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The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Adventures In Eden - a book review

Adventures in Eden: An Intimate Tour of the Private Gardens of Europe by Carolyn Mullet (Timber Press, December 8, 2020)

The cover photograph of undulating ribbons of boxwood with tulips sprinkled within is a resplendent invitation to the contents awaiting inside this beautiful coffee table book.

The garden is Broughton Grange and it is just one of fifty private European gardens in the book authored by Carolyn Mullet, a garden designer and garden tour guide. The gardens are arranged in chapters divided by country and they include England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Scandanavia, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Italy.

The book includes gardens for every taste. Large estate gardens with walled gardens, secret gardens contained within clipped hedges, small cottages smothered in wisteria,  and more are illustrated with enchanting photographs. The narrative discusses the history of the gardens and how they are maintained.


Some of the gardens profiled include The Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Scotland and Helen Dillon's new garden in Monkstown on Dublin Bay. A good majority of the gardens are ones designed in the popular Piet Oudolf style. One of my favorites was Jardin de la Louve in Provence designed by Nicole de Vesian who was seventy when she made it. 

This is a great book to dream with during the winter months.

 


 

I was provided with a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 6, 2020 at 2:58 AM

    Looks like this one will be a good one, as you say for winter.

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