Cutting Back

I finished listening to the book this morning and would like to make a couple bullet points:

1.  Even though Leslie was a woman working with the “craftsman” of the Japanese male gardeners, she seemed “weak”.  (I  know as the only male in the book club  I’m going to hear about this comment).
2. The craftsman were very disciplined and served as an apprentice for many years.
3. I liked the formal ware (uniforms) they wore.
4. A new glove every day
5. a little information about being a good pruner.
6. history of the Japanese gardens

from out meeting 1/16/2018

1. pleasant and quick read-enjoyed the book
2. OK book, but didn’t learn anything about pruning except that it is very hard & detailed
3. Would have been nice to have learned more specifics about pruning and Japanese gardening.
4. Peak my interest in visiting additional Japanese /gardens.
5. Enjoyed the experience of the plant & tree maturity/diversity.

Mgbudsbookclub give the book a rating of 3 smiley faces.

 Cutting Back by Leslie Buck
For thirty-five, Leslie Buck made an impulsive decision to put her personal life on hold to pursue her passion. Leaving behind a full life of friends, love, and professional security, she became the first American woman to learn pruning from one of the most storied landscaping companies in Kyoto. Cutting Back recounts Buck’s bold journey and the revelations she has along the way. During her apprenticeship in Japan, she learns that the best Kyoto gardens look so natural they appear untouched by human hands, even though her crew spends hours meticulously cleaning every pebble in the streams. She is taught how to bring nature’s essence into a garden scene, how to design with native plants, and how to subtly direct a visitor through a landscape. But she learns the most important lessons from her fellow gardeners: how to balance strength with grace, seriousness with humor, and technique with heart