Theodore (Ted) James, Jr. (as writer) and Harry Haralambou (as photographer) were prolific producers of gardening books. Beginning in 1985, they shared a home, dating from 1740, and a garden in Peconic, New York at the east end of Long Island. Their garden was featured in several of their books, many available in the Miller Library. The best in my judgment being “Specialty Gardens.”
James was a writer on a wide range of topics, including for the travel section of the New York Times and comedy material for theater and cabarets. His October 2006 obituary in the Times described him as having “a colorful life. His career took him all over the world. He loved people, parties and telling stories.”
The writing in “Specialty Gardens” showcases this latter skill, weaving fascinating tales of gardens and gardeners from around the world, always complimented by Haralambou’s photographs. James had a keen insight to the fanaticism of a special-interest gardener, and encourages the reader to consider joining their ranks. “Perhaps one of these will interest you, then preoccupy you, and then even addict and possess you. But not to worry, for gardening is a healthy, relatively inexpensive and rewarding pastime.”
A graduate of Princeton University in 1957, the obituary for James in the Princeton Alumni Weekly referred to his life-partner Harry Haralambou. “His dear friend Harry was his partner to the end. The class sends its sympathy to all those who knew this gentle man.” After his partner’s death, Haralambou published his first solo book in 2007, “North Fork Living,” about the community where he and James lived.
Excerpted from Brian Thompson’s article in the Fall 2022 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin