Favourite garden inspo books
I’ve just taken delivery of Sarah Raven’s new book A Year Full of Flowers and the timing’s perfect – the kids are back at school, the sun is shining and it’s one of those lovely springy days when everything seems full of potential. The garden is all plans and dreams and visions still – no hard work or weeds yet – and I’m totally in the mood for her poetic musings. I would absolutely recommend it.
It joins a collection that’s getting out of control, though. There have been so many gorgeous garden books published in the last few years and I find it hard not to buy every one. In fact hilariously, three copies of A Year Full of Flowers turned up: I must have pre-ordered it multiple times since it popped up on Amazon last November. A little extra bump for Sarah’s release-date ranking. Anyway, despite recognising my addiction I don’t think I’m ready to break it, because there’s never been a garden book I’ve regretted. (Well, except for the duplicate copies.)
Here are some favourites from the pile closest to me right now. There will be others another day.
Pots For All Seasons by Tom Harris
This is a new one that I’ve yet to finish, but I have a feeling it’s going to be at the top of the pile for a while. Pages and pages of lovely pics – of pots, obviously, but also ideas for grouping them and some original plant combinations. Some of the classic container gardening books are a bit dated in style now, but Tom’s ideas are v insta-worthy and fresh-looking.
Dahlias by Naomi Slade
I think I have all of Naomi’s books, which deal with different types of plant – snowdrops, hydrangeas, lilies and in this case, dahlias. There’s no messing about, just loads of pics of all the different varieties, and loads of info on how to get the best out of them. Plus a little bit of history for the plant geek.
Garden Style by Selina Lake
This is one of a series of ‘Style’ books Selina has written – others include Botanical Style and Shed Style – and as the name suggest they’re more interested in styling ideas than the getting-your-hands-dirty side to gardening. As a result they are very image-heavy and more magazine-y in content. Great for flicking through during idle moments.
The Thoughtful Gardener by Jinny Bloom
Subtitled ‘An intelligent approach to garden design’, this partly autobiographical guide to ‘beautifying horticulture’ covers some pretty high-brow territory. But it is also very readable: Jinny writes very conversationally, and the pages are full of nuggets of wisdom for even the most lay of laymen. It’s a big book – definitely one for the coffee table – and the images of her gardens are amazing. Garden design as high art.