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Modern Library Gardening
We Made a Garden
First published in Britain in 1956 and never before available in America, We Made a Garden is the classic story of a unique and enduring English country garden. One of Britain’s most esteemed gardening writers recounts how she and her husband set about creating an exemplary cottage garden from unpromising beginnings on the site of the former farmyard and rubbish heap that surround their newly purchased home in the countryside of Somerset, England. Each imbued with a strong set of horticultural opinions and passions, Mr. and Mrs. Fish negotiate the terrain of their garden, by turns separately and together, often with humorous collisions. From the secret to cultivating the smoothest lawn to the art of lifting and replanting tulip bulbs to the landscaping possibilities of evergreens, the diverse elements of successful gardening—and delightful writing—are bound together by Mr. and Mrs. Fish’s aspiration to cultivate that most precious and slow-growing quality—the fundamental character of a good garden.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
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1210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 15, 2020
I'm so glad Walter died soon enough to leave Margery to enjoy her garden for more than twenty years and to grow whatever the fuck she wanted to.
March 6, 2014
Do you water your plants in satin pumps straight after dinner?
Do you mourn your garden-boy's demise in the trenches purely because he was so useful?
Yes?
You need to read this... now.
Do you mourn your garden-boy's demise in the trenches purely because he was so useful?
Yes?
You need to read this... now.
February 12, 2024
This was more technical than I had expected, I thought it would be more anecdotal, like Beverley Nichols, but that was on me, and I did enjoy it. I would like to go and see the garden now; it has been restored and is currently open to the public, but the house is on the market so who knows if it will remain open.
January 16, 2016
"So Walter taught me a lesson.... He put into action all the exasperation he felt at a pigheaded woman who just would not learn." In this way, Margery Fish describes how her husband corrected her method of staking plants by mutilating her flowers, tying ropes around their stems so tightly "that they looked throttled" (31). With the flowers (which her husband considered the least important part of the garden) dead, perhaps Margery would pay more attention to keeping the paths neat.
Scenes like this one play out repeatedly over the course of We Made a Garden. When Margery's voice emerges on its own, questioning or ignoring Walter's pronouncements, the book is at its most endearing. My favorite moment is Margery's description of how she ignored Walter's beloved (and garish) dahlias after his death.
Scenes like this one play out repeatedly over the course of We Made a Garden. When Margery's voice emerges on its own, questioning or ignoring Walter's pronouncements, the book is at its most endearing. My favorite moment is Margery's description of how she ignored Walter's beloved (and garish) dahlias after his death.
December 3, 2024
Te odio Walter, deja que mi pequeña Margery plante lo que le sale de los cojones.
May 31, 2020
This is a charming little book by Margery Fish, offering anecdotal history of the choosing and planting of a home garden in England. According the the introduction, Fish passed decades ago but her garden has recently been restored. He credits her with how we grow our gardens. I think he must be right.
My yard used to be given over to our Afghan Hounds, but as our children grew we let the dogs go. That is, we did not show or lure course, breed or buy more dogs. They gradually aged and died, and there was my grandmother's yard waiting for some attention. We had only one dog when the men took out the gravel and brought in topsoil. I planted blue and violet and white flowers, evergreen shrubs, and sages. I allowed the orange montbrecia and carmine escalonia that do so well on the coast, but also a richly scented old white rugosa rose, rosemary, and blue ceanothus. I have hydrangeas grown from cuttings (and quite purple in our acid soil). I have tried flowering annuals with uneven success. The battle with horsetails will never end, the butterfly bush mostly feeds bugs, the escalonia requires a firm hand to prevent it taking over the world. Barnsley, with its lively pink flowers gave us several gorgeous years of flowers from spring through November, but finally gave up. I have the firebrand "Lucifer" variety of montbrecia in addition to the more common pure orange. The hostas are determined and often send up their pretty spikes of blooms. My grandmother's purple primroses are long gone and I cannot seem to get replacements to settle, but there is always salal, a native bush much-loved by florists for its leathery leaves, and loved by my family for the berries I use like blueberries in muffins.
