Vigilance Is No Orchard

In Vigilance Is No Orchard, Hazel White explores her complex relationship with the Valentine Garden, a landscape designed by Isabelle Greene, through her poetry. The poems and the constructed landscape are intricate, focusing on survival, foraging, repair, making, accumulation, and overflow, leading to flowering and eventual loss.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2018
Publisher: Nightboat Books

In her captivating book titled "In Vigilance Is No Orchard," Hazel White delves into the profound and haunting romance she shared with the Valentine Garden, a remarkable creation envisioned by the talented landscape architect Isabelle Greene in the picturesque foothills of Santa Barbara, California. Envious of Greene's extraordinary ability to shape a dynamic spatial experience, White embarks on a quest to ensure that language serves as an unwavering companion in the intricate game unfolding between her body and the vibrant landscape that Greene has meticulously crafted. Both the poems and the constructed landscapes they depict are intricate and multifaceted, refusing to be reduced to simplicity. Instead, their central preoccupations revolve around survival, forage, repair, the act of creation, accumulation, and overflow, culminating in the breathtaking phenomenon of flowering and eventually giving way to loss.

Hazel White's literary prowess is widely celebrated, with praise pouring in from esteemed readers and critics alike. One such accolade comes from Bhanu Kapil, who remarked, "I set this book down and wept...It is the most beautiful piece of writing I have read in many years." The depth of emotion and the exquisite craftsmanship that permeate every page of "In Vigilance Is No Orchard" leave a lasting impression on the reader, transporting them into a realm where words and landscapes merge in a sublime dance of beauty and introspection.

Through her poetic lens, White explores the intricate connections between human beings and the natural world, shedding light on the delicate balance between survival, growth, and the inevitable cycles of life and death. The Valentine Garden serves as a metaphor for the human journey, a testament to the power of imagination and the transformative impact of nature. With each turn of the page, White invites readers to embark on a journey of discovery, where the lines between reality and imagination blur, and the magic of language unfolds in a symphony of sensory and emotional richness.

In conclusion, "In Vigilance Is No Orchard" is a literary masterpiece that captivates the reader with its profound exploration of love, nature, and the human condition. Hazel White's poetic language and the intricate landscapes she describes invite us to reflect on the complexities of existence and the profound connections we share with the world around us. This book is a testament to the power of words and the beauty of nature, and it will leave a lasting impression on anyone who dares to immerse themselves in its pages.

Weight: 140g
Dimension: 186 x 226 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781937658823