The Book of Old-Fashioned Flowers
And Other Plants Which Thrive in the Open-Air of England
"The Book of Old-Fashioned Flowers" by Harry Roberts is a gardening handbook written in the early 20th century. This guide aims to teach horticulturists, particularly novices, the principles of successfully cultivating hardy, traditional flowering plants that flourish outdoors in England. With a focus on old-fashioned varieties, the book evokes nostalgia for the beloved blooms often found in charming cottage gardens and vicarage settings. The opening of the book sets the tone by acknowledging the importance of practical experience in gardening while asserting that intelligent readers can benefit greatly from well-written guides. Roberts emphasizes the appeal of informal gardens filled with a mix of flourishing, old-fashioned flowers, contrasting them with the rigid and artificial designs often seen in more formal gardens. He introduces the notion that true beauty in gardening comes not just from a careful arrangement of plants, but from the harmonious growing of flowers that feel naturally at home in their environment, each contributing to a sense of peace and relaxation in one’s garden space.