Synopses & Reviews
Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities today, and most people take it for granted not only that suitable plants and equipment are easily available, but that there is plenty of information to guide and inform gardeners. It was not always so. It was only in the 1860s that the foundations for modern amateur gardening as we know it today were laid down - before then middle-class garden owners had to learn the new skills needed by trial, error and hard work. This book recreates for us the world of the Victorian gardener - not the doyenne at the head of the large estates but the amateur and small time gardener in towns and villages. These amateur gardeners had to write the books themselves and create their own gardening magazines because professionals refused to believe that gardens in towns were a practical possibility. Through persistence, dogged determination and belief that gardening could be not only interesting and profitable, but enjoyable, amateur gardeners turned the horticultural world upside down. In this fascinating, richly illustrated new book Anne Wilkinson draws on the vast wealth of contemporary gardening magazines and other sources to give us an extraordinary insight into the Victorian gardener.
Synopsis
Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities today and most people take it for granted that suitable plants, equipment, and information are easily available. This was not always the case. Anne Wilkinson's engaging book recreates the world of amateur Victorian gardenersthose who had no idea how to start gardening, and no information to help them. In the 1860s gardening was mainly the preserve of professionals who worked on large estates. But a new breed of gardeners as emergingordinary householders. Their gardens range from cottage and rectory gardens to those found behind terraced houses in towns. With no help from the professionalswho refused to believe that gardens in towns were a practical possibilitythose innovators laid down the foundations for modern amateur gardening as it is today. This book explores their journey to create their own piece of England's "green and pleasant land," richly illustrated by contemporary magazines and images.
About the Author
Anne Wilkinson has a PhD in garden history. She has lectured on the subject and written academic papers for publications including Garden History and Hackney History.