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Oh how it pains me to say (write) this review (I mean, my first ever job was working as a gardener, plus I’m now a freelance florist, so believe me, the pain cuts DEEP) but, much like the hopeful planting of seeds, not all of them, are bound to bloom quite how we imagine (does that metaphor work -who knows!)

“The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise�� to give it its full credit, is a scattered account that spans time, places and spaces. From a walled garden in Suffolk, to Adam and Eves “Eden��, Laing attempts to unearth (oop, here we go again with the metaphors) what it means to have (grow, own, and/or work) in a garden of one’s own!

Sounds delightfully promising right?

Well, you’re not wholly wrong. As there are definitely a ‘scattering of seeds�� that do ‘blossom�� (though they do also rapidly decline, due to the downpour of historical citations -more on that in a mo) Most notably when Laing writes on a more personal level. Whether that’s from her early childhood, in and amongst the gardens she knew and grew up with, or her more recent undertaking -reclaiming her new (but old) 18th century overgrown “Eden��.

However, much like the treacherous effects of the weather on a garden, the down-pouring of mind numbingly dull, historical (fictional or nonfictional) references (most of which were pretty obvious drawn associations, and didn’t really add anything new to the subject of; gardens, nature and/or Eden) overflowed to the point of pure disappointment. I also found her tangents on; land ownership, exclusion (whether class, race or gender related) and climate change (ironic considering my metaphorical rain analogy) also somewhat trite and dare I say, performative ��

Overall (and like many newbie gardeners -and even those in the biz for years too I guess) this was a humble idea on paper (or in the mind really), that sadly didn’t prosper in the wild (print?)

2.5 stars

PS ~ many thanks to the publishers for an advanced copy!
PPS ~ apologies to my fellow GR pals, for this diabolically poor review (the metaphors man, they always get me)