Hortobiography

A lyrical and moving memoir from Carol Klein, Britain’s favourite plantswoman, told through the stories of the gardens she has loved throughout her life.

‘Have I always wanted to garden? What if I didn’t have one? It would make life difficult – I was going to say unbearable, but perhaps that is unfair to the millions of people throughout the world who cannot garden. Nonetheless, I feel gardening for me is a necessity rather than a luxury. It is part of me; it is what I do and who I am. No doubt I could survive without gardening, but it would be so hard. My family are all I could not live without, but gardening is my next raison d’atre…’

Carol Klein is one of Britain’s best loved horticulturists, and for decades gardening has been at the heart of her extraordinary life. From her childhood adventures in Manchester to her first experiments in plantswomanship at Glebe Cottage, and from training as an artist and a teacher, and then finding an entirely unexpected career as one of Britain’s most beloved television presenters, in this long-awaited memoir Carol tells the story of the people, places and plants that have shaped her life.

Exploring why our relationship with the natural worldis so important, and how it brings joy, creativity and good health to our lives, Carol also offers irresistible insights on her favourite flowers and plants, and how to help them flourish. A story of a life lived happily amongst the greenery, this book is the perfect companion for anyone who has sought solace in the natural world.

Author Biography

Carol Klein is one of the most familiar gardening experts working in the media today, famous for her regular role as a presenter on Gardeners’ World since 1998. Her natural, down-to-earth approach has made her a popular and trusted figure amongst the British public.

Carol originally studied fine art and spent many years teaching art in schools and colleges. She started gardening and running a nursery from her home in Devon, and her hobby eventually became a career. She began exhibiting at RHS shows in 1990 and went on to win gold medals at Chelsea, Hampton Court, Westminster and Malvern.
Her acclaimed TV series include Wild About the Garden, Plant Odysseys and Great British Gardens. In 2014, a 6-part series based on her own garden at Glebe Cottage, Life In a Cottage Garden, was made to accompany her book of the same title. Carol was also a part of the line up within The Great British Garden Revival, a 10-part series for the BBC, which won TV Broadcast of the Year at the Garden Media Guild Awards. Most recently, she has presented Gardening with Carol Klein and Spring Gardening with Carol Klein, both on Channel 5.

In 2023, Carol was named Iconic Horticultural Hero at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Show.