how to Garden books

No, Llanvaur, big village.

 

Ziggy - no I was born in 88, so I'm the grand old age of 22

The 62 is reference to the Euphrasie screen name, 1862 when Les Miserables was published. It's my favourite read, and quite a geeky screen name!!

 

Ahh, my mistake:DOH:

 

I was born in the old Monmouthshire, which was not made a part of Wales until 1955 ish. So Lundun, is the correct pronounciation for the English capital. We were banned from singing the Welsh National Anthem, we had to sing Land Of My Fathers.

 

Sorry I haven't read all of this, so what I'm about to say may have already been said, but here goes:

First up, I agree with Jack. Lots of 'beginners' gardening books are what I'd call intermediate.

Over the years I've read loads of gardening books, articles on the t'interweb, and this very good forum here. I learnt loads of theory. Then more recently I went from being an occasional gardener, reluctantly tackling the chore of trying to keep it tidy, to having a real good go.

I've made innumerable mistakes, some of them quite expense mistakes at that. I've seen plants drop dead within a short time of putting them in the wrong spot or badly prepared ground. I've seen plants thrive and quickly swamp out the smaller plants that I put far too close to bigger plants, and conversely I've seen a couple of hundred quids worth of plants look rubbish once planted, because I didn't think about how they might work together in the space they were in. I've made all these mistakes and many, many more. I will still make many more mistakes in the future, of that I'm certain beyond doubt.

But, with every experiment, whether it succeeds or fails, I learn something that the books didn't teach me. Over time I expect the frequency of my mistakes will reduce, and I'll have a better idea of what to do in future, and will gradually get better and better results.

By the time I'm an old man, I reckon I'll be a talented gardener. Then I'll be able to pass on what I've learned to my son, and maybe his kids. And they will all duly pretend to listen, decide they know best, and make all the same mistakes as me.

 

I didn't know that, Dai. I think I read somewhere recently that the 'English' victory at the Battle of Agincourt was won in large part by Welsh archers from Monmouthshire. I wonder which side of the border Monmouthshire was officially on in 1415?

Hello Euphrasie, by the way! Welcome to GC.

 

Ages and trial and error

All good but if you check our ages

I am running out of time for trial and error :-)

Jack McH

 

Sorry John- last time! (probably!)

 

You cruel woman you.

 

This is another good Readers' Digest book that can be picked up cheaply at charity shops/car boots (top book with dust jacket, one below without):



This would definitely be my 'Desert Island' book, as it covers a guide to gardening, growing and cooking, growing calender, pests & diseases, preserving, wild foods, homebrew and keeping poultry & bees. Absolutely packed full of information and b&w illustrations rather than lots of glossy colour pics.

 

I like that book too, Scrungee!

 

For many years I used to buy a variety of gardening magazines and having extracted numerous tracts about particular subjects I maintained a large book full of information of the most basic type. This I kept as a reference for many years. Also love the RD encyclopaedia and a well thumbed copy of Christopher Woods 'Well tempered garden' which has a surprising amount of basic information.
If I have a problem now I come to Gardeners Corner evey time..........