Grounded in the Garden : An Artist's Guide to Creating a Beautiful Garden in Harmony With Nature

"In this intimate book, TJ Maher - artist, gardener, nature-lover and contemplative - elegantly combines his painter's insight with his plantsman's knowledge to present a masterclass in garden artistry." - Jane Powers.

Grounded in the Garden explores the practical considerations that come into play when creating a beautiful garden which also respects nature.

TJ goes deep into such topics as using colour in the garden, creating and re-creating borders, and generally, how we can get the most from our gardens. But this is much more than just a how-to guide. Interspersed among the practical advice is a spiritual and thought-provoking inquiry as he reflects on nature and what she has to teach us if we are willing to listen. TJ writes, 'Maybe the only things that matter in the end are love and the heart connections we have made.'

This book is an invitation to love- both the natural world and ourselves. It is also a feast for the eyes. TJ's photographs are interspersed with contributions from Jason Ingram, Clive Nichols, Richard Murphy and Kieran Neary. Together, their images bring to life the creatures, the beauty and the colour in his garden.

TJ Maher was born in Tipperary. He is an artist who lives in County Wicklow. His garden, Patthana, which is open to the public, is a unique creation combining horticultural and artistic disciplines. He runs a garden course in his garden and delivers presentations and lectures to garden societies and clubs. TJ and his garden have featured on BBC Television's 'Gardeners' World' and on RTE One's Nationwide. Patthana has also featured in The English Garden, Gardens Illustrated and House & Garden in the UK and all major magazines and newspapers in Ireland. TJ is interested in Buddhist principles. Through his garden he finds connection with himself and with nature, which has been his love since childhood.

Jane Powers is the author of The Irish Garden and former gardening correspondent for The Irish Times and The Sunday Times Ireland.

Jason Ingram is an award-winning photographer, famed for his images of gardens, plants and people. He has provided photographs for numerous best-selling gardening books including Lucy Bellamy's Brilliant & Wild: a Garden from Scratch in a Year (Pimpernel Press). Jason has won the Garden Media Guild Photographer of the Year Award four times, in 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2022.

Clive Nichols has been photographing gardens and flowers for more than thirty years. He has photographed many of the world's most interesting gardens, including HM The King's private garden in Scotland and Lord Rothschild's private garden in Corfu. His work has appeared in hundreds of books as well as in countless magazines, calendars and brochures.