We Made a Garden

We Made a Garden chronicles Margery Fish's transformation of a Somerset property into a cottage garden in the years following World War II. The memoir documents her gardening education and the development of her signature style, which combined formal and informal elements. Fish recounts the creative tensions between herself and her husband Walter as they approached garden design with contrasting visions. The narrative follows their projects and experiments at East Lambrook Manor, from managing difficult soil conditions to selecting and placing plants. The book details Fish's practical solutions for common gardening challenges and her philosophy of working with nature rather than against it. Her observations about plant combinations, seasonal planning, and garden maintenance remain relevant for modern gardeners. The text serves as both a historical record of a significant English garden and an exploration of how personal growth can parallel horticultural development. Fish's journey from novice to expert mirrors broader themes about learning through trial and error.

Readers appreciate Fish's honest, conversational tone in describing both gardening successes and failures. Many note her practical advice remains relevant decades later, particularly regarding plant placement and soil preparation. Reviews highlight her humorous accounts of disagreements with her husband about garden design. Common praise points: - Clear explanations of garden development from scratch - Useful tips for working with difficult soil conditions - Engaging personal narrative style Common criticisms: - Some dated references and British-specific content - Limited photographs/illustrations - Can be repetitive in places Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (52 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (31 reviews) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (15 reviews) Several reviewers note it's more memoir than instruction manual. One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Reading this feels like having tea with a knowledgeable gardening friend." Multiple Amazon reviews mention its value for beginning gardeners looking to understand the trial-and-error process.

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🌿 Margery Fish didn't begin gardening until age 47, after leaving her career as a London secretary, proving it's never too late to discover a passion for plants. 🏡 East Lambrook Manor, the Somerset property featured in the book, was transformed from a neglected wilderness into one of England's most influential cottage gardens. 🌺 The author coined the term "cottage garden style" and helped popularize many previously overlooked plants, including hardy geraniums and hellebores. 📝 The book was published in 1956 and remains one of the most personal and honest accounts of creating a garden, including frank admissions of mistakes and failures. 🌱 Fish's gardening philosophy of mixing ornamental and humble plants together was revolutionary for its time, challenging the formal garden designs that dominated British horticulture.