GO-TO BOOK

At first glance it’s hard to tell whether Andy Ellis’ book Kiwi Back Yard is about landscaping or sporting (and occasionally other) heroes. Well, it’s about both, and happily for those who are reading it to find out what to do with their gardens, the gardening bits are good.

At the risk of sounding like a 10-year- old, let me say I like the fact that is has big print and not too many words. There are plenty of photos, garden plans and useful information presented in bite-sized chunks. All good for those of us with a short attention span.

I will flick through this book when I’m short of an idea or need some good information on how to do something, and the Partner will read it in bed and report to me on the fact that Izzy somebody- or- other doesn’t know which flowers in his garden are the tulips, and that there’s a photo of

Sir Graham Henry smiling.