Like Fish, I wanted a garden that was pretty in every season, that bloomed throughout the year. I also want at least some of the plants to be useful in my kitchen. Chives are thriving and so pretty I hate to cut them.
When I went back to work full time and then with my mother's illness, the garden was mostly neglected. My husband did a clearing out twice a year, and the rhubarb is finally thriving. I have put in a few dozen irises and both the thymes and sages seem to have survived recent planting. If the rains ever end, I plan to spend a great deal of time in this outdoor room.
My yard used to be given over to our Afghan Hounds, but as our children grew we let the dogs go. That is, we did not show or lure course, breed or buy more dogs. They gradually aged and died, and there was my grandmother's yard waiting for some attention. We had only one dog when the men took out the gravel and brought in topsoil. I planted blue and violet and white flowers, evergreen shrubs, and sages. I allowed the orange montbrecia and carmine escalonia that do so well on the coast, but also a richly scented old white rugosa rose, rosemary, and blue ceanothus. I have hydrangeas grown from cuttings (and quite purple in our acid soil). I have tried flowering annuals with uneven success. The battle with horsetails will never end, the butterfly bush mostly feeds bugs, the escalonia requires a firm hand to prevent it taking over the world. Barnsley, with its lively pink flowers gave us several gorgeous years of flowers from spring through November, but finally gave up. I have the firebrand "Lucifer" variety of montbrecia in addition to the more common pure orange. The hostas are determined and often send up their pretty spikes of blooms. My grandmother's purple primroses are long gone and I cannot seem to get replacements to settle, but there is always salal, a native bush much-loved by florists for its leathery leaves, and loved by my family for the berries I use like blueberries in muffins.
Like Fish, I wanted a garden that was pretty in every season, that bloomed throughout the year. I also want at least some of the plants to be useful in my kitchen. Chives are thriving and so pretty I hate to cut them.
When I went back to work full time and then with my mother's illness, the garden was mostly neglected. My husband did a clearing out twice a year, and the rhubarb is finally thriving. I have put in a few dozen irises and both the thymes and sages seem to have survived recent planting. If the rains ever end, I plan to spend a great deal of time in this outdoor room.
December 11, 2016
Reading this is a real reminder that "the past is a foreign country". On every page, and in every sentence that doesn't deal specifically with what type of cyclamen grows best in acid soil next to a gate, the writer's attitudes to class, to the family, to domestic servants, to the world in general, are plain and almost unrecognisable now.
But I didn't but it for that, I bought it because it's a beautiful, beautiful book and because I wanted inspiration for my allotment. Well, it wasn't much help as a source of practical inspiration, to be honest, but I enjoyed basking in the warmth of her love for all things green, anyway, and that was a kind of inspiration to take more care of the poor neglected patch of muck.
But I didn't but it for that, I bought it because it's a beautiful, beautiful book and because I wanted inspiration for my allotment. Well, it wasn't much help as a source of practical inspiration, to be honest, but I enjoyed basking in the warmth of her love for all things green, anyway, and that was a kind of inspiration to take more care of the poor neglected patch of muck.
March 2, 2011
These lines from the last chapter say it all:
'We all have a lot to learn and in every new garden there is a chance of finding inspiration - new flowers, different arrangements or fresh treatment for old subjects. Even if it is a garden you know by heart there are twelve months in the year and every month means a different garden, and the discovery of things unexpected all the rest of the year.'
That's what this book is all about. Learning and sharing experiences. That's how all gardeners should be and it resumes a lot about the joy of gardening.
This book is a classic and a piece of history in Englands gardening.
Very good reading while you can't go out in the garden.
'We all have a lot to learn and in every new garden there is a chance of finding inspiration - new flowers, different arrangements or fresh treatment for old subjects. Even if it is a garden you know by heart there are twelve months in the year and every month means a different garden, and the discovery of things unexpected all the rest of the year.'
That's what this book is all about. Learning and sharing experiences. That's how all gardeners should be and it resumes a lot about the joy of gardening.
