A garden in the hills: a tale of selling up, digging in and growing things

by Christine McCabe

A Garden in the Hills charts the arrival of Christine McCabe from the inner west of Sydney and a courtyard garden of mostly dead plants, to The Oaks, a circa 1870 homestead and sprawling garden in the beautiful Adelaide Hills.Six weeks after Christine and her young, utterly urban family move into their new home, their new six-acre garden is due to open to the public as part of Australia's Open Garden Scheme. What follows is the story of a rank amateur thrown in at the deep end, attempting to master lawns, giant hedges and sprawling flower beds before she's had time to unpack... or buy a garden hose.Delightful, amusing and meditative, A Garden in the Hills takes you on a journey of discovery of the joys of gardening, and the beauty of the Adelaide Hills.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Christine McCabe is a highly regarded travel writer for The Australian. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband and two young sons.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, to have a six-acre garden ... and the money ... and the energy ... and the time ... and the helpers ... to truly enjoy it! ... lol She made me want to have her experiences which, of course, will never happen to me, but all-in-all, not a bad book about acquiring a love of gardening.

3 Stars = Okay. Not sorry I read it.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up where we were staying in the Adelaide Hills. The sort of gardening book that is also about family moving and life in general. You can dip in and out and it’s always satisfying. Christine McCabe is N accomplished journalist and her chapters happily stand alone or work well as a book. A great guide to the Adelaide Hills for those who like the stories behind the places they’re visiting.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a travel writer and it shows in the easy to read, evocative style of this tree-change experience. Enough to inspire gardeners and non-gardeners to make a move from suburbia to a large garden. The Adelaide Hills sound idyllic with its small communities, historic homes, gardens, artisan food producers and more. The book is wisely about more than just the author's garden and also covers her friendships in the community, family, settling into a more nature-focused life, and the rhythms of the seasons. A great example of the "life in my garden" genre.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book for anyone interested gardening, local history or perhaps food. If you are from Adelaide and know the hills quite well you will be able to visualise your way through the book, and like me may learn some little known "secrets" about gardens to visit, places to eat etc. Nice easy read, blending the facts about a family making a hills "sea change" and a tourists guide to the Adelaide hills.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a fellow Adelaidean (and gardener) I really enjoyed Christine's view of our beautiful state. It was interesting to learn about the history of places that I have visited may times and to be reminded that Adelaide is a diverse place with wonderful fresh produce, unique tastes and beautiful scenery. I live further North in the Barossa Valley. The summers are hotter and drier, we get less rainfall but I am reminded that I am very lucky to live here.

I would have liked to have read a little more about the challenges that Christine faced being a new gardener. I find my half acre overwhelming at times so I cant imaging how she coped, other than having professional help of course.

[Chrissie Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine McCabe’s book is an amazing book highlighting the highs and lows of living in a rural, semi remote area and the problems and also joys of gardening in circumstances like rain fed water supply, possum wars and choosing the right plants to plant plus trying to live a real life while having a great garden. Something we are learning in our hilltop remote home in New Zealand. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, related to so many thing and also learnt a lot. A garden tour holiday in her part of the world is definitely on the cards for me. Thank you Christine for an amazingly likeable book ♥️♥️♥️

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books 🌲 🌳

[Kris Kennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Op shop find - I’m glad I read it and probably would have enjoyed it more if I knew the Adelaide Hills. It has made me seek out garden tours of that part of Aussie.

[Jean Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this over quite a long period for me. It reminded me so much of the gardens of my early years. I'm not a gardener even now but always aim to be, I loved the descriptions of the food and vegetable gardens - a journey back through time of my attempts and those of my grandmother and mother and the things they made from the garden and my hectic days of bottling fruit and making jam. Times and seasons change as this book points out . I'd like to visit one day.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to go visit the Adelaide Hills again