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Through the Garden Gate
Through the garden gate lies a world of surprises. Each garden has its character and its season. This joyful little book conjures up the magic of many of them: rose gardens and children's gardens; the trees and lawns of stately homes and the well-manicured flowerbeds of municipal parks; kitchen gardens and the garden in winter; water gardens, wilderness gardens and the intoxicating scents of a garden at night.
Together, Susan Hill's lyrical prose and Angela Barrett's lovely paintings combine to delight the senses and to encourage unusual ideas. They inspire you to believe that an orchard or an orange grove can be grown from pips, and at the same time point out that it's a waste of effort to cultivate vegetables that you don't personally enjoy eating. Anyone with a few plant pots and imagination can have his own garden, and this idiosyncratic book unleashes the fantasy in us all and gives us the confidence to be bold.
Together, Susan Hill's lyrical prose and Angela Barrett's lovely paintings combine to delight the senses and to encourage unusual ideas. They inspire you to believe that an orchard or an orange grove can be grown from pips, and at the same time point out that it's a waste of effort to cultivate vegetables that you don't personally enjoy eating. Anyone with a few plant pots and imagination can have his own garden, and this idiosyncratic book unleashes the fantasy in us all and gives us the confidence to be bold.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Susan Hill
182 books2,292 followersSusan Hill was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1942. Her hometown was later referred to in her novel A Change for the Better (1969) and some short stories especially "Cockles and Mussels".
She attended Scarborough Convent School, where she became interested in theatre and literature. Her family left Scarborough in 1958 and moved to Coventry where her father worked in car and aircraft factories. Hill states that she attended a girls’ grammar school, Barr's Hill. Her fellow pupils included Jennifer Page, the first Chief Executive of the Millennium Dome. At Barrs Hill she took A levels in English, French, History and Latin, proceeding to an English degree at King's College London. By this time she had already written her first novel, The Enclosure which was published by Hutchinson in her first year at university. The novel was criticised by The Daily Mail for its sexual content, with the suggestion that writing in this style was unsuitable for a "schoolgirl".
Her next novel Gentleman and Ladies was published in 1968. This was followed in quick succession by A Change for the Better, I'm the King of the Castle, The Albatross and other stories, Strange Meeting, The Bird of Night, A Bit of Singing and Dancing and In the Springtime of Year, all written and published between 1968 and 1974.
In 1975 she married Shakespeare scholar Stanley Wells and they moved to Stratford upon Avon. Their first daughter, Jessica, was born in 1977 and their second daughter, Clemency, was born in 1985. Hill has recently founded her own publishing company, Long Barn Books, which has published one work of fiction per year.
Librarian's Note: There is more than one author by this name.
She attended Scarborough Convent School, where she became interested in theatre and literature. Her family left Scarborough in 1958 and moved to Coventry where her father worked in car and aircraft factories. Hill states that she attended a girls’ grammar school, Barr's Hill. Her fellow pupils included Jennifer Page, the first Chief Executive of the Millennium Dome. At Barrs Hill she took A levels in English, French, History and Latin, proceeding to an English degree at King's College London. By this time she had already written her first novel, The Enclosure which was published by Hutchinson in her first year at university. The novel was criticised by The Daily Mail for its sexual content, with the suggestion that writing in this style was unsuitable for a "schoolgirl".
Her next novel Gentleman and Ladies was published in 1968. This was followed in quick succession by A Change for the Better, I'm the King of the Castle, The Albatross and other stories, Strange Meeting, The Bird of Night, A Bit of Singing and Dancing and In the Springtime of Year, all written and published between 1968 and 1974.
In 1975 she married Shakespeare scholar Stanley Wells and they moved to Stratford upon Avon. Their first daughter, Jessica, was born in 1977 and their second daughter, Clemency, was born in 1985. Hill has recently founded her own publishing company, Long Barn Books, which has published one work of fiction per year.
Librarian's Note: There is more than one author by this name.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 24, 2025
Miles is bored, so his Mom suggests he help a neighbor with her garden. So many things to love about this story. Miles is so happy with what he accomplished in Mary’s garden. Then he discovers a magical garden and has quite an adventure. Detailed, lovely illustrations. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley.
August 9, 2017
A nicely illustrated book with delightful snippets of gardens, from childhood memories to imaginary gardens. But the GR detail of this book listing it as one page is of course totally wrong! Amazon has it as 96 pages which by my count was much closer.
May 4, 2011
After being totally enchanted with The Magic Apple Tree last year, by the author who is otherwise known for her ghost stories, I managed to buy second hand copies of her other similar books, about living in the countryside. Through the Garden Gate is the first of the 2 titles.
The illustrations by Angela Barrett draw you into this lovely book, where Susan Hills voice describes the various gardens throughout her life. Starting with The Gardens of my Childhood, and on to other chapters covering Herb Gardens, Rose Gardens, Wilderness, Winter Gardens, Vegetable Gardens, Potted Gardens, and Night Gardens, among others, you get a little burst of pictures and musings in each chapter. This book is about sharing a love of gardens rather than a tome of practical information. It is an indulgence, for writer and reader.
