‘It seemed a simple and interesting idea: what plants would you choose if starting a garden from scratch, given that you were only allowed to propagate them from seed? . . . The emphasis is on childish simplicity of approach, and economy of outlay.’ – James Fenton

In this light-hearted gardening book, James Fenton describes a hundred plants he would choose to grow from seed. Flowers for colour, size, or exotic interest; herbs and meadow flowers; climbing vines and tropical species… Here is a happy, stylish, thought-provoking exercise in good principles, which exudes that rare thing: common-or-garden sense about gardens.