This book is a classic and a piece of history in Englands gardening.
Very good reading while you can't go out in the garden.
March 27, 2019
7-Word Review: If Julia Child had been a gardener.
This book charmed me by the cover and hypnotized me with old-fashioned language, both British and Latin. Obsessed gardeners will love it. Others, possibly not.
My favorite sentence: No one can make a garden by buying a few packets of seeds or doing an afternoon's weeding. You must love it, and then your love will be repaid a thousandfold, as every gardener knows.
This book charmed me by the cover and hypnotized me with old-fashioned language, both British and Latin. Obsessed gardeners will love it. Others, possibly not.
My favorite sentence: No one can make a garden by buying a few packets of seeds or doing an afternoon's weeding. You must love it, and then your love will be repaid a thousandfold, as every gardener knows.
August 13, 2021
I think that Margaret was brilliant, but spent a lot of time in the shadows of her husband and that just annoyed me beyond belief.
September 14, 2021
This Walter guy is insufferable.
July 29, 2022
Would have been two more stars were it not for WALTER.
November 26, 2015
Interesting ruminations on the making of a garden with advice on some details.
Read
June 28, 2024Es una bonita paradoja que el primer libro que me he leído en trayectos de metro trate acerca de cómo construir un jardín en una casa de campo, a las afueras de la ciudad
May 25, 2021
As others have said before, this book reveals not just the story of making a garden but also a somewhat disturbing portrait of a seemingly unbalanced marriage. Fish is a good writer, and there were some enjoyable parts of the book to be sure, but I felt that the stories involving her jerk husband were unfortunately too distracting to enjoy the book to its full extent.
February 6, 2019
5***** despite 'Know-All Walter'; he may have been right but how that women endured! She deserved a medal.
May 29, 2024
«Pasearse por el jardín siempre es agradable, y más con una azada en la mano»
Sus amigos y conocidos les tacharon de locos al comprar aquella casa destartalada con aquel basurero como jardín. ¿Sabemos dónde se encuentra nuestro destino?
La historia comienza cuando huyendo de la guerra que era inminente, hasta ese momento ella y su marido Walter habían vivido en Londres, buscan una casa. Trabajó como secretaria de Lord Northcliffe, periodista y escritor irlandés, propietario y editor de varios de los periódicos de mayor éxito en la historia de la prensa británica, conocido como el «Napoleón de la Prensa». Más tarde de su marido que era editor del Daily Mail. Ningún conocimiento en jardinería.
Estuvieron tres meses mirando casa, no sabían qué querían, en esa búsqueda dice, «Nos perdimos muchas veces y tuvimos amargas discusiones, pero acabamos descubriendo lo que no queríamos». Juntos reconstruyen la casa, terrazas y plantan una huerta, diseñan un jardín espectacular y discuten por la colocación de una fuente o del uso del abono o cuándo se debe podar, como todo buen matrimonio, si un matrimonio no se enfada o discrepa, malo, uno de los dos está sometido al otro. Unas veces ella trabaja al servicio de Walter y, al final, cuando su marido no tiene nada que aportar, porque la audaz en el jardín es ella, él se retira a las tareas de mantenimiento. Habla de un jardín, sí, pero también del matrimonio, las parejas se pelean, desde el respeto y la empatía, esto no es malo, que nadie nos venda que un buen matrimonio JAMÁS discute, repito la idea de antes, si no lo hacen solo uno lleva la batuta. No se trata de no discutir, sino de aprender a hacerlo de una forma asertiva, como nos lo escribe Margery. No quiero terminar este apartado sin una frase conmovedora de Margery a Walter cuando ya no está, «Como jardinera, fui un calvario para mi marido, y ahora, en retrospectiva, me maravilla la paciencia que tuvo conmigo», sí, ella también la tuvo con él y lo leeremos en los metros de manguera. Compraba plantas para experimentar, como no las sabía cuidar, muchas se morían, así se aprende, prueba y error, pero para él un despilfarro. Hay un proyecto en común, comparten una pasión.