I loved the reference to Alice in Wonderland at the beginning, and the Ten Delights of a Garden which included such carefree thoughts of 'Rhubarb plants left to spread, tower and run all to seed...The smell of tomato plants inside a conservatory...Pincushion moss growing in the crevices of a stone wall'. Susan Hills gardens are not the ordered kind of exotic blooms, tamed into submission and planned to the last detail. They are places to get lost in, marvel at how they do their own thing, a little bit wild, but always beautiful, surprising and full of wonderful things. A partnership between gardener and garden with an adventure around every corner. Exactly the kind of garden I would love to have, but try to emulate with my modest bit of ground at the front and back of the house.
Although not quite as amazing as The Magic Apple Tree, it is certainly a book to dip into if, like me, you enjoy listening to Susan Hills voice, taking you around gardens of the imagination, that you would love to visit for real. A book to get lost in, very sensory, and a short read that some of you could polish off in one go.
The illustrations by Angela Barrett draw you into this lovely book, where Susan Hills voice describes the various gardens throughout her life. Starting with The Gardens of my Childhood, and on to other chapters covering Herb Gardens, Rose Gardens, Wilderness, Winter Gardens, Vegetable Gardens, Potted Gardens, and Night Gardens, among others, you get a little burst of pictures and musings in each chapter. This book is about sharing a love of gardens rather than a tome of practical information. It is an indulgence, for writer and reader.
I loved the reference to Alice in Wonderland at the beginning, and the Ten Delights of a Garden which included such carefree thoughts of 'Rhubarb plants left to spread, tower and run all to seed...The smell of tomato plants inside a conservatory...Pincushion moss growing in the crevices of a stone wall'. Susan Hills gardens are not the ordered kind of exotic blooms, tamed into submission and planned to the last detail. They are places to get lost in, marvel at how they do their own thing, a little bit wild, but always beautiful, surprising and full of wonderful things. A partnership between gardener and garden with an adventure around every corner. Exactly the kind of garden I would love to have, but try to emulate with my modest bit of ground at the front and back of the house.
Although not quite as amazing as The Magic Apple Tree, it is certainly a book to dip into if, like me, you enjoy listening to Susan Hills voice, taking you around gardens of the imagination, that you would love to visit for real. A book to get lost in, very sensory, and a short read that some of you could polish off in one go.
September 23, 2017
A lovely book for any gardener, or would-be gardener. Short chapters of the author's thoughts on different types of gardens are paired with quotes from various sources and beautiful full-color illustrations by Angela Barrett.
Chapters include:
-The Gardens of My Childhood
-Potted Gardens
-The Kitchen Garden
-The Herb Garden
-Municipal Gardens
-Into the Rose Garden
-Children's Gardens
-In Praise of the Wilderness
-The Night Garden
-The Winter Garden
-The Gardener
-Landscape Gardens
-The Maze Garden
-The Water Garden
-My Fantasy Garden
Delightful!
Chapters include:
-The Gardens of My Childhood
-Potted Gardens
-The Kitchen Garden
-The Herb Garden
-Municipal Gardens
-Into the Rose Garden
-Children's Gardens
-In Praise of the Wilderness
-The Night Garden
-The Winter Garden
-The Gardener
-Landscape Gardens
-The Maze Garden
-The Water Garden
-My Fantasy Garden
Delightful!
July 2, 2018
For me this was an enjoyable read as I love Susan Hill, especially her Ian Serrailler stories and The Magic Apple tree. This book is great for fans of England, gardens, or Susan Hill, but it is really just a nice picture book and a quick read.
3.5 for those who really love these sorts of books.
3.5 for those who really love these sorts of books.
August 9, 2023
Lovely illustrations that feel like Edward Gorey got the cottagecore bug. Fine writing of a sampler sort- various writers rhapsodizing about gardening. Short book, with sections on various kinds of gardens. Cozy but like I said, with a hint of Gorey. Maybe that's just me.
A keeper but not a fave, probably will not be looking into others of the same kind. Maybe Brambly Hedge, now THAT'S cozy.
A keeper but not a fave, probably will not be looking into others of the same kind. Maybe Brambly Hedge, now THAT'S cozy.
September 19, 2023
A delightful little book, beautifully illustrated by Angela Barrett, this was a gift from our gardening daughter. I’m a big fan of Susan Hill, having read all her Simon Serrailler novels, as well as non-fiction and children’s books, so I was pleased to get this. It reminded me that I should re-read ‘The Magic Apple Tree.’
Read
January 21, 2022Utterly charming & calming.
September 4, 2022
Quick Read with pretty old fashioned drawings. My favorite was The Winter Garden section.
April 1, 2023
This gem of a book made me so excited and nostalgic for spring. A gorgeous adult picture book!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews