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April, the angel of the months...

“April, the angel of the months, the young love of the year.”  – Vita Sackville-West I like this quote and it is from one of my favorite people so I thought that would be a nicer title than my first choice - "Spreading Manure".  Spreading manure is how I spent most of the weekend. What a beautiful weekend it has been. The garden is all of a sudden wide awake with no remnants of winter left. I drove out to South Ridge Farms  in Ridgefield on Friday and got a load of horse manure and later went back for another. Beautiful stuff - Some of my favorite plants in the garden now... My favorite lavender is 'Platinum Blonde'. It has never bloomed that much but the foliage more than makes up for that... Magnolia 'Fairy White' - a new series of magnolias. I thought I would keep this in a pot but I am having second thoughts. I'd love to find a place in the ground. I'm looking and thinking... Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is just an amazing plant and looks be...
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The New Romantic Garden - a book review


by Jo Thompson
Rizzoli, 2025

Jo Thompson is a noted UK garden designer who has won numerous awards at RHS shows. Her style is the epitome of the "romantic English garden" idea - sumptuous borders packed with perennials in pastel colors, arches covered with roses, idyllic meadows and garden rooms.

But what is the "new" romantic garden? Described as a fresh perspective of utilizing this lush gardening style into the present-day world, it places an emphasis on organic gardening, biodiversity, plant and soil health. 

A scene from the author's own garden...

Photo: Rachel Warne


In this gorgeous book, Thompson showcases thirty of her gardens, all beautifully described and photographed.  From estate gardens to a London penthouse roof garden, they provide sumptuous eye-candy and inspiration.

A peek inside...

A London city garden filled with roses and iris (Photo: Jason Ingram)


Writer Justine Picardie's garden in Norfolk evokes a feeling of a rustic country house in the French countryside. (Photo: Rachel Warne)


A show garden featuring a creative water garden with a stone spiral art piece
(Photo: Katy Donaldson)



Pastoral views of the Wealden countryside surround an ancient farmhouse.
(Photo: Jason Ingram)

The New Romantic Garden is now available in book stores. You can also find a copy on Amazon.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Rizzoli Publishers in exchange for an honest review.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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