Gardens can have many different functions: some exist to provide food or medicines, some for pleasure and recreation, while others serve to proclaim their owners' status, wealth and taste. People garden for a variety of reasons, and The Scottish Gardener looks at herbalists, plant collectors, nurserymen, botanists, artists and gardener's gardens. It explores monastic gardens, royal gardens, walled gardens and town and village gardens historically up to the present day. By focusing on sixty out of the thousands of Scottish gardens, this book asks if there is a distinctive tradition of Scottish gardening, how this has developed over time, and how it has been shaped by the climate, conflicts and changing fashions. The emphasis is very much on how gardeners stamp their own character on their gardens, so it is private not public gardens which are featured here. Information is given on visiting the gardens. The Scottish Gardener is illustrated throughout with Ray Cox's stunning colour photographs.