World Book Day 2016

As it is World Book Day, we asked members to nominate their favourite garden-themed books, in the hope that their choices would give inspiration to others.  Nominations could be for any type of book, be it fiction, non-fiction, instruction manual, history, or otherwise, and we also asked for a brief description of why you found it worthy of recommendation.  Thank you to all the members who responded, whose comments and choices are listed below.

All the books are currently available at Amazon - and thanks also to them for the photographs of the covers.

 

	The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett (Fiction)	“This is a children's classic, although read more by adults. It explores a number of themes including the symbolic healing qualities of a garden.”
	Garden Cities of Tomorrow Ebeneezer Howard (Non-Fiction)	“A pioneering work by Howard (1902) who saw the potential of new settlements with homes with gardens and plenty of open space. It inspired the New Towns movement of the 1950s and 1960s and its associated formal Green Belt, itself London's 'back garden'.”
	The Selfish Giant Oscar Wilde (Fiction)	“In my opinion this is the perfect garden book for adults and children.  The elegant simplicity of style and language used to tell this beautiful story of the need for us all to share our gardens, never fails to enchant readers of all ages. I have yet to meet the person not moved to tears by this classic tale.”
	A Year at Kew Rupert Smith (Non-Fiction)	“…as it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and reading monthly reviews of what is to come is of interest and a joy!”
	The Language of Flowers Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Fiction)	“It is the story of Victoria, who had a very unhappy childhood growing up in care, but for whom flowers became her salvation.  She started making a small flowerbed in a park where she was living rough after leaving care and was noticed by a florist who recognised her potential and gave her a job. Her love of flowers and her understanding of their meanings enriched not only her life but those for whom she made bouquets, helping them with their problems and ultimately helping her to mend herself.”
	A Gentle Plea  for Chaos Mirabel Osler (Non-Fiction)	“A book I re-read now and again.   I love her wit and greatly enjoy reading about the mistakes she made when developing her garden in Shropshire.  My son bought me a paper back copy when he was a student for Mothering Sunday.  He knew my style of gardening!”
	The Garden of Evening Mists By Tan Twan Eng (Fiction)	“A beautifully-written story of the building of a Japanese garden in 1950s Malaya coupled with a return to the garden in the 1980s. The backdrop is the fighting between the Chinese and the Malays in the 1950s; through it all the garden remains, serene and beautiful.”
	The Well-Tempered Garden Christopher Lloyd (Non-Fiction)	“This is described as a ‘timeless gardening classic’, which it certainly is.  It doesn't have any pictures but they are not needed. He describes the picture for you with informative, intelligent and witty comments.  You can read it from cover to cover or dip in and out for reference.”
	Gardening in Pyjamas Helen Yemm (Non-Fiction)	“Written by the Daily Telegraph’s columnist (Thorny Problems on a Saturday), this is a book that you can dip in and out of.  Descriptions of gardening basics and not-so-basics, solutions for many problems you were too embarrassed to ask about, all presented in small humorous chunks so that you can learn while enjoying yourself.”
	The Revenge of Samuel Stokes By Penelope Lively (Fiction)	“What should any self-respecting dead garden designer do when he discovers that his beloved landscaped garden has been replaced by a new housing estate? Haunt it, of course! A fun children’s book that adults would also enjoy.”
	RHS Pruning and Training: A Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual Christopher Brickell and David Joyce (Non-Fiction)	“Simply the best guide I have ever come across, ideal when you have no idea what to do with a plant.  Hundreds of plants listed (800 apparently), with step by step pictures of the techniques needed, understandable even to the layman.  Cut-down versions of the book exist (and there is now a new version of this one), but this larger original is still the one I reach for every year.”
	Plants for Shade BBC Gardeners’ World Pocket Plant Series (Non-Fiction)	“This is an old (1997) BBC Gardeners’ World pocket book about plants for shade. It is brilliant!  I have a book shelf groaning with lots of gardening publications, each one telling you about a plant, but often not what you need to know.  This little gem describes each plant (only 75) in a simple manner, and tells you what to do with it.”
	The Curious Gardener Anna Pavord (Non-Fiction)	“Amusing and down to earth series of articles about what to do in your garden each month. Good fun and not too preachy.”
	The Jewel Garden Monty and Sarah Don (Non-Fiction)	"It is the only 'gardening' book I have read from cover to cover (at least twice!). I find it totally inspiring, it has beautiful photography and tells the story of the highs and lows they suffered in the fashion industry, being homeless, buying a derelict farmhouse and taking you through to the creation of their wonderful garden. An interesting and informative read!”

Stop Press!  We also have a late entry which did not make it to the initial list.  This has been reissued, and is now called the "New Encyclopaedia.." but there are still a number of used copies of the older version available on Amazon!

Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants and Flowers The Reader's Digest (Non-Fiction)

“…purchased in 1978 when Reader's Digest marketing knew no bounds and householders were bombarded with invitations to purchase ‘The Reader's Digest Book of …….This, That and The Other’ - you name it, RD had a ‘not to be missed’ book about it. Not to mention the endless boxed sets of LPs!  Their strategy worked and several books/LPs graced my home of the time (and those since).  Gardening books  came and went but this grand tome, in  its splendid black and gold dust cover, remains my gardening "Bible", my favourite and my ‘go to’ reference point. Happy gardening everyone!”