Here's the founder of The Garden Edit, John Tebbs on his favourite books

John Tebbs is an English gardener who, frustrated by the fact that “many of his working days are held hostage to the weather” founded The Garden Edit in the winter of 2013. His idea was to spend his downtime as productively as possible, creating an online store of beautiful objects which he sourced and sold himself. The resulting curated collection reflects John’s faultless aesthetic, selling “minimal, well-designed products from craftspeople, artists, publishing houses and family-run businesses” alongside a Journal which features short articles by some of his favourite figures about their own horticultural escapades, from rooftop gardens to illustrations of plants.

Unsurprisingly, John’s five favourite books are just as beguiling as any of the items in The Garden Edit, combining works about gardening with vintage publications sourced by own discerning eye. What do we have to do to get our hands on that The Ascent of Everest beaut?

Edited by E. T. Ellis: The Garden For Expert and Amateur

The thing that sets this one out from the many gardening books I own is its history. Initially this was my grandfather’s, then my dad’s, and now it’s mine – three generations with a somewhat timeless interest. The book is also very funny (unintentionally) and written in a very dogmatic manner. There is a section on “Garden Alterations_ that every garden designer should read! It states “gardeners really ought to try to leave much more alone than they do. In this quickly moving age there is little sympathy with Nature…”

Ian Cross: The Backward Sex

While living in New Zealand I spent time wandering through the South Island – there were so many wonderful secondhand book shops that I ended up filling my backpack with many purchases. One of my favourites is The Backward Sex by Ian Cross – a celebrated New Zealand writer. I simply couldn’t resist the jacket by Adrian Bailey. In the back is the stamp page from the Hokitika lending library – I love seeing the stamps from the year it was published in 1960.

John Hunt: The Ascent of Everest

Another book picked up in New Zealand. I am a total sucker for this type of historic adventure ‘porn’. Something about a time when the world was less travelled and connected. I love all the black and white photographs and seeing how basic their gear was. Another great dust jacket too!

Armistead Maupin: Tales of The City Series

This has to be one of my favourite reads. I found the whole lot in a charity shop and don’t think I have ever read anything so addictive – I would love to have lived at 28 Barbary Lane with all its adventures and intrigue! The two latest additions Michael Tolliver Lives and Mary Ann in Autumn were great additions, they brought the character’s stories up to the present.

ZioXla: Strange Plants

I love this new book from Zio Baritaux – it looks at the work of 8 artists and their interactions with plants through their work. It is everything I enjoy about plants and gardens – the way they impact us on so many levels artistically. I find this book totally engaging, as it successfully uses a fresh visual language of plants and gardens for a new generation. I am particularly drawn to the series Night Flowers by David Axelbank.