Pero esta obra es más, los tiempos van cambiando, la autora se admira de ciertas costumbres ridículas, la ventana de cristal ante el fregadero, sinceramente no doy crédito, no os digo más, quiero que lo leáis. A lo largo de la lectura la afectividad de Margery por su jardín es evidente, hasta los mismos albañiles se dan cuenta de la importancia que tienen y quitan los dichosos escombros.
Pero es más, aprenderéis de jardinería, yo cometí el mismo error que cualquier principiante, puse las plantas muy juntas, sin calcular que crecerían, las ahogué en abono y las maté de sed.
Una maravillosa lectura.
Sus amigos y conocidos les tacharon de locos al comprar aquella casa destartalada con aquel basurero como jardín. ¿Sabemos dónde se encuentra nuestro destino?
La historia comienza cuando huyendo de la guerra que era inminente, hasta ese momento ella y su marido Walter habían vivido en Londres, buscan una casa. Trabajó como secretaria de Lord Northcliffe, periodista y escritor irlandés, propietario y editor de varios de los periódicos de mayor éxito en la historia de la prensa británica, conocido como el «Napoleón de la Prensa». Más tarde de su marido que era editor del Daily Mail. Ningún conocimiento en jardinería.
Estuvieron tres meses mirando casa, no sabían qué querían, en esa búsqueda dice, «Nos perdimos muchas veces y tuvimos amargas discusiones, pero acabamos descubriendo lo que no queríamos». Juntos reconstruyen la casa, terrazas y plantan una huerta, diseñan un jardín espectacular y discuten por la colocación de una fuente o del uso del abono o cuándo se debe podar, como todo buen matrimonio, si un matrimonio no se enfada o discrepa, malo, uno de los dos está sometido al otro. Unas veces ella trabaja al servicio de Walter y, al final, cuando su marido no tiene nada que aportar, porque la audaz en el jardín es ella, él se retira a las tareas de mantenimiento. Habla de un jardín, sí, pero también del matrimonio, las parejas se pelean, desde el respeto y la empatía, esto no es malo, que nadie nos venda que un buen matrimonio JAMÁS discute, repito la idea de antes, si no lo hacen solo uno lleva la batuta. No se trata de no discutir, sino de aprender a hacerlo de una forma asertiva, como nos lo escribe Margery. No quiero terminar este apartado sin una frase conmovedora de Margery a Walter cuando ya no está, «Como jardinera, fui un calvario para mi marido, y ahora, en retrospectiva, me maravilla la paciencia que tuvo conmigo», sí, ella también la tuvo con él y lo leeremos en los metros de manguera. Compraba plantas para experimentar, como no las sabía cuidar, muchas se morían, así se aprende, prueba y error, pero para él un despilfarro. Hay un proyecto en común, comparten una pasión.
Pero esta obra es más, los tiempos van cambiando, la autora se admira de ciertas costumbres ridículas, la ventana de cristal ante el fregadero, sinceramente no doy crédito, no os digo más, quiero que lo leáis. A lo largo de la lectura la afectividad de Margery por su jardín es evidente, hasta los mismos albañiles se dan cuenta de la importancia que tienen y quitan los dichosos escombros.
Pero es más, aprenderéis de jardinería, yo cometí el mismo error que cualquier principiante, puse las plantas muy juntas, sin calcular que crecerían, las ahogué en abono y las maté de sed.
Una maravillosa lectura.
June 16, 2024
A dispetto del titolo italiano che potrebbe essere fuorviante, questo libro non è un manuale di giardinaggio ma la storia di come Margery Fish e suo marito cominciarono a progettare il loro giardino. Poco prima della seconda guerra mondiale la coppia acquistò una vecchia casa di campagna in stato di abbandono e, ancora prima di poterci abitare per via dei lavori in corso, iniziarono da subito a piantare le prime siepi. Margery Fish, che fino a quel momento non aveva mai fatto lavori di giardinaggio, inizia la bella avventura che darà vita a uno dei più famosi Cottage Garden inglesi.
