This book was a joy to write, not least because Flora and I share a passion for plants and a belief that gardens are good for you. Researching the Arts & Crafts period and its properties has made such places a favourite and I hope to visit more in the future. I stand in awe of those whose skill and vision first brought these gardens to life. Thank you to all horticulturists who continue to care for gardens both past and present, and ensure that they reflect their history whilst looking to the future.
Thank you to Audrey and Andrea, good friends and writers, who are always there to offer encouragement, support and much laughter. Zoom is brilliant but bring on the champagne in the garden!
Thank you to Susan Yearwood, Emily Bedford and the team at Canelo, and Katrina Power. Your insight, support and guidance makes all the difference. Everything that looks beautiful on my website and social media was designed by Katie Birks; thank you for your vision, creativity and skill, I so appreciate the work you do. Anna Caig has taught me much and is a brilliant advocate for writers. Thank you, I can’t wait to read your book!
Thank you to Irene, Becca and Jen, wonderful betas once again, for being so enthusiastic about this book and Mac especially! Having readers who enjoy my characters and their stories is such a pleasure, and I’m thankful for each one.
So many thanks to Clare, who increased my plant knowledge considerably and shared your own so readily. For every garden you designed, there are more plants and trees in the world and that’s a wonderful legacy. To Kev and Dave, whose different skills are renowned and complement one another brilliantly. Thank you both, you quite literally made my job so much easier and a whole lot funnier. Flora would love to have you on her team!
To my mum Irene, a gardener for as long as I can remember. Wherever we went, you were always able to create a garden, however unpromising the plot, and I appreciated even then the pleasure to be found amongst it. More than I realised has filtered down over the years!
To Stewart and Fin, thank you both, as ever. To Stewart especially for that wonderful, surprise, 600-mile round trip to Scotland. I loved every moment and the insight it brought to my research, as well as the understanding of two very special properties and their period of design.
To paraphrase Flora in the book, it doesn’t matter about the size of the space you have to grow plants or create a garden. Whether it’s a balcony or a courtyard, a windowsill or a wall, a huge plot or something in between. What really matters is what you do with it and how it makes you feel to be amongst it. Setting out on a journey with plants and a garden is a wonderful thing, and I hope that doing so may bring you much pleasure and peace.