A book for both armchair gardeners and the more active variety. It describes the way English gardens evolved over the centuries, reflecting the social changes experienced from the earliest times to the turn of the nineteenth century. It also gives a brief history of nearly 50 of the most popular garden flowers, telling the stories behind their arrival in England and the ways we used them before they became purely ornamental. It has something to offer readers interested in: garden history, social history, botany, horticulture, wildlife-friendly gardening.