Book: The Land Gardeners

This is the story of The Land Gardeners, creators of productive gardens and stunning bundles of cut flowers. Based in the original walled garden at Wardington Manor, The Land Gardeners have revived the tradition of working with the land to produce abundant, seasonal flowers for clients’ use in decoration, design and events. But for all the frivolous, bucolic beauty of the flowers, it is the productivity and health of the soil that truly underpins The Land Gardeners’ philosophy. The book explores lively soil, the joy (and, arguably, necessity) of gathering from our gardens, and the imperative that we care for our soils and live among healthy, vital gardens. In this visual diary of life in the garden, The Land Gardeners share their beliefs on the importance of soil health, introduce you to their favourite blooms and inspire you to create your own cutting garden with expert knowledge on how to grow and what to gather by season.  Chapters include: _ A FLORAL HISTORY_ – how it all began in the walled garden at Wardington Manor, Oxfordshire, England    _CREATION OF A CUTTING GARDEN_ – the fundamental importance of soil health. The life in the soil: how we improve it, how we feed it, how we make compost. The importance of organic and biodynamic growing.   _T__HE FLOWER ROOM_ – gathering, preparing, arranging and selling.    _ A YEAR OF FLOWERS_ – growing throughout the year: spring (narcissi, tulips, hesperis); summer (roses, peonies, delphiniums, scabious, ammi); autumn (cosmos, dahlias, gladiolus); winter (bulbs, aconites, snowdrops, berries, hips).    _YOUR CUT-FLOWER GARDEN_ – creating cut-flower borders; planting and growing; feeding the soil; growing under cover; tools; staking and supports.    _GROWING CUT FLOWERS _– The Land Gardeners’ favourite flowers: roses, peonies, dahlias, bulbs, annuals, perennials, foliage, shrubs and trees. Hardcover. 256 pages.   weight:  1.977kg