A Hill's hoist, some trees and a lawn; a field of rotting potatoes; a dazzling display of flowers or an oasis of peace and privacy? "Green Pens" reveals the passion, frustration, joy and despair that gardens have inspired throughout Australia's history. This is a charming selection of clippings from gardeners who love to write and writers who love their garden spans eras, fashions and genres. Letter and diary entries show ordinary people revelling in or struggling with their gardens; informed advice is offered by newspapers and magazines while extracts from gardening catalogues, planting guides, novels and poems reflect the full range of what a garden can mean - from the prosaic to the profound.