Proposed by: Garden Club of Madison, Zone IV

Marta McDowell is one of America’s leading garden writers, garnering national and international acclaim for her insightful portraits of literary and cultural figures and their relationships with gardening, plants, and place. She combines detailed research with sparkling prose and engaging images, resulting in books that are both entertaining and informative for a wide audience. “She  follows the relationship between the author’s pen and the trowel.” Blending her passion for horticulture, garden history, historic preservation and literature, Marta has created captivating portrayals of Emily Dickinson, Beatrix Potter, Laura Ingalls Wilder and their gardens. In one of her more recent books, she traces the story of the White House grounds from President Washington’s tree obsession to Mrs. Obama’s kitchen garden. Whether it is in a garden, classroom, lecture hall or through her beautifully written books, Marta McDowell’s work stimulates the knowledge and love of horticulture. She inspires others to explore their own connections with gardening and nature.