Velvet Pears, by Susan Southam

It was a great pleasure some years ago to visit Foxglove Spires, the country garden Susan Southam lovingly created at Tilba Tilba on the NSW south coast

And it was lovely to renew my acquaintance with this gorgeous garden through the pages of Velvet Pears, the book Susan has written about her endeavours in turning a sheep paddock around her old house into a place admired by thousands of visitors.

A lavishly illustrated and deeply personal story, Velvet Pears is an inspirational book about family life and gardening that is also full of practical ideas.

Not just another gardening book, it captures the essence of living simply and with the seasons, within a small local community and with a sustainable lifestyle.

I'm looking forward to another visit someday. Meanwhile, I'm off to buy my own copy of this book and enjoy the loving descriptions and photos of roses, pear arbours and all manner of other lovely things - without the backbreaking work.

Rating - I give this 5/5
GREAT!!

Get this from the library
Reviewed by Jan @ Ballarat