39 Comments

That was such a good interview. I love India’s writing and her Substack, both new to me but not anymore thanks to you, Jo. You both are so generous and I love the eclectic content of both your stacks. Like visiting with really good, interesting friends

Expand full comment

Absolutely !!

Expand full comment

How fabulous India , thoroughly enjoyed this read about your journey into gardening !😊

Expand full comment

Hi Rosie! Glad you enjoyed it - isn't India just brilliant? I love her writing

Expand full comment

Loved this Jo!

Expand full comment

Credit where credit's due, Farrah - your fabulous interview series inspired this..

https://farrah.substack.com/p/plough-your-own-furrow

Expand full comment

Oh my gosh I love this Jo! It's the first I've seen of these interviews. It's so nice to read other people's gardening journeys! And should you ever be looking for an interviewee for these questions please accept this as me throwing my hat in. I would so love to answer these! Being in my garden and growing things is my number one favourite activity above all others 🌱

Expand full comment

Leyla you've made my day as I was wondering if you'd be up for it!

Expand full comment

100%!!

Expand full comment

Gardening is one of the times where I miss my mother who sadly died over 20 years ago. She was very knowledgeable about plants and knew the Latin names for everything. I’m not even sure how she learned about gardening - we always had gardens, and of course there was the WI! Looking forward to this Substack.

Expand full comment

Bittersweet memories - the garden holds so many of these for us. It’s something I’m currently writing about and will share soon x it’s fascinating how people learned - but I agree the best way is by doing, by being out there and being surrounded by the knowledge of others

Expand full comment

Great article. I think it mirrors most people's experiences when they come to gardening later in life. It all seems baffling at first with all the Latin and rules about what flowers where and in what season and then the realisation to stop worrying too much, go with the flow of the seasons and just make mistakes and learn from them.

Expand full comment

I’ve a draft post on Gardener’ Latin but it keeps getting pushed down the pile by more exciting things!

Expand full comment

What a generous garden and inspiring. I want a groaning table of vegetables like that this summer!

Expand full comment

I find the description of a garden as “generous” quite wonderful and lovely.

Expand full comment

It is isn't it?

Expand full comment

Same! That’s the dream - a truly bountiful table

Expand full comment

Very enjoyable read. I enjoy this ladies writing anyway. I enjoyed her book extolling the exuberance of shopping then I enjoyed her book about the fun challenge of being broke and getting by with ingenuity. A positive spirit. Thanks to first book I discovered the novels of Zola,and since I now have Paris entwined into my life (unplanned and unexpectedly) it's good to "see" that city back in time,as it were.

Expand full comment

I agree - India’s books are great reads. I’ve got the latest one and it’s incredibly useful

Expand full comment

What a lovely read, thank you 🙏

Expand full comment

I enjoyed it too!

Expand full comment

Such beautiful colours to see when it’s rather grey and sludgy outside.

Expand full comment

And I love that striped jug too

Expand full comment

Loved that

Expand full comment

Margery Fish is my gardening heroine too. Have nearly all her books and enjoy re-reading them. Loved the sound of India’s garden, photos were lovely, a reminder of what is to come.

Expand full comment

India has inspired me to re-read Margery Fish's work

Expand full comment

How glorious to see some summer and sunshine - a real garden treat.

Expand full comment

Absolutely what was needed

Expand full comment

Lovely peek into the process of becoming a gardener.

Expand full comment

Isn't lovely? And reassuring, and fascinating...

Expand full comment

Those hollyhocks against the pink wall - sublime! Thanks Jo and thank you so much India for allowing us to see a glimpse of your gardening journey. I had no interest in gardening at all until I had my own garden aged 27. Knowing where to begin is so daunting isn’t it? But, the possibilities are endless and the utter joy it brings, even from happy mistakes, is unquantifiable.

Expand full comment

So interesting how we're all 'latecomers' to gardening

Expand full comment

I started aged five,mentored by my Dad,and strange is fate,I've never OWNED a garden.

Expand full comment

How lucky, to have that had that mentoring - I imagine the lessons stay with you

Expand full comment

Very much so! I find it supremely difficult to drive past a plant nursery now. The amount of times I’ve had to do a uey!

Expand full comment