The Seasons and the Gardener was first published in 1940 as one in a series of Cambridge children's books related to the natural world. H. E. Bates provides a beautifully written account of the British garden in its interaction with the seasons. This is combined with a large number of illustrations by the renowned naturalistic artist C. F. Tunnicliffe. In exploring the various aspects of gardening the book manages to retain a broadly educational approach, whilst conveying this information in a highly readable, personal style. This is a delightful document of its time, which explores the idea of the garden as a place of refuge in an increasingly mechanical world.

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction, and Some Explanations; Part II. Spring: 1. The flower garden; 2. The rock garden; 3. The greenhouse; 4. The vegetable garden; 5. Seed sowing; Part III. Summer: 6. Weather changes; 7. Enemies and friends; 8. Birds; 9. Full summer; 10. Part IV. A change in the light; 11. Autumn colour and autumn seed; 12. Saving seeds; 13. Preparing for winter; 14. First frosts; Part V. Winter: 15. Winter flowers; 16. Tools; 17. Catalogues; 18. From winter to spring; 19. A last word.