Time to hit the books
The winter reading pile
Wasn’t the weekend marvelous. I was bathed in sunshine and managed to have a good couple of hours in the garden on both Saturday and Sunday which meant a few things were ticked off the to do list. I hope I get a repeat of this over the Easter break. As I get older I am finding I have my own unique rhythm with the seasons. As the Autumn light starts to change, leaves turn a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours and dogs steal pears off the tree, I find myself starting to hunt out gardening books. It seems my body and mind know that as the days shorten and I have less time in the garden, it is time to start researching and planning for the coming season. So with this in mind here are three books that I have on my reading pile.
I am always keep an eye out for garden books that have photos by a photographer that I admire. I find it one of the best ways to expand my knowledge of photography. This book, while filled with stunning photos including a beautiful New Zealand garden, also has what I think is becoming an increasing important question for gardeners. How do we navigate climate change and still have a beautiful garden? Claire writes,
“The good news is beauty - fundamental to our humanity - is still possible. There is beauty in accepting what is, in working within our environmental constrains while looking to the future. I have learned that in harshness, there is beauty…. there is beauty in restraint and in wilderness… as as the beauty in our gardens.”
I think with the changing climate it means a deeper and perhaps more meaningful exploration into what our gardens look like and what are gardens mean to us. I think this book is a great way to start exploring these ideas.
Containers in the Garden by Claus Dalby
Claus is a Dane and I have a few family members who are Danish which means when I heard he liked to garden I was kinda drawn in by that connection alone. Claus has a deliciously colourful Instagram where he shares photos of his magnificent pots displays. I must also admit that this is a book I brought a while back and it has been sitting waiting to be read. Yesterday after hunting out my many spring bulbs I felt inclined to look through this book for some creative inspiration. After a quick flick through, I was surprised by the variety and diverse schemes he has created. I like using pots for my bulbs and I am exploring how to use pots in the flower bed to add ala Violet, some colour to a bed that might be lacking it. It should be a fun read and then even more fun to create some pot design schemes of my own.
The New Romantic Garden by Jo Thompson
I listened to a talk given by Jo via the Garden Museum recently and I loved hearing how the book came about. It is an innocent exploration of an idea. Jo creates lush romantic schemes with an emphasis on supporting insect life which greatly appeals. I love how the two are a combined approached to gardening rather than you have one or the other and I feel this is an extension of the work explored by Claire in her book. I have a few beds that I am wanting to tidy up and I think this book will be an excellent muse. Jo also wrote another delicious books “The Gardener Palette” which if you are keen to explored how to use colour in your garden I recommend.
Are you finding that as the days shorten you are reaching for a good gardening book? If so I would love to hear what you are reading.