Progettare un giardino è un lavoro perenne e inesauribile e lo si vede benissimo nelle pagine di questo libro dove Margery Fish fa e disfa senza sosta.
Il libro è diviso in capitoli che illustrano i vari aspetti del giardinaggio come il giardino roccioso, la legatura, il prato o il compostaggio, in cui l'autrice dà consigli e condivide la sua esperienza.
In tutto il racconto incombe la figura del dispotico marito che vuole tutto a modo suo e che molto ironicamente la stessa autrice definisce "il mio signore e padrone".
We made a garden è la storia di un progetto comune, in cui però sembra essere Margery Fish a metterci davvero il cuore, provando, sbagliando, intestardendosi e alla fine imparando pianta dopo pianta i mille aspetti della progettazione e coltivazione del giardino.
In ogni capitolo elenca un profluvio interessante di piante e varietà che non so se sono ancora tutte in commercio. Alla fine del libro c'è un utilissimo indice per una futura consultazione.
Progettare un giardino è un lavoro perenne e inesauribile e lo si vede benissimo nelle pagine di questo libro dove Margery Fish fa e disfa senza sosta.
Il libro è diviso in capitoli che illustrano i vari aspetti del giardinaggio come il giardino roccioso, la legatura, il prato o il compostaggio, in cui l'autrice dà consigli e condivide la sua esperienza.
In tutto il racconto incombe la figura del dispotico marito che vuole tutto a modo suo e che molto ironicamente la stessa autrice definisce "il mio signore e padrone".
We made a garden è la storia di un progetto comune, in cui però sembra essere Margery Fish a metterci davvero il cuore, provando, sbagliando, intestardendosi e alla fine imparando pianta dopo pianta i mille aspetti della progettazione e coltivazione del giardino.
In ogni capitolo elenca un profluvio interessante di piante e varietà che non so se sono ancora tutte in commercio. Alla fine del libro c'è un utilissimo indice per una futura consultazione.
July 14, 2025
Otra vez las expectativas me juegan en contra. Realmente pensé que iba a amar este libro y me costó un montón terminarlo, en especial si consideras lo cortito que es.
No es terrible pero hay dos cosas que empeoraron la lectura:
1- se la pasa nombrando plantas. Si lo sé, es un libro sobre jardines es lógico que las nombre! El tema es que parece que las está numerando, no dice nada al respecto solamente las nombra una al lado de la otra. Y yo que vivo en un lugar diferente a donde está su jardín ni siquiera conozco las flores que elije, tal vez el 25%, asi que el resto del tiempo son nombres, nombres y nombres. Podría haber funcionado si tuviese ilustraciones por ejemplo, porque pasarse todo el tiempo buscando con el celular las imágenes es un embole. No tiene buenos consejos ni historias, realmente, de cómo hizo su jardín o eligió su casa.
2- ella es una narradora bastante insufrible. Había leído otras reseñas que decian "menos mal que su marido se muere así puede hacer el jardín que quiere". Y me doy cuenta que ella se posiciona en un lugar bastante manipulador, donde te quiere hacer sentir que no la dejaban ser o algo así, mientras que al mismo tiempo hacía siempre lo que quería. No me habría molestado si no fuera porque se notaba la manera que tenia de querer hacerte poner de su lado. Se sintió como cuando se pelean tus padres y uno te quiere tener de aliado, bueno así.
Le pongo dos estrellas porque no es horrible, está bien que se yo. No es lo que yo esperaba y no lo volvería a leer.
No es terrible pero hay dos cosas que empeoraron la lectura:
1- se la pasa nombrando plantas. Si lo sé, es un libro sobre jardines es lógico que las nombre! El tema es que parece que las está numerando, no dice nada al respecto solamente las nombra una al lado de la otra. Y yo que vivo en un lugar diferente a donde está su jardín ni siquiera conozco las flores que elije, tal vez el 25%, asi que el resto del tiempo son nombres, nombres y nombres. Podría haber funcionado si tuviese ilustraciones por ejemplo, porque pasarse todo el tiempo buscando con el celular las imágenes es un embole. No tiene buenos consejos ni historias, realmente, de cómo hizo su jardín o eligió su casa.
