Life chronicle of TV gardener Carol Klein, delving into her past and future plans
Carol Klein Unveils Hortobiography: A Gritty Woman's Tale of People, Places, and Plants
Carol Klein, the renowned gardener and television presenter, has penned a new memoir titled "Hortobiography: A Gritty Woman’s Tale of People, Places, and Plants." The book was released on July 21, 2025, and it promises to offer an intimate glimpse into the life of this horticulturalist, as told through the stories of gardens, plants, and people that have shaped her.
The exact publisher of the book is not explicitly mentioned in the search results, but the event promoting the memoir is hosted by Wells Festival of Literature, suggesting an official publication.
Klein's love for gardening began as a child, when she would decorate the kitchen floor soil with flowers and grow nasturtium plants. Her fondest memories include collecting seeds from the plants grown from big, fat nasturtium seeds. Today, she continues to nurture her passion for gardening, currently engrossed in reading "England’s Gardens: A Modern History" by Stephen Parker, and another unspecified book.
In her memoir, Klein shares her life story from the past to the present, including recent events such as being diagnosed with breast cancer and having a double mastectomy. She also opens up about her admiration for the writings of Richard Mabey, Christopher Lloyd, Margery Fish, Beth Chatto, Graham Greene, and Elizabeth Strangman.
Klein's garden is a testament to her love for nature, with plans to create a 'nature reserve' next door, complete with a wood, a pond, a meadow, and an extended bog garden. She enjoys visiting Ashwood Nurseries, Great Dixter, Marchants Hardy Plants, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Writing the memoir was not without its challenges. Klein found that there was too much material to fit into one book, and self-editing proved to be a daunting task. Despite these hurdles, the book was suggested by her husband, Neil.
One piece of advice Klein would like to share from the book is to garden whenever possible, encourage others to do the same, and grow one's own plants. It's a sentiment that resonates with her own gardening journey, which began with a simple passion for flowers and has blossomed into a lifelong love for nature.
References: [1] Wells Festival of Literature (2025). Carol Klein to appear at Wells Festival of Literature. [online] Available at: https://wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/carol-klein-to-appear-at-wells-festival-of-literature/ [2] The Guardian (2025). Carol Klein's new memoir, Hortobiography, to be released. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/21/carol-kleins-new-memoir-hortobiography-to-be-released
- Carol Klein's new memoir, "Hortobiography: A Gritty Woman’s Tale of People, Places, and Plants," offers an intimate look into her life as a gardener, weaving tales of gardens, plants, and people that have impacted her.
- Klein's memoir, set for release by an unspecified publisher, reveals her lifelong passion for gardening, from growing nasturtium plants as a child to her current engrossment in books like "England’s Gardens: A Modern History."
- The memoir, hosted by Wells Festival of Literature, delves into Klein's personal experiences, including her battle with breast cancer and her admiration for literary figures such as Richard Mabey, Christopher Lloyd, Margery Fish, Beth Chatto, Graham Greene, and Elizabeth Strangman.
- As a testament to her love for nature, Klein's garden is filled with various plant species, and she plans to extend it into a 'nature reserve' with a wood, a pond, a meadow, and an extended bog garden.
- In her memoir, Klein encourages readers to garden whenever possible, grow their own plants, and inspire others to do the same, reflecting her own journey from a simple interest in flowers to a lifelong love for gardening and the appreciation of nature's beauty.
