Elizabeth Macarthur sailed into the fledgling settlement of New South Wales in 1790, after an horrific voyage from England. As a comfort and a way to evoke home in this distant and foreign land, Elizabeth set about to create her remembered garden, filling it with roses and oak trees. Edna Walling came to gardening in the 1950s, and was immediately captivated with the natural landscape and our indigenous plants and was a leading proponent of the Australian native garden.
'Remembered Gardens' is the story of these and a further six women whose passion for their gardens and gardening have shaped our relationship with the Australian landscape. Meticulously researched through personal records and public archives, Holly Kerr Forsyth brings to life these women’s experiences. Their challenging and sometimes tragic stories are set against the backdrop of their gardens which provided them with sanctuary and a way to express themselves in this often hostile environment.
Beautifully illustrated, 'Remembered Gardens' features more than two hundred photographs of some of Australia’s foremost gardens. It is a joyful commemoration of more than two hundred years of gardening in Australia and of the role of women in establishing our rich gardening heritage. A book to be enjoyed by everyday gardeners – both men and women – and lovers of Australian gardens.
