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The Gardener’s Bedside Reader

This entertaining book is not only a lively and amusing read but also contains excellent contributions by a variety of gardeners, mostly American, but also including our own Anna Pavord.

I was particularly attracted to The Gardener’s Bedside Reader because of its layout and illustrations. It has a strong nostalgia bent to it and many of the illustrations are pure joy as editor Kari Cornell has sought out some amazing old adverts from seed catalogues and newspapers as well as including modern colour photographs.

It has a warm feel to it and once in your hands you immediately want to start browsing through the many chapters covering all aspects of gardening. This collection of stories and essays, all illustrated with vintage advertisements, gardening memorabilia and botanical drawings is just the ticket for when you want to put down your trowel and sit down with a glass of wine.

The jacket promises a little something for every gardener which is no idle boast as we are taken through articles under six different chapter headings covering everything from Gardens of Lore to Vegetable Heaven and On the Mend in the Garden.

The whole book is rather like having a bunch of gardening friends around to talk about experiences, funny stories, failures and successes, just the sort of chat that we all get up to when discussing our gardens.

I loved Anna Pavord’s essay on The Tulip and laughed at Ann Lovejoy’s tongue-in-cheek tips on how to combat slimy slugs, just two of the many stories which share experiences “in the dirt’ with passion and humour.

The Gardener’s Bedside Reader is available in the UK priced £18.99, in the US at $27.95, and $30.95 in Canada. It is published by MBI Publishing. Purchase online at Amazon.co.uk and save 50% off rrp ! (as going to print) at £9.50.

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