A Garden from a Hundred Packets of Seed

The British poet James Fenton has given us here in this slim volume a list of the plants one would grow if one were given a "blank slate of a garden" and "given the stipulation that everything you grow in this garden must be raised by you from seed." Mr. Fenton's definition of a garden is large and encompassing: It "must include a spectacular one that I saw. . . in Manhattan, which consisted of nothing but morning glories grown on a fire escape, high up above the street. . . or a row of hyacinths in glasses" as well as gardens at Versailles. Some of the groups the writer discusses are broken down as to color, size, flowers for cutting, climbers, and what he calls "Flowers That Hop Around." He also lists several books on growing flowers in his "reference library", equipment and the 100 seed list in the end of the book. This book is obviously not a treatise on growing flowers. You'll need to refer to other books unless you have a lot of experience. (I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this information until I'm told that Mr. Fenton has a fulltime gardener.) Additionally, there are no color photographs here of the various varieties. Mr. Fenton's list is highly subjective. He tells us why he eliminates some flowers and includes others; there are no cottage pinks, for example, because they all have been either bought or given to him as plants. What I was hoping for in this book I didn't find-- that the writer might somehow tie up poetry and flowers. He certainly didn't have to, but he does make interesting asides on occasion. He opines that one can tell from his photographs that Robert Mapplethorpe "loved flowers" but that we wouldn't have expected him to like plants. And in discussing false bishop's weed, Mr. Fenton intimates that all bishops are false! You have to tip your hat to a poet who gardens. This little book would make an ideal and unusual gift for your favorite gardener.

This is a pleasant little book; basically a series of essays on the writer?s one hundred favourite plants that can quite easily be purchased and grown from seed.I enjoyed the personal approach to gardening and plants, and also the relaxed random-ness of it. The snobbery of design and planning, of garden bones and vistas, does not hold this writer in thrall. He knows and loves plants, and he wrote these essays about them.In truth there isn?t much substance here, but it makes a pleasing, quick read, and the book would make a nice little gift for a friend.

James Fenton makes the case for annuals in your garden, which are typically overlooked in gardening writing that concentrates on perennials. This book, which lists 100 of the author's favorite plants to grow from seed, should be read with a plant encyclopedia at hand like as 'Sunset Western Garden', so that you can see what the plants look like and what their care requirements are. Many self-sowing varieties are included, which may convince those looking for a low-maintainence garden that annuals can play a part in it. Color and appeal is emphasized, much like what would have attracted you if you had a chance to garden as a child. The author's garden is in the south of England, which may limit whether his choices are appropriate for your climate.