The Grove: A Nature Odyssey in 19 ½ Front Gardens

The book is as describe and an interesting read .

You don't have to be a keen gardener to enjoy this rather enchanting book. Ben Dark wears his detailed knowledge of the history of gardening and plants lightly, in a book that is well written, informative, but also entertaining, with humorous personal touches. It will make a good present for many of my friends and families who like gardens and gardening.

This book heroes 20 commonly found plants growing in the front gardens of one road in London. Ben’s observations in Grove Park – such as hollyhocks growing at number 92 being ‘serotonin for the summer soul’ – are insightful and full of joy. Ben takes us with him as he walks up and down the street in all weathers and seasons, often with his baby in tow.The book is much more than the sum of the 20 plants and the front gardens they call home. He cleverly uses the front gardens as a vehicle to share both local and botanical history. The Grove is packed full of fascinating facts and quotes from relevant poems, books and journals. It’s very carefully researched, and in each chapter, whilst Ben starts with a single plant, he takes us to a much bigger world that unfurls like a beautiful flower as you turn the pages.His career as a gardener enables him to give a wider perspective. In the chapter about the rose, he observes, “The need to do causes more damage in gardens than benign neglect ever has.” He shares snippets of his experiences gardening for others, including the very wealthy.I lived in London for a decade, in two flats, two maisonettes and in a small townhouse. My routes to and from work would always take the most botanical route possible. The seasonal highlights shone out like beacons in a world of concrete and tarmac. Spring was astounding. The parks decorated with cherry blossoms and houses draped in wisteria were a much-needed balm. Thank you, Ben, for taking me back there and reminding me of the joy plants brought to my life as I walked around the city and overcame physical and mental health challenges. Having grown up living next to a garden centre, London was a shock to the system. The plants were a connection to home, colours and scents dialled up as they nestled against their grey, urban backdrop.I was given a free copy of the book in return for an honest review by Random Things Tours.

What a treat. this is no ordinary gardening book. Ben Dark takes you on a journey through the front gardens on one residential street in London, exploring a different horticultural delight through the course of a single year. In addition you are treated to some history, philosophy and poetry. Well worth a read for gardeners and non gardeners.

An utter delight. Very human, very beautiful, very well written. This book is great when focused on plants of our gardens but could stand shoulder to shoulder with the UK’s very best nature writing. An unexpected gem and a joy to read

The interwoven history of people and plants and general observations is informative and presented in a way that makes reading this book feel like a mindfulness exercise. The beautiful illustration on the front cover is just right and my only disappointment was that there were not more similarly coloured pictures within the book.

The Grove is a charming read. A warm-hug of a book, perfect for Sunday afternoons. It includes delightful plant sketches by Skevoulla Gordon.Come take a stroll with Head Gardener Ben Dark through the front gardens of Grove Park, London. Through 19 1/2 gardens, 19 plants and his personal and professional reminisces, we explore the plants that have shaped British gardens. Our journey takes us through the seasons and the life cycles of plants, as we explore plant history and fashions in flora and gardening in different decades, all through the passionate horticulturist's eyes.Don't worry, you don't need to know a lot about plants or gardening to enjoy The Grove, (I certainly don't!) but you will, perhaps, get a little more out of it.I found Dark's enthusiasm and admiration infectious. I marvelled with him as he discussed the wonders of particular flowers and trees. I enjoyed his gentle sense of humour. He has a real talent; I found it both amusing when he said that "Gardeners are quick to gnarl," and yet he also made me reconsider the way we view the world as he went on to question how we appreciate age and character in plants and other things, and yet not in ourselves. Why is this?I loved how he calculated wages in "tulips an hour" and conjured a different reckoning of wealth, because, if we are better off now, why don't we plant more tulips? What is wealth?I enjoyed his different perspectives on the world and how thought-provoking I found his ideas. I heartily agreed when he pointed out how, "Universe-wide grass is far more scarce than diamonds or uranium...Metal can be got from any solar system, a blade of grass is near miraculous." It really emphasised to me how often we under appreciate nature. How have we come to decide what is valued, and what is not?*Thank you to Random Things Tours, Ben Dark and Octopus Books for the gifted review copy.

A great book with fascinating insights into some well known plants, plus historical and interesting local information

A definite cut above the usual old garden advice and cliched observations. Smart, compassionate, well read, but very down-to-earth, Ben Dark is a great writer with a unique and engaging point of view. Makes you look at everyday horticulture in a whole new light. Loved this book!

Smart, funny, interesting connections, made me think about gardening and gardens in a different way. Great read!