The Elements of Organic Gardening
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales with Stephanie Donaldson

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has spent more than twenty-six years transforming the grounds of The Highgrove Estate into one of the finest gardens in the world. His strict adherence to organic principles has helped shape and define a garden that is both beautiful and environmentally sound. The Prince's expertise in this area is at the heart of The Elements of Organic Gardening.

In his previous book The Garden at Highgrove, The Prince described Highgrove's development during a twenty-year period. His Royal Highness wrote of the "enormous satisfaction" he gains from gardening: "Ever since I began the garden I have planted a very large proportion of the trees and plants myself, which means that you at once develop a proprietary interest in all of them, and they become remarkably like children whom you watch growing up year by year."

In The Elements of Organic Gardening, he and Stephanie Donaldson show how to create an organic garden The Highgrove way. The Prince also applies the same organic principles in his other gardens at Birkhall in the Scottish Highlands and Clarence House in central London. Both are works in progress, with different conditions, challenges, and rewards. This book describes practical organic practices, most of which can be adapted to any garden, large or small, such as as fostering healthy soil; composting; planting favored varieties of flowers, trees, fruits, vegetables; how to choose ornamental features; as well as how to keep pests, weeds, and diseases at bay. The Prince is quite hands on in the running of his garden at Highgrove. The Duchess of Cornwall is also closely involved with the planting and the garden's progress.

Beautifully illustrated with photographs by Andrew Lawson, The Elements of Organic Gardening  offers a wealth of wisdom to delight and inspire any gardener.

As the Prince writes in expressing his deeply held practical and spiritual beliefs about sustainability and responsibility: "Gradually, as you look further and deeper into the processes of Nature, you begin to realize that we ourselves are a microcosm of that vast, all-encompassing - essentially ordered - living entity. And the remarkable thing is that nothing is ever wasted. There is a constant process of renewing; of death followed by rebirth; of valuable materials being provided on a constantly sustaining basis, if managed with sympathy and continuity."

He adds with great hope: "Her bounty depends for its long-term continuity on the consideration and respect we show Her. 'Stewardship' and 'husbandry' may be considered old-fashioned words, but they encapsulate precisely that sense of continuity of management that is in harmony with the perpetual natural laws and rhythms of the Universe of which we are an integral part."

More About the Authors

portrait by Andrew Lawson

THE PRINCE OF WALES, as Heir to The British Throne, seeks, with the support of his wife, to do all he can to use his unique position to make a difference in the United Kingdom and internationally. The Prince is well known for his love of gardening which is most fully realized in the gardens at Highgrove, Their Royal Highnesses' family home in Gloucestershire. The Prince is devoted to protecting rare plants and seed groups and curates a National Collection of hostas, a wide-leafed plant, at Highgrove. His Royal Highness also is guardian of part of The National Collection of beeches. The Prince often receives plants and stone sculptures as gifts and many of these find a home in the gardens as well. Other books by The Prince of Wales include Highgrove: Portrait of an Estate (1997) and The Garden at Highgrove (2000).

THE PRINCE OF WALES's Charitable Foundation is the beneficiary of all commercial activities with which His Royal Highness is involved through its trading subsidiaries, A.G. Carrick Limited and Duchy Originals Limited. The Trustees distribute the income of the Charitable Foundation to a wide range of causes working in areas in which His Royal Highness has a particular interest, including environmental, cultural, youth, educational and healthcare charities, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

portrait by John Cole

STEPHANIE DONALDSON is the gardening editor, from 2000, at Country Living Magazine United Kingdom edition, and writes books on gardening and a variety of other subjects. She has been organic gardening for more than thirty years and is a much-sought-after expert. "I believe I was appointed as co-author of The Elements of Organic Gardening  because I was recommended by a trusted advisor of His Royal Highness. I practice what the book preaches and have done so all of my adult life." Other books by Ms. Donaldson include:

Dried Flower Gifts
Aromatic Gifts
Container Planting
I Can Grow Things
The Country Store
50 Glorious Hanging Baskets
50 Spectacular Window Boxes
From the Potting Shed
Body & Bath Book
Boxes, Baskets, Pots & Planters
The Ultimate Container Gardener
Plants for Small Spaces
Country Containers
Decorating Pots
Household Wisdom
The Shaker Garden
Venzano - A Scented Garden in Tuscany
Peaceful Gardens

ANDREW LAWSON trained as a painter before becoming one of the world's leading garden photographers. He has been photographing the development of The Highgrove Gardens for more than twenty years. He wrote and illustrated The Gardener's Book of Colour and provided photographs for many books including those by the venerable Penelope Hobhouse, Rosemary Verey, and Roy Strong.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales' website