I believe in moderation in all things, except gardening and antique collecting.
—Tasha Tudor

Tasha Tudor graced the world with dozens of books, both as artist and writer. Born in 1915, she had an eye for garden beauty and a gift to share it with the world through her art and words. You may have heard that Ms. Tudor died on June 18 of this year, at the age of 92, and this brings a bit of sadness, yet, I want to celebrate her life.

She published her first book “Pumpkin Moonshine” in 1938, went on to illustrate “The Secret Garden” and “The Night Before Christmas” and many more classics. Her delicate watercolor creations have caused comparisons to her and Beatrix Potter and Kate Greenaway. The money she earned from “Mother Goose” in 1945 enabled her to buy a rundown house in New Hampshire, on a remote 450 acres. Her charming watercolors were described in the New York Times in 1941 as having “the same fragile beauty of early spring evenings.”

When I saw the book about her, Tasha Tudor’s Garden, a few years ago, I splurged and bought a copy; the splendid photos in it made me want to visit this gracious lady and the home in Vermont that her son built for her in 1971, on those gorgeous acres. Her home is a reproduction of a farmhouse from the 1740s. The book has large color photos of Tasha, her home, delightful little girls wearing pinafores, assorted goats and chickens, and the stars of her garden: the boisterous flowers, herbs and trees.

She raised her four children in her old fashioned country homes, and I imagine the children had many a country adventure roaming the extensive gardens and surrounding woods. The first of her two family homes had no electricity or running water when she moved in, and she often wore simple long dresses of a country style favored in the 1800s.

She loved cooking on her iron wood fueled stove, raising goats and chickens and cooking simple meals from what she raised on her land.

The author of the book, Tovah Martin, describes the harrowing drive up to the house, on a twisting dirt road, but it is clear that the risky drive is worth taking, when you see the photographs and the ineffable beauty at the end of this road.

Ms. Tudor loved guests and put them to work sowing wildflower seeds or cleaning the goat shed, while she baked food like cornbread in her wood stove, to share with her working guests.

Welsh Corgi dogs were always on hand, and Ms. Tudor wrote and illustrated several charming books about them, “The Great Corgiville Kidnapping”, her final book “Corgiville Christmas” and her personal favorite book “Corgiville Fair.”

Ms. Tudor often spoke quite wisely, once remarking that “During my first spring here, I wheelbarrowed in rhododendrons and three beehives, because you can’t live without rhododendrons or honey, can you?”

Her family has a lovely website at www.tashatudorandfamily.com.

 

Copyright © by Terra Hangen