I have been lost in the pages of "English Gardens from the Archives of Country Life" by Kathryn Bradley-Hole. It's a big, heavy, expensive and absolutely gorgeous book I ordered from the public library. It's an in-depth look at England's national love affair with gardens, divided into themes like topiary, cottage, rose, and modern gardens to name a few. I've filled the pages with strips of paper marking ideas and inspiration.
The text that really jumped out at me was by Sir Roy Strong talking about making changes in one's garden. Strong's "A Small Garden Designer's Handbook,' was my bible (above) when Mark and I created our first garden in 1990. I own "The Laskett," the book Strong and his late wife, Dr. Julia Trevelyan Oman, did about the garden they made together. And the follow-up book Strong wrote (below) about the changes he made to their garden after her death.
In this big Country Life volume, Strong was talking about "the literal 'bringing in' of new light, air, and energy" to the garden. He said:
"Never cease to be brave, I say, even if you are about to enter your seventieth year. I'm tired of emails from elderly friends always downsizing and disappearing into retirement homes or sheltered housing. My instincts are to do exactly the opposite and go out in a blaze of madness . . . It's exciting that, thirty years on, innovation is still possible. The worst thing that could happen to The Laskett garden is for it to atrophy."
It was an unexpected pleasure to discover we are not alone in radically changing our garden after almost 30 years and well into our 70s! It's a message that seems the perfect way to begin the new year.
Sounds like a wonderful book - I am going to look for it. Your garden re-design has been very inspirational to me as we look around at next garden steps, so the ripples are moving out to others as they are in the sand garden.
ceci
Posted by: ceci | Monday, January 03, 2022 at 11:06 AM
I have two of Roy Strong's books on gardening in small spaces, purchased when I had a truly tiny garden, but I wasn't familiar with the last two you mentioned. I'm going to look for them!
Posted by: Kris P | Monday, January 03, 2022 at 12:11 PM
CECI — What a lovely compliment. I am trying to make lists of what to order and what not to order. More shrubs, ferns and sedges and fewer flowers. We'll see how good I can be — or not be.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, January 03, 2022 at 12:19 PM
KRIS — Check them out on Amazon where you may be able to look inside to see if it really interests you.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, January 03, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Sounds like a great book. I ordered a book you talked about years ago (The Beckoning Path) and was inspired about dealing with my woods. Well, the woods defeated me - at least so far - so now I am going to read it again. Winter is a better time for working anyway - ticks, poison ivy, etc. I'll have to check out this book, too.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Tuesday, January 04, 2022 at 09:51 AM
BARBARA — It's really a dream book. So many gorgeous gardens with trees and hedges that take a lifetime to achieve. But I did find a few ideas to consider.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Tuesday, January 04, 2022 at 10:41 AM
Such an inspiring blog post!
Posted by: danger garden | Tuesday, January 04, 2022 at 11:50 AM
Love this. It was a beautiful and eventful year, wasn't it? Thanks for the book ideas.
Posted by: Beth@PlantPostings | Thursday, January 06, 2022 at 09:24 PM