Product Description

First published in 1948, W. Arnold-Forster's "Shrubs for the Milder Counties" is a classic in its field. Based on the author's long practical experience in his garden on a Cornish moor, it covers a wide range of shrubs that can be grown in the milder and maritime parts of Britain, and reviews many hardy shrubs that can be grown successfully in the colder counties. The writing is extraordinarily fresh and valid for today's gardeners. This new edition contains an Addendum of Plant Name Changes by Peter Clough.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #773348 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Review
As Lord Aberconwy states in his forward to this book, first published in 1948, "Cornwall has always set a noteworthy example in the skill of its great gardeners and in the beauty and number of its great gardens". The same holds true today, more than half a century later, with Cornwall viewed by many as the gardening Mecca of the British Isles. The mild climate found here enables those lucky enough to live here to grow shrubs that in most areas of the UK, bar Western Scotland and southern coastal regions, would not thrive. W. Arnold-Forster's classic text on these shrubs is as relevant today as it was in the post-war years of the 1940s, giving clear, detailed advice gleaned from both personal experience and that of his horticultural colleagues. Arnold-Forster's home was "Eagles Nest" set in a wind-blown Cornish moor. He transformed this rocky outcrop into a garden of note, learning which shrubs would survive very much by trial and error. And not only survive temperature-wise but would withstand the gale force winds and salt laden air. Quaintly written, redolent of it's era and echoing with the monumental rebuilding of the bombed towns and cities and urban replanting, the information and advice given on the erection of windbreaks and shelters is sound and worthy of note whilst the detailed plant resumes are full of useful tips on their ease of cultivation or otherwise. The addendum of plant name changes by Peter Clough brings the work uptodate, in as far as one can with today's taxonomic advances. With global warming increasing year by year, the range of so called tender plants that can now be grown outside all year is increasing rapidly and Arnold-Forster's plant list should inspire many to try them and perhaps surprise themselves. 'Shrubs for the Milder Counties is for those who like to garden on "the edge". ... If British summers are to get hotter the book may become more popular'. (Penelope Hobhouse, 'On My Bedside Table', Hortus, 73, Spring 2005).

About the Author
W. Arnold-Forster studied at the Slade School of Art, under Tonks. He joined the Navy in the First World War, and then settled in a bleak house high above the cliff in west Cornwall. Here he worked for the League of Nations, wrote, painted, and gardened.

Customer Reviews

Fascinating even if you don't live in a milder county
An excellent new edition of a classic work, published in Cornwall with new colour photos. A fascinating read even for those not fortunate enough to garden in the milder counties.

Arnold Foster - Shrubs for the Milder Counties
This is a highly interesting and enjoyable book. I was fascinated by it's relevence to today, despite its age.

period charm but packed with information
as your previous reviewer points out this work is still bang up to date -chapters include rhododendrons,metrosideros,olearia,eucalyptus-not as comprehensive as the others,camellias,nothofagus,magnolias plus a wide planting list and an inspirational suggestion list for yet untried or uncommon plants-knocks many of the modern superficial gardening books clean out of the park........