Listen to the Land

Louise Wrinkle

An engaging, informative, and poignant memoir of a life spent tending one particular property, a woodland oasis in Alabama. Louise Agee Wrinkle grew up on this land, returned to it in mid-life, and has, for the last 40 years, tended it with care and creativity, according to her philosophy of allowing the land to speak for itself.

Purchase the revised edition with a new preface by James Brayton Hall, President and CEO of The Garden Conservancy, published by Design Books, and distributed by NBN. The first edition is sold out.

Books may be purchased at your favorite independent bookseller, garden shop, or at Amazon, shipping May 1, 2024.

The Garden Convervancy invites you to View the Gardens & See the Film

Four of Birmingham’s finest private gardens (including Louise Wrinkle's Southern Woodland Garden) will open their gates for the public to visit on Saturday, May 4 2024. This marks the first time the area’s private gardens have opened their gates for Open Days tours since 2009!

Join us at the Virginia Samford Theatre on Sunday, May 5 2024 for the premiere of A Garden in Conversation: Louise Agee Wrinkle’s Southern Woodland Sanctuary. A panel discussion will follow the film, focusing on southern gardens, native plants, and conservation. A reception and book signing will conclude the afternoon.

View the Full Invite & Read the Press Release

Recognition

  • The Foundation for Landscape Studies at Annual Luncheon in Central Park, New York City, May 8, 2019 named Louise A. Wrinkle Place Maker for 2019. Read More >
  • Forthcoming featured garden in the Garden Conservancy's The Suzanne and Frederic Rheinstein Garden Documentation Program (2024). View trailer >

Press Coverage

Published by Design Books

I think that family, friends, garden club members, master gardeners, and other serious gardeners will find this book inspiring and informative.

- Neil Odenwald, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, past Director,
Robert S. Reich School of Landscape Architecture, Louisiana State University

The Plant Profiles will be valuable to any gardener. This is not just a list of plants with descriptions, but rather examples that Wrinkle has or had in her garden, and her personal experiences with them.

- John Alex Floyd, Jr., Ph.D.,
Retired Editor in Chief, Southern Living

This is a coming-of-age story that spans a lifetime and is a must-read for any avid gardener today.

- Fred Spicer, Executive Vice President and Director,
Chicago Botanic Garden

Listen to the Land Cover

Upcoming Events

Sat, May 4 2024, 10 am - 4 pm
The Garden Conservancy Celebrates Birmingham Gardens Open Days
Get Tickets >

Sun, May 5 2024, 3 to 5 pm
Documentary Film Premiere of Louise Agee Wrinkle’s Southern Woodland Sanctuary
Virginia Samford Theatre
Register for Premiere >

Previous Events

Sun, Dec 3 2017, 2 to 4 pm
Little Professor Book CenterHomewood, AL

Wed, Dec 6 2017
Garden Club of America, NYC

Thur, Dec 7 2017, 6 to 8 pm
Cosmopolitan Club Library, NYC

Sun, Dec 10 2017, 2 to 4 pm
Smith's Variety

Sat, Dec 16 2017, 11 to 1 pm
Atlanta Botanical Garden Gift Shop

Sunday, Nov 18 2018, 3 to 4 pm
Homewood Public Library, Round Auditorium
Author Appearance and Book signing

View Book Signing Pictures >

Book Launch Party

November 30, 2017, 6 to 8 pm
Birmingham Botanical Gardens