Sydney Eddison has written four gardening-related books, one of which is out of print while the others continue to be discussed endlessly and used as resources in gardening circles everywhere.

By Shannon Hicks

Sydney Eddison has written four gardening-related books, one of which is out of print while the others continue to be discussed endlessly and used as resources in gardening circles everywhere. She has also written countless magazine articles, has provided the Introduction for a pair of books by the photographer Harold Feinstein, and has lectured coast to coast. Her live appearances are as popular as her written words.

The Newtown resident, who lives on a beautiful expanse of property along part of the Upper Paugussett State Forest with husband Martin and their dog Chloe, has been gardening for nearly 40 years but may have felt for one of the first times only recently how important her work has become. On June 20 Mrs Eddison was awarded The Gustav A.L. Mehlquist Award, the highest honor presented annually by The Connecticut Horticulture Society. The award was presented to Mrs Eddison "in recognition of her unsurpassed talent as a writer, dedication to gardening, and sharing of her gardening skills with others."

In 1987, in honor of its 100th anniversary, Connecticut Horticulture Society established its Centennial Award to honor a state resident who has, according to society notes, "significantly benefited the art of gardening or made an extraordinary contribution to horticulture." Dr Mehlquist was unanimously chosen as the recipient of the award that year for his world-famous work in breeding rhododendrons, delphiniums, orchids, and carnations. The award's name was then changed to its current title.

A letter from Cyndi Wyskiewicz, the awards chairperson for CHS, told Mrs Eddison that "society members nominated you for this award for your endless source of knowledge you bring to Connecticut residents through your books, articles, and various lectures.

"Your willingness to share your time, knowledge, and talent makes you truly worthy of receiving this award," it continued. The society held its annual dinner meeting on June 20 at Indian Hill Country Club in Newington and Mrs Eddison was presented with her award that evening.

"It was such a boost to know that these people felt I was reaching someone," Mrs Eddison said. A former teacher, she admits to always wondering how her work is received, whether it is reaching her intended audience, and how effective her current form of instruction is.

Her first attempt at writing was not very well received. Mrs Eddison wrote two novels that were hardly the success of today's work.

"No one would want [the early books] for anything other than package stuffing," she laughs. Thanks to perseverance, and a suggestion from her husband, Mrs Eddison was able to work through the heartbreak of having her novels rejected. Taking her husband's advice, Mrs Eddison began following one of writing's oldest rules: She began writing about what she knew.

"Writing has become a second career," second only to gardening says Mrs Eddison. "I had no idea that this is what gardening was going to be all about."

It is not always an easy career.

"It's very, very, very, very hard work," she said recently, sitting in a kitchen that overlooks a gorgeous backyard that is both tidy and inviting. "It can be so frustrating and sometimes you think bang, bang" — she indicates hitting one's head against a wall — "but then the satisfaction of finding the perfect word to complete a passage returns."

Mrs Eddison is the author of A Patchwork Garden: Unexpected Pleasures from a Country Garden (March 1992), A Passion For Daylilies: The Flowers and The People (May 1992), The Unsung Season: Gardens and Gardeners in Winter (December 1995) and The Self-Taught Gardener: Lessons From A Country Garden (March 1998).

She also wrote the Introduction for Harold Feinstein's One Hundred Flowers (March 2000) and then for Mr Feinstein's Foliage (September 2001).

Her book Daylilies offered a celebration of the flower through its history and many variations, combining how-to information with portraits of daylily enthusiasts. Today the book is a tough find. Having gone out of print long ago, used copies of the original hardcover begin at $79 at Amazon.com, while the paperback starts at $11 from the same source (from Half.com, a popular source for used books, videos, and CDs, Eddison enthusiasts can find the hardcover for as little as $47, while the paperback starts at $22). Most bookstores will not even promise delivery of the book, used or otherwise. Those who have copies tend to hold on tightly to them.

Mrs Eddison recently completed the Introduction for Monet The Gardener, a book by Robert Gordon that is scheduled to be released in October. She is also awaiting the release of her fifth book — "the color book," she calls it — which represents three years of work and will also be out this fall. Anyone who has attended Mrs Eddison's lectures during the past year will recognize the title of her book, because she has been speaking on its theme: The Gardener's Palette: Exploring Color in The Garden.

"I thought 'There really must be a way to make this difficult subject easier,'" Mrs Eddison confided. It took time, but she thinks she has been able to break down the challenge of bringing defined color into anyone's garden. The book's original title was Color For Gardeners: The Art of Looking, because, the author said, "that is what it's all about." She and the publisher, which had its own idea, came to a compromise with the final title.

The best thing about horticulture, Mrs Eddison says, is that the subject is not only never-ending but ever-changing.

"You can go on learning about gardening forever," she said. "I've certainly continued to see that." The majority of Mrs Eddison's knowledge has come from hands-on gardening and experimenting. She has taken just a few classes — "I think I can count on one hand the number of New York Botanical Gardens workshops I've been to, "she says — preferring to continue to learn directly from the earth, and other gardeners. When it comes to hands-on gardening, "you can't knock it."

"I really feel it's important to give back something. That's what I do when I teach, or give talks," said Mrs Eddison, who takes her cue from others.

"I love gardeners," she said. "They're very generous with their knowledge.

"Gardening has brought me such joy, and a whole new life," Mrs Eddison said. "I travel up and down the East Coast, from Florida to Maine, meeting people I never would have met, finding wonderful little towns.

"This award," she said, "it was a bit of whipped cream on top — with sprinkles."