Spring has sprung
Spruce up your garden – or bring the outside in, says Charlotte Heathcote
Field, Flower, Vase: Arranging And Crafting With Seasonal Blooms Chelsea Fuss
(Abrams, £21.99)
The author of this beautiful coffee-table book has worked as a florist and stylist for more than 20 years, but after moving to a little village, she discovered the joy of foraging for wild flowers, and her book explores ways to make creative seasonal arrangements.
Chelsea loves “unruly and primitive” bouquets, so she urges us to embrace imperfection, to include vines and weeds, and to cherish flowers past their peak.
Amid canny advice about looking to nature for inspiration, she explains how to tell if shop flowers are fresh and how to revive wilting flowers. She also shares the basics of dried flowers and making wreaths. It’s a beautiful book abloom with inspiration.
New Nordic Gardens: Scandinavian Landscape Design Annika Zetterman
(Thames & Hudson, £25) Although we have long celebrated the stylish interiors of Scandinavia, here the most inspiring gardens of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland take centre stage. Scandinavian gardens seek to be natural and sustainable, striving for simplicity, and drawing on their nations’ celebrated design history. Tailored to survive in varied weather and long winters, these are supremely smart, minimal gardens where ornamental grasses provide structure and contrast beautifully with elegant blooms in muted palettes. Annika shares an abundance of modern ideas that will work a treat in our own climate.
My House Plant Changed My Life David Domoney
(DK, £9.99)
David Domoney explains how houseplants boost mental wellbeing, combat the ill effects of the tech that surrounds us, and improve air quality. He then suggests 50 plants that will also improve the look of your living space and explains how to ensure they thrive, from the aromatic Madagascar jasmine, a beautiful indoor climber, to the red-veined prayer plant, all of them transforming a house into a home.
The Windowsill Gardener
Liz Marvin, illustrated by Annie Davidson (Michael O’mara, £9.99) You don’t need a garden to be a gardener, says Liz Marvin, just a windowsill, a kitchen counter or a bookshelf. You don’t even need to spend money, as you can grow plants from cuttings, then pot them in tin cans. In this compact book, she picks 50 easy-to-grow plants to brighten your home or perk up your meals, and explains how best to nurture vegetables, from tomatoes to herbs, house plants and succulents.
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