Literature Festival for Gardeners

The Garden Museum’s Festival of Garden Literature took place last weekend, comprising of two days of discussions, focusing on the connection between gardens and wider culture. The theme of this year’s garden festival was “A friend, A Book, A Garden” – taken from a John Evelyn letter.

Over 100 attendees enjoyed varied contributions and interesting debate including Robin Lane Fox discussing the early Christians and their shifting moral stance on gardens. Art historian Andrew Wilton spoke about gardens and the famed artist JMW Turner, whilst nature writer Richard Mabey talked about the history of walled gardens.

Without doubt the festival was attended by those who find gardening contemplative – an art form and a cultural force.

The festival took place at Lord and Lady Egremont’s private garden on the south side of Petworth House, Sussex. Lady Egremont spoke about her pride and joy, her walled flower garden, her own creation.

Image courtesy of The Telegraph