To see an unimproved meadow in bloom is a great delight – the community of flowers and grasses is rich and colourful as are the butterflies, moths and other fauna that go with it. No wonder, then, with the biodiversity of our countryside fast disappearing, that meadow gardening has become fashionable and a book on the subject is so timely. No one could tackle the subject of wild gardening in grass like Christopher Lloyd, whose celebrated garden at Great Dixter includes the flower-studded lawns and orchards admired by countless visitors and television viewers. In Meadows, he explores the development and management of established meadow areas, ways of starting from scratch in a garden setting and the hundreds of beautiful grasses, bulbs and colourful perennials that thrive in different conditions.
Lloyd’s own experimental prairie is a springboard to discussing North American prairies and the plants that provide swathes of color in late summer and interest into winter. He also explores wider issues --- roadsides and the enrichment of green areas in the urban landscape.
Only Lloyd has the depth of knowledge to unravel such an intriguing aspect of gardening, to convey the excitement and rewards of these grasslands. Filled with hundreds of specially commissioned photographs show-casing the variety and beauty of meadows, this book provides a captivating guide for anyone wishing to preserve pasturelands, cultivate native species and attract wildlife to their gardens.