2- ella es una narradora bastante insufrible. Había leído otras reseñas que decian "menos mal que su marido se muere así puede hacer el jardín que quiere". Y me doy cuenta que ella se posiciona en un lugar bastante manipulador, donde te quiere hacer sentir que no la dejaban ser o algo así, mientras que al mismo tiempo hacía siempre lo que quería. No me habría molestado si no fuera porque se notaba la manera que tenia de querer hacerte poner de su lado. Se sintió como cuando se pelean tus padres y uno te quiere tener de aliado, bueno así.
Le pongo dos estrellas porque no es horrible, está bien que se yo. No es lo que yo esperaba y no lo volvería a leer.
February 15, 2019
I started reading this book with the idea of garnering inspiration as I begin planning this year's garden. At a certain point, I started wondering why I was continuing to read it. I am a novice gardener and the vast array of latin names for plants that I don't recognize was not really helpful to my objective. And yet, the author brings up many large scale aspects of garden design I had not considered --ambitious construction of walls and paths, and creative cottage style gardening with trailing plants overlaying paths and use of rocks and placing creeping rock plants and thymes in tiny crevices. As another reviewer noted, in the words of LP Hartley, "the past is a foreign country; they do things differently there," and perhaps it is those glimpses into the domestic life of a far off land that compelled me to keep going: a lady in her long dinner dress and satin slippers perched precariously, balanced with a watering can to water the tops of her walls where trails of greenery fall. And her husband -- who by my modern sensibilities was a boor (and not the fun tusked and bristly kind), buying an estate's worth of mounted heads and adding them to outbuildings in order to add some variation to blank walls, only to have them fall into disarray. For me, alas there was not enough of those glimpses and too much technical detail. Ah well, perhaps better suited for another reader.
February 6, 2021
This was an interesting that I didn’t necessarily love or hate. Part memoir, part textbook, part gardening resource, a little antiquated. I appreciated Fish’s anecdotes and wished there were more peppered throughout.
It made me incredibly sad that her husband’s strong opinions on gardening clashed so much with her own. Honestly, he sounded like a bit of an asshole - cutting down so many of her flowers as they were just starting to bloom, smothering her smaller, beloved plants with manure as he tended to his own favorites, only allowing her to participate in menial gardening tasks. She didn’t seem to truly flourish as a gardener in her own right until he passed away.
There were so many specific references to plants I wasn’t familiar with (especially native English plants and any referred to by their Latin names.) I had to pull out my phone so many times to Google them to get an idea of how they looked; a visual glossary of some sort would be a nice addition.
It made me incredibly sad that her husband’s strong opinions on gardening clashed so much with her own. Honestly, he sounded like a bit of an asshole - cutting down so many of her flowers as they were just starting to bloom, smothering her smaller, beloved plants with manure as he tended to his own favorites, only allowing her to participate in menial gardening tasks. She didn’t seem to truly flourish as a gardener in her own right until he passed away.
There were so many specific references to plants I wasn’t familiar with (especially native English plants and any referred to by their Latin names.) I had to pull out my phone so many times to Google them to get an idea of how they looked; a visual glossary of some sort would be a nice addition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2024
Gardening books are always wonderful and, as ever, I came away with notes of new plants to try and new techniques. I am always weak on watering and Margery's habit of using a syringe to water new wall plants, stuffed into a crevice and then surrounded by moss is impressive and salutary. Quite a lot of the book, rather surprisingly, is about walls and paving. They seem to have spent a lot of time building drystone walls, terraces and courtyards all over the garden, which sadly (perhaps) is not an option for most of us, and therefore not so interesting. The language is enjoyable, and Fish has a pleasantly fresh, slightly naive style. The main thing most people would take from this book is how unpleasant her husband must have been. She is writing this book after his death and can barely repress her delight at finally being able to plant certain things he had always forbidden her.
