The Well-Tempered Garden

by Christopher Lloyd

An introduction to gardening which includes practical information on plant life and suggestions for planning a garden

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Horticulture, Nature

479 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 1978

About the author

Christopher Hamilton Lloyd, OBE, was a British gardener and author. He was the 20th Century chronicler for the heavily planted, labour-intensive, country garden.[

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, so THAT'S what I was doing wrong...

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

So charming and wise. Reading it feels like sitting next to your British grandfather in the greenhouse while he dispenses gardening wisdom over a cup of tea. I'll return to this one over and over again.

[Louisa Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever eager to learn new things about the garden from those who really do know I kept seeing this book in the top 10 that ALL gardeners MUST read so I eventually brought it with high hopes.

Sitting faithfully like a student with notebooks, pens ready, highlighters galore, the works. I dived in wanting to dig out all the nuggets of gold I would draw out of this book to apply to my garden to transform it only to be ever so slightly disappointed.

There are two reasons why one being it is a book written and stuck in the past. This man speaks through the book as a man who has a particular view of women ( apparently we are only good to cut roses?!) His mannerisms and tone set against today's world is very outdated.
Second, his tips and advice are good but in light of the amount of advice and gardening books out there, it pales in comparison. No doubt he led the way back in the day and rarely anything changes but climates have, breeding has tones and advice are different and with detailed pictures this, for me, doesn't live up to the claim of it being 'A MUST HAVE'.

I think the tone of the book needs to be addressed by the publishers, perhaps the pictures within need to show how the garden has evolved but I wouldn't encourage anyone to rush to read this sadly.

[Essie of Idlewild · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rambling, companionable wander through a gardener’s mind

The Well-Tempered Gardener is one of those books that feels less like reading a structured treatise and more like settling into a long, meandering chat with an experienced plantsman who has a cup of tea in hand and no particular agenda. Christopher Lloyd’s voice is wonderfully conversational — loose, tangential, and happily prone to wandering off down whatever horticultural path catches his attention in the moment.

As a horticulturist, I found the experience interesting in a gentle, undemanding way. There’s a certain charm in the rambling structure, the sense that you’re simply following along as he thinks aloud about plants, gardens, and the quirks of cultivation. It’s not a book that left strong impressions or memorable revelations, but it did offer the pleasant feeling of spending time with someone who genuinely loves the craft.

I can’t say it transformed my gardening life, nor did it linger with me once I’d finished, but it was enjoyable enough while I was in it — a companionable stroll rather than a destination. A solid three‑star read: agreeable, lightly informative, and worth dipping into if you enjoy gardening voices that wander as freely as a self-seeding perennial.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've dipped in and out of this over the past year or so, and it has been entertaining and inspiring as I struggle to get to grips with my own garden. Christopher Lloyd clearly has a wealth of experience but his learning is worn lightly and you get a real sense of his character. The style is chatty, opinionated - and often dryly amusing - while also giving a great deal of information. As a novice gardener, I constantly needed to look up pictures on my phone to work out what plant he was discussing; but despite this I enjoyed the fact that this book took the form of a paperback novel rather than the usual heavy and awkward coffee table volume, as it meant I actually read it rather than just admired the pictures.

[Linda Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, the best gardening book I’ve ever purchased. It answered questions I didn’t even know I had. I highly recommend anyone who’s thinking of starting a garden purchase this book. If you’re a serious gardener you will not need another.

[Cathi-anne Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unnecessarily sexist and, although the back description and forward say otherwise, not for beginners or "foreign" gardeners. Absolutely useless in Zone 3.

https://thezone3perspective.ca/2023/0...

[Don Treeby · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best book on gardening I have ever read - I read it 3 times in the first week! There is so much knowledge and information inside.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read as gardening books go. Good index.
Photos or line drawings would be nice.

[Whitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, but brace for dated commentary on women

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Well-Tempered Garden by Christopher Lloyd (Random House 1985) (635.9) is one of the books that made Lloyd's reputation as a leading plantsman. My rating: 7/10, finished 5/5/11.

[Kathlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most readable gardening books ever. A very entertaining read.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

He's delightful.

More here: http://www.magpiemusing.com/2015/07/a...

[Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure of a book!

[Erzulimojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the original 1978 edition. Excellent in formation and helpful, thorough index.