Old Herbaceous (1950) by Reginald Arkell #NovNov26

 

🍓 Two of my most exciting reading events are currently happening: Novellas in November and Nonfiction November! And here is my first read for #NovNov26. First I might mention a little about my current life, here where I live in Surabaya, Indonesia. The Godzilla El Niño has been here since early October, meaning that Surabaya is terribly hot - I can't stay out of air-conditioned or powerfully-fanned room for more than 5 minutes, or I would be profusely sweating. Since I always hate heat and humidity, the hot weather did nothing to improve my temper either, LOL! Combine that, the terrible heat, and the chaotic life I have been having since last month, meaning that I must stop going outdoors for either birdwatching or nature journaling (I typed this while seeing my abandoned nature blog with a deep sigh...) You might also hear about the wildfires currently going on in Kalimantan (Borneo). While Surabaya is in Java, I believe the wildfire in Kalimantan has, nevertheless, a tiny impact on our air too. Well, in any case, my daily checking on Iqair apps shows that the air is often highly polluted and unhealthy. So, to compensate my lost of going outdoor, I picked several nature or bird-related books for #NovNov26 and #NonficNov26. Old Herbaceous is, therefore, a perfect choice for kicking off November!

🍓 Old Herbaceous is a nickname for one legendary head gardener of a country manor house, called Bert Pinnegar. This novella tells us how Pinnegar came to that point of his life, when the villagers given him that moniker, which suited him very much. It starts from the beginning, Bert Pinnegar as an awkward orphan child with a limp - one leg is shorter than the other. While his friends were engaging in playful games, little Bert picked wildflowers in the field, while dodging angry farmers who own the fields. He won a prize at school for his wildflower arrangement, because one of the patrons, a beautiful Lady, endorsed his ingenuity. When Bert was out of school, it is natural that he should work as under gardener at the Lady's house. And, as you may call it, the rest is history. Bert Pinnegar's passion for flowers and garden made him a quick learner, and by the time the former gardener retired, Bert was the perfect choice to replace him. He did wonder by wonder to the garden, and the Lady - who also loves gardening - soon became more a friend than a boss to him. 

🍓 Pinnegar was much praised for serving strawberries very early in April, and for growing a blue flower that his Lady has been dreaming of owning, after a trip to foreign countries. After single-mindedly working hard all his life, now in his old age, Herbert Pinnegar could comfortably reflect on the respect bestowed on him from his peers, his boss/friend/protector - in short, the whole village. What else can an ordinary man hope in life?

🍓 I always love men and women who love their works, and draw satisfaction from it. When one focuses on what one could do in one's work, there's so much one can achieve. And one should be indifferent to others' sneer or jealousy, for the satisfaction of having do one's utmost to complete a job is the one comfort one needs. The respect and fortune are merely a bonus one would be grateful to receive, knowing perfectly well that one really deserves them. Needless to say, I love this novella, it's a very comforting, soothing, and satisfying book to read.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

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Novellas in November 2026

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