Theodore (Ted) James, Jr. (as writer) and Harry Haralambou (as photographer) were prolific producers of gardening books.\u00a0 Beginning in 1985, they shared a home, dating from 1740, and a garden in Peconic, New York at the east end of Long Island.\u00a0 Their garden was featured in several of their books, many available in the Miller Library. The best in my judgment being \u201cSpecialty Gardens.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 His October 2006 obituary in the Times described him as having \u201ca colorful life.\u00a0 His career took him all over the world.\u00a0 He loved people, parties and telling stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
The writing in \u201cSpecialty Gardens\u201d showcases this latter skill, weaving fascinating tales of gardens and gardeners from around the world, always complimented by Haralambou\u2019s photographs.\u00a0 James had a keen insight to the fanaticism of a special-interest gardener, and encourages the reader to consider joining their ranks.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps one of these will interest you, then preoccupy you, and then even addict and possess you.\u00a0 But not to worry, for gardening is a healthy, relatively inexpensive and rewarding pastime.\u201d<\/p>\n
A graduate of Princeton University in 1957, the obituary for James in the Princeton Alumni Weekly referred to his life-partner Harry Haralambou.\u00a0 \u201cHis dear friend Harry was his partner to the end. The class sends its sympathy to all those who knew this gentle man.\u201d\u00a0 After his partner\u2019s death, Haralambou published his first solo book in 2007, \u201cNorth Fork Living,\u201d about the community where he and James lived.<\/p>\n
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Excerpted from Brian Thompson’s article in the Fall 2022 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Theodore (Ted) James, Jr. (as writer) and Harry Haralambou (as photographer) were prolific producers of gardening books.\u00a0 Beginning in 1985, they shared a home, dating from 1740, and a garden in Peconic, New York at the east end of Long Island.\u00a0 Their garden was featured in several of their books, many available in the Miller Library. The best in my judgment being \u201cSpecialty Gardens.\u201d James was a writer on a wide range of topics, including for the travel section of…<\/p>\n