At thirty-five, Leslie Buck made an impulsive decision to put her personal life on hold to pursue her passion. Leaving behind a full life of friends, love, and professional security, she became the first American woman to learn pruning from one of the most storied landscaping companies in Kyoto. Cutting Back: My Apprenticeship in the Gardens of Kyoto recounts Buck’s bold journey and the revelations she has along the way. Leslie learns important lessons from her fellow gardeners: how to balance strength with grace, seriousness with humor, and technique with heart. Cutting Back is an insightful debut memoir and story of personal growth that will appeal to gardeners and non-gardeners alike.