From the early misfortunes of Eve, condemning her descendants to a dubious reputation for fruit management, to the acclaimed successes of plant breeders such as the eccentric Ellen Willmott who combined bankruptcy with iris breeding, the fortunes of the female gardener have been as varied as their roles.
From the sixteenth-century housewife, who neatly sidestepped accusations of herbal witchcraft while working her plot, to the unconventional Ladies of Llangollen, who eloped together and created their gothic garden, A History of Women in the Garden showcases the female hortaculturists through the centuries. It is an enjoyable, enlightening and entertaining read, and one that will allow the reader to gain fresh enthusiasm for even the most menial of garden tasks, realising that hundreds of women have trod the garden path before.
