Sissinghurst. Vita Sackville-West. The White Garden. Renowned all over the world and top of the gardens to visit in England, it is the one garden all gardeners and many, many non-gardeners know of, synonymous with the ideal of English gardening. Now owned by the National Trust, it was extensively redesigned by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in the 1930s and passed on, on her death in 1962, to her son Nigel. Forced by financial hardship to give it up, he transferred it to the National Trust for safekeeping. From its early formal days to its later, laxer, more relaxed days during the 1950s, it has been a place of magical wonder to all who visit. Not least garden writer and photographer Tony Lord, who here examines the planting schemes that make it so successful and appealing in a fantastically lavish photographic celebration. With ideas and inspiration galore, there are many Sissinghurst schemes that can be transferred to our own gardens with plant associations and colour schemes for all aspects, tastes and garden situations. Clearly labelled photographs and informatively written text make this an indispensable guide to one of the world's greatest gardens. - Lucy Watson
