Stonefields by the Seasons

Paul Bangay’s celebrated Victorian property, Stonefields, has now been under his expert care for 15 years. Today, his vision is complete and the garden is mature and more beautiful than ever.

In this new book, Paul takes the reader through the changing seasons to highlight different aspects of the garden and the trusted design and planting principles he has applied at Stonefields. From the vibrant autumn colours in the woodland, to the jubilant flowering of the crab apple trees in October and the harvesting of vegetables in the summer, this is a delightful and exquisitely photographed journey through the garden that tells the story of its evolution since The Garden at Stonefields was published in 2013. Sharing practical advice, too, Paul explains the gardener’s essential quarterly tasks as well as his favourite and recommended plants for each season.

But this is also a beautiful book of reflection on a much-loved garden to which a gardener has dedicated many years of time and care. Looking back on all he has achieved in this treasured space, Paul muses on creativity, achievements and disappointments, the human connection to the changing Australian landscape and the inevitabilities of change and the passage of time. More than just an intimate tour around Stonefields today, this book is an invitation to reflect on the meaning and rich rewards of gardening itself.