The Adventurous Gardener By Christopher Lloyd

Hello,

I am sure many of you are fully versed with his works, but this is my first foray into his technique and just had to say-what a funny man. Just reading his stuff on cutting back shrubs especially lilacs. Advising me to spread it over two attempts rather than butchery in one "glorious encounter". Funny yes, but hilarious is when he tells me "I tell you that without the faintest intention of following the same advice when I feel otherwise inclined"


The man is a comic genius. I watched an old interview with him a while back, and liked him then, but if this book carries on like this I will adore him when I have finished it.


What a guy!

 

He is great. I have a handful of his books, they read like Terry Pratchett and they are amazingly informed too :D

 

From the little I know of him he was occasionally interviewed, but no not a telly gardener as such.


I can heartily recommend him John, and I am only on page 42.


There have been a referrals to his other book The Well Tempered Gardener.

Got them both off

http://www.greenmetropolis.com



which is a wonderful website for second hand books.

He is so clever and witty and an absolute fountain of knowledge, and not a whiff of condescension so often found in some books.

 

Claire, I am a great fan of his. I have several of his books. He was quite opinionated, but I like that as he really knew what he was talking about. There is a lot of good information in those books.

John, he was only ever on television when he was interviewed. He was a private individual, with a beautiful house and garden that was open to the public. It was suggested that before he died he was one of the greatest living authorities on garden plants. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article722518.ece

 

There are some pics of his garden in this forum, Garden Visits, Great Dixter.

 

I have visited Great Dixter which is a wonderful garden. CL was actually there, at the time, sitting on a bench talking to his head gardener. I must get his books as I have never read any.

 

I just love it when this happens-I find a writer I can get right into.

The last one was Somerset-Maugham-also an extremely funny man.

Thanks for the two links you two-I will have to pencil in a visit or three to see this place.

 

Christopher Lloyd was a fantastic writer full stop. I love his books and I refer to them all the time - particularly the The Well Tempered Garden - but my non-planty husband enjoys his writing as well, which is surely a measure of him as a writer. My favourite advice is: "The right time to prune is not in December or April, but when you remember to do it. Otherwise it won't get done at all."

 

I wouldn`t feel too bad John, new discoveries are perhaps the most exciting part of life. I am only on book number one, now page 67.

Ivory-he has explained the pruning of hydrangeas in such a way as I feel I may fully understand it now. Protect over the winter by keeping the old flowers on and just treat it like over-late deadheading ( I think). Obviously it`s best not to make too many assumptions at this point-I have only just started it after all.

PS did I tell you the cutting is still alive-i will take a pic tomorrow of it in its "cloche" (upside down plastic lager glass that is LOL)

 

You are great! There are more cuttings here for you, so see that you are well trained in the art of keeping them alive before they come!

Wether or not to leave the old flowers on through the winter is a controversial point between hydrangeas maniacs, SOme say yes, some say ne, including Corinne Mallet, who certainly knows what she is talking about. I have to admit that I don't, for three reasons:
1) I like to dry the flower heads for winter decoration, yes I know, a rather egoistical reason
2) If you leave them on in winter it looks ok until december, perhaps, then it's like someone has been sticking dirty brown socks on the shrubs.
3) In heavy snowfalls they often bring down the whole branch with the weight of the snowcap that they keep on top.
He knew his hydrangeas well, in any case, and he gives some really good advice on pruning in the well tempered garden (I don't have your book, but I guess the essence of the advice given will be the same).



I got the Well Tempered Garden for a couple of £ through AMazon, it's really worth having. It's not one of the attractive new books full of glamourous pictures, but it is really really great.

Happy reading, sweetie!