SOLVED. Early 90s set around a London square of houses with a garden in the middle [s]

[Ian]

I remember reading a book in the late 80s or early 90s about a classic fenced garden in London, with houses along all sides. There was a huge Plane Tree growing in the garden, and a gardener who lived on the land to tend it; he believed in giving back to the garden himself, composting his own waste to balance what he took from the garden. The main character was an antiques collector, he got a girlfriend who worked at an auction house. One neighbour was a very old Silver Screen actress, another was a woman who had travelled extensively... there was quite a lot of sex going on, although it was not explicitly described at all. The book had the critical acclaim on the back "DO NOT READ THIS BOOK"... Sorry, it's driving me mad not remembering what it was - I might not read it again, but I want to find it and have the choice!

[Kris]

Green Grows the City: The Story of a London Garden by Beverley Nichols?

[Ian]

Thanks Kris but it was not that one. Much more contemporary, much more modern and "blunt" or graphic. Thanks for having a go...

[Ian]

I woke up this morning with a vivid picture of the book cover in my mind - the power of subliminal processing! It's Sap Rising by A. A. Gill.

[Sophie]

Sap Rising for click