Ian August was set to retire from his position as the Factor for Northumberland Alnwick Estates when the Duchess asked for his help with a new project. The Duchess of Northumberland s vision was to create a beautiful public space accessible to everyone. Eight years later, the project has become Alnwick Garden. This is the story of one woman s stubborn crusade to realize her dream, told by the man who has been by her side since the beginning. Throughout, August documented the garden s creation, and before-and-after photos record the progress of the largest Tree House in the world, the Poison Garden, the Cascade, David Austen s Rose Garden, and many other of the garden s pleasures."
Combining the fascinating archive of the first Duchess of Northumberland with the expertise of Jane, the present duchess and the creator of the famous Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle, this gift book contains a collection of wonderful medicinal recipes passed down through generations. The reader will learn the secrets of the poisonous and curative properties of these plants and the more unusual varieties that have been cultivated and planted for centuries, and will discover how 'to make teethe whyte' and how 'to make heare growe'. Beautifully illustrated, The Duchess of Northumberland's Little Book of Poisons, Potions and Aphrodisiacs is the ideal gift for those with an interest in the wild plants of Britain, and for those with an interest in poisons and potions... The Duchess of Northumberland was responsible for the £35 million restoration of the 12 acres of walled garden at Alnwick Castle, which now includes the largest treehouse in the world and the famous Poison Garden. The Poison Garden remains one of the few places to have obtained permission from the Home Office to grow cannabis, opium poppies and catha edulis for display.
The second original, touching, twisted, and most of all hilarious novel for children from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country – beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake.
“An extraordinary collection of 21st-century gardens that will arouse wanderlust… Whether you are a garden globetrotter or an armchair explorer, this book is definitely one to add to your collection.” —Gardens Illustrated A steep hillside oasis in Singapore, a garden distinguished by shape and light in Marrakech, a haunting tree museum in Switzerland—these are just a few of the extraordinary outdoor havens visited in Gardenlust. In this sumptuous global tour of modern gardens, intrepid plant expert Christopher Woods spotlights 50 gardens that push boundaries and define natural beauty in significant ways. Featuring both private and public gardens, this journey makes its way from the Americas and Europe to Australia and New Zealand, with stops in Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Along the way, you'll learn about the people, plants, and stories that make these iconic gardens so lust-worthy. As inspiring as it is insightful, Gardenlust will delight your passion for garden inspiration—and the many places it grows.
"The Alnwick Garden was designed for every season - from fragrant roses to mirror-polished water features, there is always something to admire" The Alnwick Garden is one of the most exciting contemporary gardens to be developed anywhere in the world in the last 100 years and has become the third most visited garden in the United Kingdom in the 10 years since it opened. Its centrepiece is the Grand Cascade, a magnificent tumbling mass of water surrounded by cool hornbeam arbours. This leads to the geometric Ornamental Garden, with inviting pathways bordered by lavender and fruit trees. The fragrant Rose Garden, the mysterious Bamboo Labyrinth, the grim, locked Poison Garden and the huge and magnificent Tree House - all are linked by a network of green shapes and brought to life by water features. The flowing landscape that results is a fascinating sequence of quiet and busy spaces, full of surprises and delights. The Alnwick Garden is being created byJacques and Peter Wirtz, celebrated international garden designers from Belgium. In design terms it is fair to say that The Alnwick Garden pushes the boundaries, and this is due in no small part to the Duchess of Northumberland herself, who has always believed that almost anything is possible if you get the right people involved. Her original concept was to produce a garden design framework and then to bring in the specialists, the experts, the best in their field, to ensure that each individual garden and concept was cutting edge in terms of both design and technology. SELLING POINTS: THE ALNWICK GARDEN provides an up-to-the- minute season-by-season guide to an exciting contemporary garden in Northumberland Includes over 70 specially commissioned photos to illustrate Alnwick's richness and variety ILLUSTRATIONS: 70 colour
Are you ready to learn something new? The 2nd volume in the Knowledge Stew Guide series continues the quest to find the most interesting facts in the world. Take a journey through topics that range from science, history, and geography to food, entertainment, and business and learn the facts behind the facts. Discover things you might not have known about the moon, or why we're taller in the morning and shorter at night. Find out about a strange amusement park, a secret vault at Mt. Rushmore, or the world's most expensive coffee. These things, plus plenty more, are waiting for your brain to take them in. Just don't forget your spoon. For even more facts, check out Volume 1 of Knowledge Stew: The Guide to the Most Interesting Facts in the World.
