February 20, 2025
Late one summer’s day in 2014, I fell into a dreamworld known as Bedrock Gardens. Set loose (with permission from the owners) to explore the 20-acre rural garden in Lee, New Hampshire, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. The garden was pure magic, by turns serene, whimsical, colorful, mysterious, and goofy. Yes, goofy, as it included a couple of funhouse mirrors and pantless stump people in the Dark Woods.
Bedrock was, at that time, a private garden, the creation of artist and plant obsessive Jill Nooney and her can-build-anything husband, Bob Munger. Today it’s a public garden — a near-miraculous transformation meant to ensure the garden’s survival for decades to come. And it turns out that Jill is as talented a writer and storyteller as she is a garden creator. Her book Bedrock: The Making of a Public Garden comes out on March 11th. I received an early copy, which I lingered over, often rereading paragraphs out loud to my husband. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
And I’m giving away a copy of Bedrock at the end of this post!
In Bedrock the book, as in Bedrock the garden, Jill’s frank humor and a sense of joyfully lived life shine through on every page. I laughed over Jill’s retelling of gardening mishaps, even as I marveled at her and Bob’s prodigious energy and dedication to their garden. For 40 years they’ve worked on it together, she as the self-described problem maker and he as the problem solver. It’s a match made in heaven, resulting in an incredible garden that they built and maintained themselves for decades. Meanwhile they also raised three boys and had full-time careers — how, I ask?
Never mind. Some people just make more of their hours and talents! I’m grateful to have met Jill and Bob and had the pleasure of seeing Bedrock twice, in spite of its distance from Texas. You can read about those visits here and here.
But for far more detail, read the book. It’s less about turning Bedrock into a public garden and more of a love story about Jill and Bob’s creative partnership and garden making. If you’re fascinated by the creative process of gardening — obsessing over plants, coming up with a new garden idea, figuring out a perfect focal point, making art out of found objects — you’ll love this book.
Jill tells the garden’s story with an ear for a good anecdote, self-deprecating humor, and clear recollection of her motivations and design decisions. The photographs tell the story beautifully too. I’m proud to say a few of them are my own, including the cover.
I’m also excited to announce that Jill and Bob will be traveling to Austin in October to speak for Garden Spark! Local readers, you’ll have a chance to meet these dynamos, learn more about Bedrock, and enjoy Jill’s storytelling in person. More info to come. Subscribe to Garden Spark for all the news.
Book Giveaway
And now — I’m giving away a copy of Bedrock to one lucky winner, courtesy of author Jill Nooney!
HOW TO ENTER
To be entered in the giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post. One comment per person, please.
For an EXTRA entry, pop over to my Instagram and 1) FOLLOW @pamdigging, 2) LIKE my giveaway post dated 2/20, and 3) TAG a friend in the comments. Please include your own name if it’s not your Instagram handle, so I can connect you with your comment here.
Rules: The giveaway ends Thursday, 2/27, at 11:59 CDT. Open to U.S. state residents excluding Alaska and Hawaii, ages 18+ only. No purchase necessary to enter or win. I’ll randomly draw a winner on 2/27 and contact the winner by email. The book will be mailed from the author after its publication on March 11th.
Good luck, y’all!
Disclosure: The author sent me a copy of Bedrock, and I reviewed it at my own discretion and without any compensation. This post, as with everything at Digging, is my personal opinion.
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Digging Deeper
Attend the annual Budding Out Plant Sale & Festival on March 15th at the John Fairey Garden in Hempstead. Shop for rare plants from the garden’s nursery and select plant vendors. Local artists and artisans as well as food, drink, and demonstrations will also be featured. Admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members, children under 12 free. Hours: 10 am to 4 pm; members get early admission at 9 am (memberships available on day of event).
Tour 5 unique Houston gardens on Saturday, April 26, from 10 am to 4 pm, during the Garden Conservancy’s Open Day Tour for Houston. Tickets must be purchased online in advance through the Garden Conservancy.
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Read all about the Season 8 lineup here!
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
