Author(s): Lynda Hallinan (Photographer); Linden Eller (Illustrator); Alun Callender (Photographer)

Gardening

When English colonists settled in New Zealand in the mid-1800s, they brought damson plum stones in their pockets, and this self-fertile heirloom fruit tree has been a beloved backyard cropper ever since. With superlative flavour and a distinctive tang when preserved in jams, gin, chutneys, sauces and pastes, the damson is enjoying a modern culinary renaissance and has gained a cult following in the gourmet food world.

In Damson: From hedgerow to harvest, well-known New Zealand garden writer, broadcaster and fourth-generation damson devotee Lynda Hallinan reveals her own lifelong love affair with this small, sour purple plum. She authoritatively covers all aspects of damson cultivation, from propagation to planting tips, pruning methods and organic pest and disease control.

From Beatrix Potter to Katherine Mansfield, the damson has long inspired authors, artists, cooks, gardeners and scholars, and this book profiles dozens of damson disciples around the world, from woodturners crafting ""treespoons"" to fruit pit carvers, pick-your-own fruit farmers, brewers, bakers and damson ketchup makers.