Meadows at Great Dixter and Beyond (A Pimpernel Garden Classic)

I'm letting one of my smallish lawns run to "meadow" and after a year or so wanted some advice/suggestions.Christopher Lloyd's book was useful on a number of fronts:1. Great picture book that illustrates what can be achieved and is very encouraging for anyone setting out on what is a surprisingly long term project.2.Clear understanding of what he was trying to achieve which is hugely helpful in deciding what you want ie something that looks like: a cornfield (relatively high fertility in soil, mostly annuals poppies, corncockle etc planted each year, no permanent grass); or,a prairie (permanent grassland, poor fertility, some of our favourite border perennials such as camassia etc) or,an actual meadow (permanent grass/sod but with more traditional English plants growing through.3. Quite an old-fashioned view of gardening in today's terms with a focus on what works in practical terms; none of this "let it grow on it's own, let weeds develop" but rather more instructions on how to plant into the grass (or clear it to seed) and actively manage those plants you don't want4. A very useful list of plants that he'd tried and succeeded with in planting through his own meadows each in rather different circumstances, aspect, wet/dry etc. Also a useful discussion around how often to cut and when.Arrived on time and in good condition

A well received tome on one of the greatest gardens in England, makes one want to visit again, alas in these strange times of COVID-19 that is prevalent at the time of writing makes this not possible. Still the excellently produced book brings the garden to us in its own way.

Just fantastic. Christopher Lloyd was (is) a genius of our gardening times. Both erudite and fun, he writes with the pleasant expectation that one is not a fool, nor a complete beginner, and shares his joy and knowledge with us. Essential reading if you are contemplating a meadow - of any size.

It's the photography that makes this book for me.Ethereal - as a garden can be.

Excellent insight into the meadows at Great Dixter and beyond. Something that Christo was very proud of. Highly recommended.