts. They were a huge source of inspiration for me.
The combination of Tasha’s lifestyle and creation, Richard Brown’s beautiful photo shoot and writing by Toba Martin (my favorite garden writer) was pure magic. If you are a lifelong gardener or someone who likes to make things with your hands, then there is a lot to do with those pages.
At the same time, rumors began to spread about bad business transactions and partners with questionable intent to take advantage of Tudor. What fans wanted was that it would eventually halt a longer book series. I don’t know how these books feel fresh today, but they were delighted back then. And I think they still spark a new gardener’s imagination.
These are the books I recommend:
Tasha’s Successful Garden (Japanese Edition)
A few years later, this Japanese version appeared entitled “Tasha’s Successful Gardens,” and again came along with a photograph of Richard Brown.
For rare impulse purchases, I pre-ordered copies through the Tudor website.
When it arrived I was very happy to see Tasha’s sign inside:
I had no fantasies about meeting her – not talking engagements or garden tours – because I remembered reading what she claimed to have dressed in a certain way. And there is no way for this empress to wear a dress or skirt for whom! Sometimes it’s best to praise inspiration from afar.
Tasha Tudor’s Garden Video
Today, the family manages the Tasha Tudor Estate (“Corgi Cottage”) and each year there is an exclusive tour of the house and garden.
If you’re lucky enough to get your tickets, know that no cameras or other electronics are allowed on the tour.
I never want to go because I rely so much on photography to recall and review such experiences. I’m overwhelmed in the yard so I can barely absorb what’s going on! It can be frustrating to not be able to take photos to review at home. That said, I understand why they have policies. This is their livelihood and they need to protect it. But I’m poor! It’s lovely to see. 🙂
This is the video. It’s special because there are aerial drone footage long before drones became so popular (as is today).
The narration is in Japanese. This kind of footage is not available in English, so enjoy it. If you’re really interested, I’m sure Google Translate will help.
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~Melissa Empress of the Defiled
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