I come from a family of keen amateur gardeners, but I did not become seriously interested in gardening until I was 15 years old, when I took over the care of the family garden in Oxfordshire. After studying Modern History at New Hall, Cambridge, I became a professional gardener, working first at The Coach House, Haseley, for Nancy Lancaster, and later at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Wisley, at the flowering bulb firm of van Tubergen, in Holland and at Arboretum Kalmthout in Belgium. I then studied for the Diploma of Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, between 1976 and 1979, and graduated with Honours. While I was still at Kew, I published my first article, in the RHS’ journal, ‘The Garden’. I have been a gardening writer ever since.

I have written for a number of national publications, most notably The Observer, The Sunday Telegraph, The Independent and, presently, The Daily Telegraph, for which I write a regular ‘think’ column, Borderlines, as well as other features. I have written a monthly column for The Spectator since 1984. I also write a regular column for The Garden, and articles for The English Garden, Gardens Illustrated, and House and Garden. I was awarded The Garden Writers’ Guild ‘Journalist of the Year’ award in 1992.

I have published 14 books on gardening, garden history and literature, garden design and gardens, to date. The first was ‘An Anthology of Garden Writing’ in 1986. In 2006, Frances Lincoln published ‘The English Garden’, with beautiful and atmospheric photographs (some 300 of them!) by Andrew Lawson, one of very finest of British garden photographers. In May, 2007, ‘Garden People: Valerie Finnis and the Golden Age of Gardening’ was published by Thames and Hudson.  I wrote the text to accompany 200 wonderful photographic images, taken by Valerie Finnis (1924-2006) over forty years from 1955; the photographs were both of plants and of the many remarkable plantsmen and women that Valerie knew. (See reviews page.)

I married in 1979, and my husband, Charles, and I moved from London to Northamptonshire the following year. We presently have a large country garden, which I use as my laboratory, as well as my relaxation and solace.

I still get a great kick out of gardening, both the practical work and creative garden design. Most of all I enjoy watching plants develop and blossom. 

When not gardening or writing, I love spending time with my husband, and our children, Emily and Tom, not to mention the two spaniels, Blunden and Velvet.