Unlike the plants that can go to sleep until Spring comes back round again, we find ourselves with an unfamiliar amount of free time on our hands that, although sometimes rather nice, can become rather wearisome. We thought it would therefore be very timely to share with you some of our favourite reads (we do read non-gardening related ones, but thought best to keep on topic).
It’s not much of a surprise that we are fans about a book that subject is plant pots (or to be more precise, the plants that go in them). This book takes a fascinating look back at why houseplants have captured so many of our hearts, through a clever combination of social history, plant history, and the history of interior design.
Back Cover: The story of citrus runs through the history of Italy like a golden thread, and by combining travel writing with history, recipes, horticulture and art, Helena Attlee takes the reader on a unique and rich journey through Italy’s cultural, moral, culinary and political past.
This book is an absolute delight, sending you through the history of the citrus fruit and Italy – absolutely perfect for curling up with during a cold wet winter, to make you dream of foreign lands and their heady sights, smells and warmth.
Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing 2020
The Well Gardened Mind delves into the synergy of modern neuroscience, psychoanalysis, and captivating narrative, exploring the profound insight long cherished by gardeners: engaging with nature has the potential to profoundly enhance our health, overall well-being, and self-assurance.
Another book by Catherine Horwood making it on to our list – though this is not a surprise to anyone who knows her work. ‘Gardening Women’ is a brilliant book that everyone should read, no matter what gender. Delving right back to some of the earliest records about gardening, to present day, Catherine shows how women have always been a vital part in the history and evolution of gardening.
Finally a book that is just pure, unadulterated fun (though with a rather tenuous link to gardening): this book will have you laughing out loud every time you pick it up – that’s if you can even put it down in the first place. A very, very funny book about Greek mythology, but set in a 21st Century bedsit! (We used illustrations by Rui Paes of Greek Gods in our brochure… we did say it was tenuous.) Charmingly original and brilliantly clever, if the Winter blues are starting to take hold, then this book will completely obliterate them.
We hope you will enjoy looking into these as much as we did reading them. If you have any favourite books, please do share them with us via email or on social media, after all, no idea when it is that the to-do lists will start filling up again.
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