September 29, 2020
A good gardening book with plenty of handy tips, plant suggestions (some albeit a bit dated) and admissions of mistakes to let you avoid the same pitfalls! Clearly none of us are ever going to achieve a Margery sized garden or house without a lottery win, but you can still dream!!
Margery Fish is entertaining and amusing but in this day and age, there is no place for the constant mentioning of Walter, the absolute domineering, tyrannical gobshite of a husband that not only disallowed Margery any autonomy in the garden, but actively delighted in wrecking her plans by pulling up plants, throwing soil from his projects on her work and generally berating her for every idea mentioned!!! Walter aka the top c**t!!! Psh!
Otherwise Margery rocks!!
Margery Fish is entertaining and amusing but in this day and age, there is no place for the constant mentioning of Walter, the absolute domineering, tyrannical gobshite of a husband that not only disallowed Margery any autonomy in the garden, but actively delighted in wrecking her plans by pulling up plants, throwing soil from his projects on her work and generally berating her for every idea mentioned!!! Walter aka the top c**t!!! Psh!
Otherwise Margery rocks!!
June 17, 2020
A very chatty personal account
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is written in a lovely informal style discussing her successes and failures as she created her garden. As I have been doing the same in my garden it fitted the bill nicely. As my garden evolves over time I'm learning a lot along the way - and this lady was the same. There are many plants discussed and thanks to being able to search through kindle books it will now be a reference book.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is written in a lovely informal style discussing her successes and failures as she created her garden. As I have been doing the same in my garden it fitted the bill nicely. As my garden evolves over time I'm learning a lot along the way - and this lady was the same. There are many plants discussed and thanks to being able to search through kindle books it will now be a reference book.
June 27, 2020
It's just so lighthearted reading full of good ideas based on long time gardening experience and of course witty remarks about the relationship with her husband, their disagreements and who actually got it right. Trying to create a cottage garden myself, being as inexperienced as Mrs. and Mr. Fish, i often found myself running out to the garden right after reading something smart to put in practice.
December 16, 2025
Solo he echado de menos fotos y dibujos, muchas fotos y dibujos. Este libro sería maravilloso si se le añadiesen láminas de ilustración botánica con las plantas que describe la autora.
Por lo demás, acompañarla en la creación de su jardín resulta muy motivador, sobre todo para quienes intentamos cultivar uno. Dan ganas de ponerse los guantes y las botas, coger la azadilla y las tijeras y salir a pisar barro.
Por lo demás, acompañarla en la creación de su jardín resulta muy motivador, sobre todo para quienes intentamos cultivar uno. Dan ganas de ponerse los guantes y las botas, coger la azadilla y las tijeras y salir a pisar barro.
June 6, 2022
"When will you be finished with your garden?"
"Never, I hope."
This exchange summarizes everything about this book, and the lifestyle it describes and praises. A memoir of garden living. Inspiring and eye-opening. "Margery Fish says..." has become my latest comment when we're outside in our own (dare I call them...) gardens. Oh, how I loved this little book.
"Never, I hope."
This exchange summarizes everything about this book, and the lifestyle it describes and praises. A memoir of garden living. Inspiring and eye-opening. "Margery Fish says..." has become my latest comment when we're outside in our own (dare I call them...) gardens. Oh, how I loved this little book.
June 8, 2023
Delightful read on the creation from scratch of an English Garden on the site of an old farm house and surrounding farm yard/barton combining her husband's 4 elements of a garden: lawn, walls, paths, hedges and her love of flowers, especially in every season possible. Full of good ideas for gardeners.
December 28, 2024
“This book is so short. I will read it so quickly.” Nope. This was so technical and I learned nothing other than Margery’s husband is an asshole and she really missed out on dresses with pockets. I would not have stuck with it if not for research purposes (I took no notes. Help). This will look pretty on my bookshelf.
October 22, 2022
This might have been first published in the fifties but the fact its still available is testimony to how good it is. Follow the Fishes progress of building a new garden their disagreements over what should be included and where to put things really adds to the human interest.
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