Book excerpt: “A fascinating account of formal gardens during the middle ages,” including plants and their uses, features, tools, cultivation techniques, and more (Books Monthly). Medieval gardens usually rate very few pages in the garden history books. The general perception is still of small gardens in the corner of a castle. Recent research has shown that the gardens were larger than we previously believed. This book contains information and pictures that have not been generally available before, including the theory and practice of medieval horticulture. Many features of later gardens were already a part of medieval gardens. The number of plants was limited, but was still no less than many modern gardeners use in their own gardens today. Yet medieval gardens were imbued with meaning. Whether secular or religious, the additional dimension of symbolism, gave a greater depth to medieval gardens, which is lacking in most modern ones. This book will be of interest to those who know little about medieval gardens and to those with more knowledge. It contains some of the vast amount of research that the author carried out to create the medieval gardens at the Prebendal Manor, Nassington, Northamptonshire. The author has tried to use previously unused sources and included his own practical experience of medieval gardening methods that he carried out to maintain the gardens. “Beautifully illustrated . . . a fascinating read for the armchair gardener as well as the more practical variety . . . The author draws on a wide range of sources: herbals, animal management, medieval manuals, illuminated manuscripts, account books, poems, paintings, and tapestries.” —The Ricardian Bulletin