Susan Campbell (1) (1931–2024)

Fascinating year-in-the-life of a traditional English country-house garden. Probably the last such garden to be maintained. The book covers the year between October 1985 and October 1986 (a particularly wet year, by the sounds of things).

'Her Ladyship' is 90 during the course of the year, giving some indication as to the length of time that was left to the way of life of this anachronistic garden. This makes reading this book very poignant, as it becomes clear while reading that the cost of the five full-time gardeners and the heating of the glass-houses and frames is astronomical and really unsustainable in modern times.

The book is well illustrated with colour photographs and pen-and-ink line drawings. The details of the flowers and vegetables grown are also lavish. A very enjoyable read.… (mais)