I’ve put together a list of books that’ll make splendid presents for gardeners, whatever the time of year, or you could just buy one for yourself.
I started a new tradition a few years ago, of buying a book for myself and putting it under the christmas tree, wrapped and labelled from Mary Christmas and with a positive little message like ‘for being so kind this year’, which is often more of an aspiration than an actuality, but nevertheless, I highly recommend that you indulge in this and start your own tradition.
This is what Mary Christmas is bringing me this year:
Described as a plants’ eye perspective on booze, with a little history and horticulture thrown in too.
The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart
published by Timber Press ISBN 978-1-6049-476-5
It will go very well with this:
A fabulous book that I enjoyed for it’s engaging jolly writing and of course the drinks recipes.
This is another good read that any gardener or armchair gardener will love:
Forty-six London gardens, with sumptuous photos, are included in the book,
Another book I really liked for its’ creativity and techniques showing how to make things from the gardens’ natural bounty, is The Crafted Garden by Louise Curley:
Mark Diacono has that apparently effortless writing style that flows with interesting anecdotes and useful information, it’s a joy to read, I reckon that even non-gardeners would be happy to read it.
Otter Farm is billed as a climate change farm, so there’s lots about the possibilities of growing food that is normally sourced from abroad, but could be grown here in a warmer climate. Also included are ideas about forest gardens, perennial gardens, ‘forgotten’ food that was once popular, and the best, most flavoursome, familiar types of food.
It takes you through the months with seasonal recipes illustrated with lovely photos, and the pages have a nice, matt quality to them, which is an added little pleasure.
A Year At Otter Farm by Mark Diacono
published by Bloomsbury ISBN 978 4088 2861 8
Read more about The Crafted Gardener here, Great Gardens Of London here and Brew It Yourself here.
Happy garden reading, Jill
all photos: Jill Anderson
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