Product Description

The Jewel Garden will elaborate on this further. Written in an optimistic, autobiographical vein, Monty and Sarah's story is truly an exploration of what it means to be a gardener. Incidentally, the book covers all the Dons' garden, but the 'Jewel Garden' itself is a part of it that is planted with particularly vibrant, vivid, jewel-like plants. This area more than any other draws on the years they spent in the fashion business. With specially commissioned photography by the renowned garden photographer Nicola Browne, this book will be a jewel-like object in its own right.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199414 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Mail on Sunday
'Truly inspiring ... told with compelling honesty'

About the Author
Monty and Sarah Don have been gardening together for 20 years, originally in London, where they based their jewellery business, and over the past ten years in Herefordshire, where they now live with their three children. Monty is best known for his weekly column, for presenting a number of prestigious series for Channel 4 and, most recently, as main presenter of BBC Gardeners' World.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing but wonderful
I was very disappointed when I collected this book this morning from the Post Office. I had hoped for large glossy photographs, plans and diagrams, extensive instructions on how to plant the flowers I knew the Dons grow. Instead this is a fairly small format book (a little larger than a paperback novel) and it is like a joint gardening autobiography with particular emphasis on their present garden. I am in fact delighted with it: there are actually loads of photographs, and although of course they aren't enormous they are beautiful, evocative and inspirational. The writing is down to earth but also very descriptive. After a bit of history to explain how they got to be there, the main part of the book is divided seasonally. They explain what are the main attractions in the garden at each time of the year and how they came to grow them, and what tasks they do at that time. This means that although it isn't primarily a "How To" book you do of course learn loads from it. It's beautifully produced and I'm very glad I did splash out and buy it as a hard-back because I know I'll want to keep it. I think it would make a super present for a garden-minded person.

A fabulous garden book containing some extra insights
This is not just a beautiful book about plants and and gardens, it is also, I felt, quite an intimate portrait of Monty and his wife and a fascinating revelation on depression. The book is written in such a way as to inspire understanding and empathy for anyone who might suffer from this type of depression. It is also full of the most wonderful colour photographs; I found it illuminating on many levels.

a different view
I am recently bereaved and at a very low ebb. When I first saw a review for Monty and Sarah's book I thought that I could read it and feel that there may be a way through, I already have an established garden that my spouse and I had hoped to spend our retirement pottering in. When I read what Monty and Sarah had been through I was once more filled with hope and inspiration. This is a beautifully produced book, but is not a book that will give you ideas or information on how to garden. What it will give you is a story of courage and true Brit spirit and a determination not to give in however bad it gets. A perfect gift for any depressed gardeners