Customer Reviews

Green Grows the City: The Story of a London Garden

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I've read the Nichols' trilogy ('Merry Hall', 'Sunlight on the Lawn', 'Laughter on the Stairs') and recommmend them all, but I enjoyed this one the most. Maybe that's because I live in an urban area, have a small odd-shaped yard, a cat and two dogs, and nutty neighbors. I'm always looking for ways to make my garden more private, overcome awkward features, and squeeze in more and more plants. This little book is a 'history' of how Nichols accomplished just that. He took an odd shaped city lot and turned it into a pretty little garden overcoming all sorts of obstacles including a very nosy neighbor. As I read this book, I kept thinking why leave--even if the move was to Merry Hall. I suppose a gardener can only arrange and dig up the yard so many times before the need to seek new ground arises. If you want some ideas about how to deal with your little urban plot until you move to your country estate, read this book. It's filled with cats, friends, flowers and laughter, and a great read before bedtime.

As far as I'm concerned Beverly Nichols is one of the most under-rated authors of his time. All his gardening books are paradoxically timeless while instilling a sense of period. The comedy is tinged with tragedy as was Bev's life.

This book is a laugh a minute. Being a city person, I attempted to read this on the train, only to be greeted by strange looks from people sitting next to me as I laughed.

Green Grows tells the story of the ultimate "problem" garden, as can only be told by the highbrow, snobbish Beverley Nichols. It was a "problem" only because Beverley wouldn't let good enough alone. He had to have the perfect garden. While never actually getting his hands dirty, we stand beside him as he explores ways to shape his triangular back garden, install a domed greenhouse, deal with new neighbors, and still manage to take care of his cats.

In Beverley's world, turning his garden into something beautiful, despite its awkward shape, is the most important thing in the world. He spares no expense and calls his contractor in at all hours, as well as making his gardener plant and move shrubs several times...as if he were arranging pictures on a wall. All this despite the fact that a war was about to begin...didn't matter a lick to him.

Additionally comic is his relationship with his neighbor down the street. In a classic Nichols fashion, he again is vexed with the nosey neighbor. His interaction with her is an additional bonus to the reader. This book is priceless.

A must for garden lovers. Mr. Nichols has a way of luring you into his life and home. After all these years his books are still enchanting, educational. A delightful read. Why did we have to wait so long!