An inspiring and life-affirming story of a difficult childhood transformed into happy adulthood through the power of nature and gardens

Beloved author Marc Hamer writes about finding refuge in his tiny back garden in this highly original story of childhood, old age, and the restorative power of gardens. As a child, he kindled a deep love of the earth by watching plants and insects and exploring the world through a stack of old encyclopaedias he found in the shed. Now an old man, he creates a garden for himself in the neglected plot behind his house.

A little book with a big heart: the insights glow as vivid as a flowerbed. If you want to be inspired, or you've lost your belief in the goodness of this world, this could be for you.

'A sublime meditation on life, love, nature and family, woven with the wisdom gained through a life well lived' Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell

'Patterned with Hamer's gifts for observation, compression, and tone' New Yorker

'Rich and tender' New York Times

'A book of great but tender power' Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast