"Vintage Wisconsin Gardens is the perfect primer for any gardener or homeowner wishing to re-create a late-nineteenth- or early-twentieth-century garden. It is filled with delightful details, anecdotes, historical photos, and a really useful list of plants. How I wish it existed when I was trying to create a garden for my 125-year-old home. It would have made my job a lot easier! Vintage Wisconsin Gardens is also just fun reading for gardeners, historians, and anyone interested in Wisconsin’s horticultural past." (Shelley Ryan, host of The Wisconsin Gardener on Wisconsin Public Television, and heirloom gardening enthusiast)
"An engaging look at how home gardens and landscapes changed as Wisconsin became more settled and developed from the 1800s to early 1900s. Gardeners will enjoy reading about how our 'modern' ideas of the use of home grounds came to be—and may be intrigued by the mention of certain plants that are 'new' again today. Anyone who is involved with historic gardens will appreciate the story of this evolution, as well as the practical considerations Lee Somerville presents for creating or maintaining a vintage garden." (Susan Mahr, Master Gardener Program Coordinator, University of Wisconsin–Madison)
"Vintage Wisconsin Gardens provides a comprehensive look into Wisconsin gardening from a home gardener’s perspective. The photos, notes from the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society meetings, and Lee's insights provide gardeners with a look at the past and practical tips for re-creating period gardens. As gardeners, we can gain insight into current trends, popular plants, and gardening styles when we take a moment to look to our past. And Lee Somerville helps us do just that."(Melinda Myers, author and nationally syndicated TV and radio gardening expert)
"Somerville offers a complete list of suggested plants and questions to consider when creating your own Wisconsin vintage garden. This Wisconsin Historical Society Press publication is a delightful resource for a gardener of any skill level or for a curious Wisconsin citizen interested in taking a look at the past." (Carly Rubach, ThirdCoast Digest)