Reviews


Powis Castle: a review by Tristan Gregory

April 29, 2013

Gardens are reopening, and it’s garden reviews time again. Remember thinkingardens when you make a visit.. And, just by the way, – I am now blogging regularly and personally  here. (Even about gardening. Sometimes… here’s piece on weeding and one on ‘What not to do in your garden in April’  - you are nearly too late!) The [...]

In an Irish Garden (1986) reviewed by Marie McLeish

April 11, 2013

You may wonder why we are reviewing a book which was published in 1986. Well, now that we can search and find books from any time on line, instead of only on dusty bookshelves in second hand bookshops (though that has its own charms, of course) it occurs to me there must be a lot [...]


Monty Don’s French Gardens – a review by Darryl Moore

March 26, 2013

Thinkingardens has been rather over Montyied recently, but we rarely get a serious television programme about gardens, so a review of BBC 2′s series on French Gardens is essential. Apologies for the limited range of pictures. Charles prefers Italian gardens. The programme is not currently available but will no doubt be rebroadcast and become available [...]

Gardens in History by Louise Wickham reviewed by Tristan Gregory

February 21, 2013

The full title of the book under review here is “Gardens in History, a political perspective” and it reminds us once again that gardens have always been for more than gardening. Thanks to Tristan for this excellent review. Anne Wareham, editor Gardens in History is a book written to emphasise the importance of gardens as [...]


Sezincote – of elephants and water by Alison Levey

February 7, 2013

The name Sezincote has acquired a kind of magic for its associations: Brighton Pavilion, India, the Raj… Does the garden live up to this magic? Alison Levey visits for thinkingardens (and herself) and, as ever, offers an astute opinion… Anne Wareham, editor Alison Levey: I, like many gardeners I am sure, have three lists for visiting gardens: [...]

Institutional Gardens – are they all awful? by Anne Wareham

January 23, 2013

I posted this first on the Veddw blog, which I am sure you are all familiar with. But just in case you’re not, and because of the enthusiastic response it received in the social media, (where so many comments happen now, off site, sadly) and in the post comments, I am also publishing it here. Anne [...]


The gardens of Manoir d’Eyrignac and Marquessac, France, by Bridget Rosewell.

January 9, 2013

Some pieces hang around a bit long (sorry everyone) – this arrived in summer and it’s now after Christmas. So – a time trip back to summer, in a less soggy place than Wales… (Bridget is away at the moment – I hope she will respond to your comments on her return) Anne Wareham, editor [...]

What are Gardens For? by Rory Stuart reviewed by Bridget Rosewell

November 22, 2012

Here is the second review, in this case by Bridget Rosewell. (yes, you did read something else by Bridget very recently. It was a long wait – then ….two at once..) Anne Wareham, editor   What are Gardens for? Visiting, Experiencing and Thinking about Gardens Rory Stuart, Frances Lincoln, 2012 Bridget Rosewell: Don’t expect an [...]


What are Gardens for? by Rory Stuart, reviewed by Sheppard Craige

November 22, 2012

You may well wonder why we have two reviews of Rory Stuart’s new book for thinkingardens. Well, I was given one when I had already commissioned the other. It’s not the first time thinkingardens has offered more than one perspective, and it won’t be the last. And, as you will see, Rory himself has written [...]

Gold at the Olympic Park by Bridget Rosewell

November 16, 2012

Meadows now cover a multitude of sins – or at least, the term ‘meadow’ does. All part of the ‘naturalistic’ trend (see Michael King’s post and Sarah Price telling you how to do it at home here) Bridget Rosewell takes a look here at whether meadow is a term which makes sense in the context of the [...]


Gardens Illustrated and The Garden – a comparative review by David Wong

October 26, 2012

You wait for years for one to come along… then you get two reviews of  The Garden in one year! Well, I don’t look gift horses in the mouth (I don’t look any kind of horses in the mouth) so here is a look at Gardens Illustrated and The Garden from David Wong. Anne Wareham, [...]

Three views of the RHS by Elizabeth Musgrave

October 16, 2012

Apologies – this one has jumped the queue.. (nothing to do with me overlooking what’s on my schedule, of course..) Does the RHS offer anything which meets the needs of the thinkingardener? Elizabeth Musgrave gives that some thought.. Anne Wareham, editor Elizabeth Musgrave: I am a serial joiner of the RHS.  I join for a [...]


Aberglasney, a review by Anne Wareham

September 27, 2012

I visited Aberglasney in September this year (2012) and so took the opportunity to review it for thinkingardens. By way of an extra. Anne Wareham, editor Aberglasney The garden at Aberglasney burst into the world in a television series some years ago. The series was based round the archaeological work which was going on, and [...]

An interesting book review by Abbie Jury

September 17, 2012

I haven’t named the book which is the subject of this review yet on purpose. Most of our readers are still from the UK so you might assume this book will not be especially interesting to you. But I think the review may be. It raises an issue which has bothered me for many years [...]

← Previous Entries