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Agatha Christie's Greenway (Devon, England) - The House

I can think of two places that we visited where I enjoyed the house more than the gardens. The first was Greenway, not for the house itself, which was surprisingly small and cramped, but for the history behind it and the fascinating mementos on display. Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan were enthusiastic collectors. You can see their collections on display throughout the house - European and Oriental ceramics, pottery, African tribal masks, Egyptian artifacts, Tunbridge ware, china, trinkets, and books. The Morning Room has a portrait of Agatha Christie as a child and her doll Rosie, sitting in a chair - The Drawing Room was where the family would gather in the evenings. Christie would entertain guests by reading chapters from manuscripts of her latest books.  Agatha Christie's bedroom. Max always slept on a smaller portable traveling cot (you can see part of it in the foreground). It was his favorite bed and he carried it with him on all of his archaeological travels. N...
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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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