'The Adventurous Gardener' and 'Foliage Plants'
Two classic Christopher Lloyd books reprinted
From his birth in 1921 to the day he died in 2006, Christopher Lloyd lived at Great Dixter in Sussex. He developed one of Britain's great iconic gardens, published numerous books, many of which are now garden classics, and contributed to 42 years' worth of regular weekly articles in publications such as Country Life and the Guardian.
That publishers Frances Lincoln Ltd., should reprint a revised and updated edition of two of his most popular books is testament in itself to Lloyd's enduring popularity as a garden writer. 'The Adventurous Gardener' and 'Foliage Plants' both have an introduction by Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter, who describes Lloyd as someone who 'flouted conventions and poked fun at correctness.'
At Gt Dixter, Lloyd created one of the most experimental and constantly changing gardens of our time and in 'The Adventurous Gardener' he ponders, suggests, delves and explains, some of his preoccupations and prejudices, hoping along the way to arouse in the reader an argumentative frame of mind but always delighting us with his observations and eloquent prose.
For me Christopher Lloyd's writings are akin to having a kindly grandfather potter about the garden exhorting me to do this or that in this or that way, but always stimulating me to 'push the boundaries' and extend my gardening horizons. In 'The Adventurous Gardener' his chapters cover Taking Care and Making More; Mainly Woody; Seasons and Situations; People Plans and Plants. With subsections such as Pruning the Hydrangeas, Shrubs in Mixed Borders and Unusual Ways with Rose Cuttings, you get the general drift of where he is taking us. If he stops to lecture here, exhort there or to overturn the old and accepted when his experience prompts him, so be it. Rather like a good thriller you can't put it down until you get to the end.
In 'Foliage Plants', Lloyd tackles a central problem in the art of gardening: while flower power alone may make for a striking municipal bed, it will never create a satisfying garden. Neglect leaves and you will be disappointed. So here is a book which teaches us all about those plants which are worth growing for their foliage as well as their flowers, how to use them and what effect they will achieve in different positions, from shady borders to sunny beds.
As Fergus Garrett points out, Christopher Lloyd was quick to condemn the weak and ill-fated, he believed that as foliage is around for so much longer than flowers it deserved greater scrutiny. So each plant had to earn its place and there was no room for flat, dull or coarse leaves.
Chapters in 'Foliage Plants' include Foliage and the Reader; Trees for Foliage; Planning a Border and Ferns. There is some sound advice on choosing plants and a variety of planting plans for different situations.
Both reprints are straightforward paperback editions – the value here is contained in Lloyd's words of wisdom - there are no colour plates and only a minimum of illustrations, generally to illustrate planting plans. A price cannot be put on years of experience and when that experience is transmitted in such an entertaining and at times amusing way, the reader has an added bonus and the need for glossy illustrations is negated.
'The Adventurous Gardener' and 'Foliage Plants' by Christopher Lloyd are published by Frances Lincoln Ltd – www.franceslincoln.com - at £12.99 in paperback. Great for the Christmas stocking – check them out at the Reckless Gardener shop, via Amazon and order your copies: www.reckless-gardener.co.uk/online-shop.
