To this end, 'The English Garden' has fueled my thoughts and my ambitions, plant-wise. I am particularly pleased with the latest issue, for they are beginning a series entitled How to create an English Garden, something that, while I have striven for aspects to match, has alluded me these past many years.
Articles in each issue are classified under the following categories: Glorious Gardens, a section that seeks out particular, interesting gardens around England, small and large, that conform to the English Garden ideal, as well as the occasional garden from abroad; Gardening Matters, in which the mechanics of gardening are explained, including design, planning, acquisition, seasonal transitions, and problems; Out and About, which looks for travel opportunities, gardening events worldwide, and product information; and Regulars, which includes letters, question and answer section (both very informative), book reviews, and a column entitled Kitchen Garden which talks about food-gardening as well as well as small, indoor garden plants. Regulars contributors include master gardeners David Manson, Rory Mower, Susan Chivers, and Helen Gunn.
The past few issues have included articles entitled In Town: An Artist's London Garden, which shows that the tradition of painting in one's garden didn't stop with Monet, and requires talent in both painting and gardening for most; Historical Perspectives: The Queen's Secret Walled Garden which has recently been opened to the public, and Opening Out: Restoration in the Wye Valley, a story on the resurrection of a garden in the west, near one of my favourite parts of Britain.
I always turn green with envy upon seeing the wonderful gardens, and it makes me wish I had a green thumb and much more time and energy to devote to cultivation of beauty. Alas, 'tis not to be in my life for the foreseeable future, but I do learn quite a bit by reading English Gardens, and it helps me maintain my sense of England.