First published in 1956, We Made a Garden is the story of how Margery Fish, the leading gardener of the 1960s, and her husband Walter transformed an acre of wilderness into a stunning cottage garden, still open to the public at East Lambrook Manor, Somerset, England. Margery Fish recounts the trails and tribulations, successes and failures, of her venture with ease and humour. Her book will interest all those who are planning gardens for themselves, as well as those who delight in cottage garden plants. Topics covered are colourful and diverse, ranging from the most suitable hyssop for the terraced garden through composting, hedges, making paths to the best time to lift and replant tulip bulbs. Her good sense, practical knowledge and imaginative ideas will encourage and inspire gardeners everywhere. Graham Rice, the widely published gardening author and the London Evening Standard gardening correspondent, has reviewed the plant names in the original text, providing a plant-name section at the back of the book. This provides a way of identifying current plants from their old Latin names.
We Made A Garden
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About the Author
The late Margery Fish was one of Britain's leading gardeners. She was a regular contributor to Amateur Gardening and The Field, and has written six other gardening books. Many thousands of visitors come to East Lambrook Manor, her Somerset garden, which is maintained very much as it was during her lifetime
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is a must-have standard for anyone interested in garden design and plants, and who understands that real gardening is about hard work, effort and love.
Marjery Fish, with 'help' from her husband, tracks the transformation of an unpromising site to a garden that still draws visitors from around the world. Her knowledge is generously shared, both experienced and new gardeners will learn much from her, both about garden design and how to use plants. She has a gift for describing plants that is mouthwatering, plantaholics beware!
What lifts this book however, is not just the quality of her writing, it is the chacter of Mrs Fish herself, funny, self deprecating, honest about failures and mistakes. She is the practical gardening friend that every gardener would like to have. As you read the book you are aware that she too has experienced the satisfaction of a hard days garden labouring, the obsession that sends you out at night to check on your plants (in her case climbing walls in evening dress to hand water), the frustration when a loved plant just refuses to grow for you ...
This is not a quick fix garden makeover book, it's a journey which celebrates the pleasure that comes from creating and sharing a garden. Don't dismiss it because of the original publishing date, Marjery Fish has so much to offer present day gardeners; not least the relief that they don't have the terrifying Mr Fish overseeing every move.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There is no subtitle to this book, but this is what Margery Fish became in the process of making her garden. For years, I had assumed that because it is an old book, it would be dry and 'learned'. It is neither. It could be my gran or aged aunt, writing me letters about what they found when they bought the house, early plans which proved to be mistakes, learning by experience, quietly going against the 'better judgement' of an older husband who had had a garden before and preferring her outcomes, growing to love plants, working out their different needs in terms of site and conditions, and above all, loving the doing of it.
There are make-over gardeners, low-maintenance gardeners, spend-to-impress gardeners. I'm not sure that this book would appeal to them, even though they would learn things. The people who will love this little book are the ones who have discovered a love of plants for their own sake. Who enjoy the small and delicate, the humble as well as the tricky. Who are either taking tentative steps towards something they think they might come to really love, or who already love it, and can say "Yep. We did that. Ended up moving ours, too."
I regret not reading this book years ago. I too had a husband who would say "What are you bothering with that for?" Margery Fish would have understood!
There are make-over gardeners, low-maintenance gardeners, spend-to-impress gardeners. I'm not sure that this book would appeal to them, even though they would learn things. The people who will love this little book are the ones who have discovered a love of plants for their own sake. Who enjoy the small and delicate, the humble as well as the tricky. Who are either taking tentative steps towards something they think they might come to really love, or who already love it, and can say "Yep. We did that. Ended up moving ours, too."
I regret not reading this book years ago. I too had a husband who would say "What are you bothering with that for?" Margery Fish would have understood!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a lovely little book especially for me as I am on a course at East Lambrook Manor and so can see the fruits of her labours every time I go into the garden
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting & good read
I bought this as I saw it recommended elsewhere. I wasn't sure what to expect but found it a really interesting read. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Catherine
4.0 out of 5 stars
Made it OK
Very good book. It will take several readings through to read it properly, and to understand the content of this work.
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Robert W. Bleach
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