Author(s): Helen Leach

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Picturesque cottage gardens, with toweringhollyhocks in front of the thatched dwellings in humble cottagers...Formal herb gardens set out in knots, with box-edged comaprtments overflowing with culinaryherbs...colourful ornamental potagers...Rambling wilderness tamed to romantic wild gardens...Are these the reality of our garden heritage or are we being decieved by a rose-tinted view? Cultivating Myths examines aspects of garden history and fashion. It traces the development of some key themes from their earliest origins to their present-day manifestations. Along with the cottage garden, the potager and the 'natural' garden, it delves into the history of the lawn., investigates walled pleasure gardens and outdoor rooms, and discusses the love-hate relationship gardeners have with variegated plants. Bringing to light the results of much fascinationg detective work on centuries-old gardening books, and illustrated with beautiful historic line drawings from original sources, Cultivating Myths is a challenging and engrossing bedside book for gardeners around the world.