From Publishers Weekly
Garden designer Sorin invites readers to "unearth" their "creative roots" in a book long on platitudes and cheerful encouragement but unfortunately lacking in advice that would-be gardeners can put to real use. In the introduction ("what does it mean to be creative?"), Sorin sets the book’s tone by explaining that her "mission is not to have everyone create world-class gardens, but…to show new and experienced gardeners alike how they can use their gardens…as tools for their creative awakening." Accordingly, she organizes her book into "seven stages of creative unfolding": Imagining, Envisioning, Planning, Planting, Tending, Enjoying and Completing. These are sensible divisions, certainly, but the exercises that Sorin provides offers within are not always inspiring (e.g., "Ask yourself: What would I do in my garden if there were no limits on time or money?"; "Spend some time writing about times in your life when you followed your instincts, both in and outside your garden"). Even in sections like "Tips for Container Gardening," which offer numerous opportunities to introduce hands-on advice, Sorin’s recommendations ("add water-retaining gel crystals") are familiar. Sorin does provide some useful bits, listing, for example, "The Six Must-Have Gardening Tools" and giving suggestions for controlling pests without using toxic chemicals. But the bulk of her book takes gardening as a metaphor for emotional and spiritual growth-which means that readers heading for the self-help aisles might like this volume better than those wandering through the gardening section.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist
For an artist, it's an empty canvas; for a writer, a blank page; but for a homeowner, a barren landscape can be an equally daunting proposition. As with any creative endeavor, filling a space with beauty is a task few approach with any degree of self-confidence, but Sorin maintains such intimidation is unnecessary once we learn how to open ourselves up to sensory and imaginative experiences. Espousing principles that can and, she hopes, will be applied to other aspects of life, Sorin views gardening as the perfect place to begin one's creative reawakening and offers a thought-provoking series of exercises and practices that will help readers produce their perfect garden setting while developing philosophies and habits that will allow them to enjoy the fruits of their labors. From wishing and hoping to weeding and hoeing, Sorin enthusiastically guides gardeners every step of the way, helping them learn how to make choices and sharpen skills, celebrate successes, and embrace changes from a more creative perspective. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
For experienced and would-be gardeners alike, this beautiful book leads readers through a process of creative discovery that encourages them to bloom right along with their gardens. Now more than ever, people are looking for activities that help them to relax and connect with the world--and nothing accomplishes this goal more completely than gardening. By tuning in to the processes of the natural world, millions have discovered that gardening acts as a conduit for experiencing creativity--not just in the garden, but in life. Now, gardening expert Fran Sorin offers this practical, prescriptive, and motivational book to teach readers to use gardening as both a metaphor and a tool for exploring and enhancing creativity in all areas of life. With evocative illustrations and a series of eye-opening, inspirational exercises, DIGGING DEEP encourages gardeners of all levels to enjoy their gardens more deeply and to set their creative selves free.


About the Author
Fran Sorin designs gardens throughout the United States. She has been a regular contributor on NBC's Weekend Today and appeared on LIVE with Regis and Kelly, HGTV, The Discovery Channel, Lifetime, and NBC 10 in Philadelphia. The host of a weekly gardening radio show for Infinity Broadcasting, she also writes for USA Weekend and is the gardening expert for iVillage.com. She lives in Bryn Mawr, Pa.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

For experienced and would-be gardeners alike, this beautiful book leads readers through a process of creative discovery that encourages them to bloom right along with their gardens.

Now more than ever, people are looking for activities that help them to relax and connect with the world—and nothing accomplishes this goal more completely than gardening. By tuning in to the processes of the natural world, millions have discovered that gardening acts as a conduit for experiencing creativity—not just in the garden, but in life. Now, gardening expert Fran Sorin offers this practical, prescriptive, and motivational book to teach readers to use gardening as both a metaphor and a tool for exploring and enhancing creativity in all areas of life. With evocative illustrations and a series of eye-opening, inspirational exercises, Digging Deep encourages gardeners of all levels to enjoy their gardens more deeply and to set their creative selves free.

Author Biography: Fran Sorin lives in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal