...most polished pieces of garden writing, which begins: 'God Almighty first planted a garden: and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment of the spirits of man; without which, buildings and palaces are but gross handy-works.' This charming...

...times of the year, and for their particular smells: God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest...without which buildings and palaces are but gross handy-works: and a man shall ever see that when ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build...

...human pleasures. From Francis Bacon's essay on gardening. 'God Almighty planted a garden. And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man.' On Francis Bacon, see Chapter 1 1 below, under 'Francis Bacon'. On gardens, see Chapter 22 below, under...

...an enigma resolved and a mind explored Hassell Smith God Almighty first planted a Garden. And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest...without which buildings and palaces are but gross handyworks: and a man shall ever see that when ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build...

...is the will of God.' 49 In Francis Bacon's words: 'God Almighty first planted a Garden. And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man.' 50 In the early weeks of bereavement the Sayes Court garden helped to heal the Evelyns. Routine tasks...

...passion for the gardens at Claydon, mindful perhaps of Bacon's famous pronouncement that gardening is "the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man,...without which buildings and palaces are but gross handiworks."8 Even before he arrived at Claydon his instructions to Roades included the order to plant...