The Illustrated Garden Book

When we imagine heaven, we picture gardens. If there is a heaven with gardens, they must surely be like Vita Sackville-West's gardens at Sissinghurst. Mind you, when I read this book, I'm over-whelmed by a few sins, like greed and envy, and possibly lust, and I hope that doesn't disqualify me from heaven. I want gardens like these, never mind that the only thing green about me is envy, or that most of the plants won't grow in my climate. This is a selected collection of gardening articles Vita Sackville-West wrote for The Observer, and charmingly illustrated with photographs and coloured sketches. Although there are gardening tips, it's a book to be read for pleasure. She wrote passionately and we can recklessly follow in our imagination, if not in reality.