Grounding: Finding Home in a Garden

Lulah Ellender's garden in Sussex is an unruly but beloved place. After losing her mother, she is forced to leave the rented house she has made her home, but before long she finds herself back in the garden, tidying, planning, and planting. She explores the broader relationship between gardener and garden, from artistic figures such as Vita Sackville-West, Virginia Woolf, and Frida Kahlo to the long-gone inhabitants of a ruined village nearby. This book offers a deep and moving insight on motherhood, letting go, and how our gardens can help us.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Granta Books

Lulah Ellender's garden in Sussex is an untamed yet cherished haven. However, it is not solely hers to claim. Shortly after the loss of her mother, Lulah receives news that she and her family may be required to vacate the rented house they have called home. In the face of this impending upheaval, Lulah's initial reaction is to freeze, allowing her cherished plants to wither and neglect. Yet, as time passes, she finds herself drawn back to the garden, engaging in tasks such as tidying, planning, and planting—seeds sown despite the possibility that she may not witness their growth.

Drawing upon her profound connection with this small plot of land in Sussex, as well as her visits to renowned gardens like Charleston and Sissinghurst, Lulah delves into the intricate relationship between gardener and garden. She explores the ways in which nurturing the soil, cultivating plants, and attuning to the ceaseless rhythms of nature can aid us in navigating uncertainty and fostering a sense of belonging, grounding, and ultimately finding our temporal place on Earth.

This lyrical exploration unfolds in a captivating manner, offering a profound and moving insight into motherhood, letting go, and the role that our gardens can play in our lives. Through her storytelling, Lulah invites readers to embark on a journey that resonates deeply, providing a much-needed book that offers a profound and moving exploration of these themes. Alice Vincent, the author of Rootbound, praises this work, stating that it provides a deep and poignant insight into motherhood, letting go, and the transformative power of our gardens.

Weight: 414g
Dimension: 144 x 225 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783786978