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Growing to a Ripe Old Age

50 Years in the Garden

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Growing to a Ripe Old Age

By: Edward Enfield
Narrated by: Bill Wallis
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About this listen

Edward Enfield has only ever had one garden, but his dealings with it have extended over half a century. He came to his three quarters of an acre knowing nothing about growing anything, and this book is an account of his horticultural successes and failures, inventions and frustrations, discoveries and developments. With wry humour, he leads us through the thorny subject of roses, counts the blessings of keeping chickens, and exposes the perfidy of gardening copywriters, while offering wise and witty tips on how best to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

©2011 Edward Enfield (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Gardening & Horticulture Politics & Government United States World Witty
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Wonderfully English, calm, witty and wise with gentle humour. Bill Wallis, with his art of reading with emphasis and dry humour in all the right places is the icing on the cake. Mr Enfield is the knowledgeable companion I'd like to garden with, he tells you all the things from his experience that you wish you'd known years ago, and shares it generously and with warmth. I can't rate this audio book highly enough.

Wonderful Gem of a Book.

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If you could sum up Growing to a Ripe Old Age in three words, what would they be?

Pleasant summer ramblings

What was one of the most memorable moments of Growing to a Ripe Old Age?

His wife and the bonfires

Have you listened to any of Bill Wallis’s other performances? How does this one compare?

no

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me want to get out into the garden but with a comfy chair and a glass or two of something chilled.

Any additional comments?

If you like this try a book titled One man and his dig.

a peaceful book

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The recently released audiobook, Growing to a Ripe Old Age: 50 Years in the Garden, by Edward Enfield, is a delightful, witty and very humorous work which regales us with anecdotes of 50 years of gardening in his ‘rather large’ 3/4acre garden. Edward Enfield (father of comedian Harry Enfield) was a British Assistant Director of Education before making a life change, in 1994, to work as a radio and television presenter, newspaper columnist and author of radio plays, travel diaries and autobiographical works. His latest work, this gardening reminiscence, is built on the “successes and failures, inventions and frustrations that have brought the garden to its current very satisfactory state”. Enfield starts by admitting that his main gardening management strategy is ‘delegation’ and the tales that follow indicate delegation to both his wife and a series of professional gardeners at different times! Each chapter takes a wry look at significant gardening subjects such as roses – the process of planting a rose comes after the process of choosing it; the minimalist garden – I never thought of anything along this line until it was too late; enemies and strategies – there are two main types of wasp killer, the one that works and the one that doesn’t; the herbaceous border – a present from each to the other for their 50th wedding anniversary, (along with a professional gardener to look after it); and more. On the subject of ‘organic’ gardening he is quick to point out that even the early proponents of the natural approach were not averse to the “slaughtering of insects, on a large scale”, and goes on to give the recommended recipe for nicotine insect spray (how can this be so very different to just using DDT!). His exclamation on the horrors of “the netting and grinding up of fish to make a fertiliser we can very well do without” is quite hilarious.

Growing to a Ripe Old Age... is also available in print but the charm of this story is in the telling.

Gardening with Edward Enfield ?? - Delightful!!

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I have read several books by Edward Enfield and enjoyed all they offer both a good story and are never short of a dry witty remark.

very enjoyably.

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I found this a delight to listen to and funny throughout. The gardening tips , advice and ideas were great.

Funny and informative

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