Nature’s Narratives is the monthly book discussion group for Scott Arboretum & Gardens. Join fellow garden enthusiasts and book lovers to discuss books about plants, nature, and the environment.
This month’s selection is Marc Hamer’s memoir How to Catch a Hole: Wisdom From a Life Lived in Nature. Kneeling in a muddy field in the Welsh countryside, clutching a creature that is soft and blue-black, Marc Hamer vows he will stop trapping moles—forever. In this earnest, understated, and sublime work of literary memoir, the molecatcher shares what led him to this strange career and what caused him to stop: from sleeping among hedges as a homeless teen, to toiling on the railway, to weeding windswept gardens in Wales and witnessing the beauty of every living thing.
Participants are encouraged, but not required, to read each month’s selection prior to the discussion. Discussions are led by horticulturist and book-lover Elizabeth Haegele and participants are welcome to share or simply listen.
Program Details