The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden

by Frances Tophill

Overview

A guide to creating a modern outdoor space that provides us with the materials we need to eat, be creative, learn and get the most out of our garden

We no longer just want to garden, we want to engage with the land; the plants in it, the animals, insects and even the fungi. The Modern Gardener isn’t just about creating a space that simply looks visually stunning, but about responding to the need to modernize; to live in a way that works in harmony with the world around us and engages with our outdoor space. The plants that we choose to grow should encourage wildlife, reduce our carbon footprint and be useful in all areas of our lives. 

Filled with projects, as well as the whys and hows of growing and choosing plants, it includes a recipe section with activities that can be tried at home for all kinds of fun – from delicious concoctions to essential products – all made from plants. 

"Frances Tophill is not only a qualified horticulturist but is fast becoming the fresh new face of television gardening." – Daily Mail 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857839435
Publisher:	Octopus Books
Publication date:	04/26/2022
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	538,321
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Frances Tophill is a Horticulturist and Botanist who trained at The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Since 2012 she has been a presenter on ITV’s Love Your Garden, with Alan Titchmarsh. She also presents regularly on BBC Gardeners’ World. She works closely with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and WWF, championing the importance of growing for us as individuals and as communities. She is the Author of three books; First-Time Gardener, The Container Gardener and, most recently, Re-Wild Your Garden. 

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Wildlife + Eco-friendly Gardening 10

Garden Design + Green Thinking 28

Houseplants 48

A Space to Grow, Eat + Preserve 62

Propagating Plants 110

The Cut-flower Garden 124

The Apothecary Garden 140

Plant Dyes + Fabrics 166

Drinks 178

Index 188

Acknowledgements 192

Editorial Reviews

06/06/2022

Gardening is “a place for productivity and reducing our personal impact on the world’s resources,” according to this pleasant outing from British horticulturalist Tophill (Rewild Your Garden). She begins with a convincing argument for building a varied and rich garden that provides “abundant food for a huge variety of species” including frogs and birds. Indeed, readers will find suggestions for “eco-friendly gardening” including a “right plant, right place system” for choosing crops that, after a year or two, will “need little or no intervention,” and a basic primer on plant categories. Tophill digs into houseplants (and gives tips for where to put them), flower gardening (guiding readers through making their own arrangements), plant dyes, and herb gardening, sharing as well recipes that put them to use including an elderflower cordial and blackcurrant vodka. Some of the plant recommendations may be unfamiliar to American readers (“good King Henry” spinach and Jostaberry, for example), but if the book’s stunning photography doesn’t capture readers, its no-nonsense approach to eco-friendly gardening will: “This is about... relaxing, balancing our needs with environmental concerns, and gardening in a time frame that suits us.” This one’s full of fun ideas. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

If the book’s stunning photography doesn’t capture readers, its no-nonsense approach to eco-friendly gardening will…This [book] is full of fun ideas”—http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780857839435, http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780857839435

From the Publisher