The Garden At Highgrove Book

Most people will know two things about the garden at Highgrove--that it is organic and that, notoriously, the Prince of Wales talks to the plants he grows there. As The Garden at Highgrove lavishly demonstrates, it is a garden of very considerable interest and beauty, blending idiosyncratic touches into the traditional, romantic English country style. Although parts of the garden are laid out on a grand scale, much of it is intimate, forming a series of enclosed, room-like spaces. Evident everywhere is the Prince's respect for nature, from the underlying organic, self-sufficient methodology to the large-scale experiment in the restitution of a species-rich wild flower meadow. (The latter is expected to take at least a hundred years before the true balance of plant types is restored--an indication of the seriousness of purpose.) Although he has had advice and assistance from many leading garden and plant specialists, including Rosemary Verey, Sir Roy Strong and Miriam Rothschild, the Prince's personality, traditional-minded but with what seem to be strong streaks of competitiveness and bloody-mindedness, is everywhere apparent. Another presence, rarely alluded to, also haunts the place. Highgrove is an exemplary garden, and this is a very interesting book, beautifully illustrated and full of lessons in how hand and heart can work together in the garden. --Robin DavidsonRead More