Gardening with Peter Dowdall

At the heart of his first book lies a practical DIY ethic that aims to share with readers not only his new found nature philosophy but the basic tools techniques and principles of making and maintaining a beautiful and productive garden through the seasons. It succeeds. A good fruit and veg section and one on tinctures and other remedies are a bonus...it is a timely book and particularly valuable for the less experienced gardener ~Helen Rock Royal Horticultural Society of Journal

Peter Dowdall s book prides itself on its no nonsense approach to gardening. Its strength is as a handy reference guide to keep in your kitchen and it makes a great gift for experienced gardeners. ~House Home Magazine

It took me just a single night to get fully acquainted with the style and content of Gardening with Peter Dowdall the latest from one of Cork s best known gardeners. One night in which to fully realise how cleverly he conveys information and the feelings they evoke through the medium of words. I for one should know that it is all too easy to do the job inadequately. Something more is expected of good garden writing if it is to jump up and seize the reader s imagination. It is hard to put into words exactly what this is but Peter has found exactly what is needed. Many garden writers have scripted books which suffer from too many adjectives too much sentimentality and not enough easily understood hard facts plainly written. With Peter s book you only have to read the dust jacket synopsis to see that the tome uses straightforward no nonsense language and advice along with excellent photography showing the practicalities of garden in all its aspects. Gardening with Peter Dowdall covers every aspect of modern gardening from architectural plants to evergreens and on to herbs fruit vegetables and container gardening. The book also makes mention of Peter s illness. Having fought a ten year battle with cancer he remembers the view from his hospital bed the changing seasons the way plants behave and the shortness of life itself. He has written in that kind of style and reading the sentences therein makes me want to put a line beneath all his suggestions for living and gardening for not alone consideration but re reading over and over. Pick up a copy and inspect its content; the sidebars boxed out sections highlighted panels photography format and presentation. I recommend it in advance but know you are really going to like it Gardening with Peter Dowdall is published by Cork University Press and priced at 25 ~Charlie Wilikins The Irish Examiner