Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities today and most people take it for granted that suitable plants, equipment and information are easily available. This was not always the case. Anne Wilkinson's engaging book recreates the world of amateur Victorian gardeners – those who had no idea how to start gardening, and no information to help them. In the 1860s gardening was mainly the preserve of professionals who worked on large estates, but a new breed of gardeners was emerging – ordinary householders. Their gardens range from country cottage and rectory gardens to urban gardens behind terraced houses. With no help from the professionals – who refused to believe that gardens in towns were a practical possibility – those innovators laid down the foundations for modern amateur gardening as it is today. This book, richly illustrated with images from contemporary magazines and other sources, explores their journey to create their own piece of England's 'green and pleasant land'.

"The Book of Town & Window Gardening" by Frances A. Bardswell was a useful resource for people who were interested in gardening but found themselves without the open space of the country. First, explaining the difference between cut flowers and plants purchased to grow, the book goes on to explain what varieties can thrive in town and city landscapes and the surrounding suburban towns. Barsdwell's book allowed men and women around the world the chance to have thriving gardens of their own.

This 1904 volume by R. Brotherston and Martin Smith is a practical guide to the history, cultivation, and care of carnations.

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