The English Garden – September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019 THE ENGLISH GARDEN 107

BOOKS

The Reviewer

A selection of the best writing on the shelves this month

The Extraordinary
Story of the Apple
by Barrie E Juniper and
David J Mabberley
Kew Publishing, £40

The humble apple, ostensibly the most
English of fruits, is actually nothing of
the sort. This fascinating tome from
Kew considers the fruit’s origins in the
wild Tian Shan mountains of Central
Asia, and then traces its spread across
Europe, the Americas and Australia to
worldwide ubiquity.
As the authors note, the secret behind
the apple’s charm oensive is the fact
that, unlike many other fruits, it stores
brilliantly, making it an important
source of nutrients over harsh winters. It
also travels well, making it a food source
for horses travelling the Silk Road,
which furthered its dispersal.
This is a long and thoughtful book by
renowned botanical experts, which
considers both the geographical history
of the apple and its influence on human
civilisation through the eras. There is
also insight into its culinary uses, the
development of grafting and the fruit’s
many appearances in folklore. Richly
illustrated throughout, this is a
comprehensive and thoughtful tome,
which will delight anyone who enjoys
the more in-depth approach.

The Pig

by Robin Hutson

Mitchell Beazley, £30

Beginning with one property in 2011,

hotelier Robin Hutson’s The Pig group

now consists of a portfolio of six hotels,

with associated kitchen and market

gardens producing around 17 tonnes of

fruit and vegetables a year. This output

forms the basis of The Pig’s fork-to-fork

ethos: what grows in the gardens soon

appears on restaurant tables.

The Pig: Tales and Recipes from the

Kitchen Garden and Beyond celebrates

this way of growing and eating. Part

cook book, part guide to The Pig way of

life, it oers a warm and energising look

at all outward-facing aspects of the hotel

chain, but for anyone who has grown a

courgette or two, it is the gardens that

are of most interest here.

Head gardener Ollie Hutson, who

regularly features in The English

Garden, oers advice on subjects such

as using polytunnels, crop rotation and

growing herbs. From the chefs there are

many recipes, all of which have their

roots in the hotel’s productive gardens

and what can be foraged nearby.

For serious gardening advice, you

might prefer to look elsewhere, but for a

jolly romp and an escape from daily life,

this could be just the ticket.

A Year in My Garden

by Jacqueline van der Kloet

Hélène Lesger Books £35

Dutch designer and plant specialist

Jacqueline van der Kloet may not be so

very well known on these shores – but

perhaps she should be. A contemporary

of Piet Oudolf, whose own influence on

contemporary English planting cannot

be underestimated, she is part of the

great tradition of Dutch gardening

which has been at the forefront of local

practice since the time of the Dutch East

India Company and William and Mary.

Four years in the making, A Ye a r

in My Garden tells the tale of her

garden, De Theetuin in Weesp, over 12

months. Instead of a pedestrian diary

format, this is an inspiring gathering

of experiences woven together with

the kind of plant knowledge that can

be accumulated only through years

of work. Thoughts on working with

Keukenhof, Martha Stewart and

Disneyland are balanced by the passing

of the seasons in the garden, highlighted

most eectively in 12 sets of garden

scenes photographed across the year.

This work is packed with specialist

insight delivered in a supportive and

engaging way, while a clear layout and

judicious use of large images help make

this an absorbing read.