This was the first of Mabey’s books that I’d read, although I had probably come across shorter pieces of his in newspapers and magazines. The book is a calendar of entries, with observations on place and season, drawn from two decades of nature journaling. A flower of the month feature is a precursor to his later magnum opus, Flora Britannica. The places described are mainly in southern England. As with his other work, the strong theme is how the relationship between culture and nature forms distinctive places. The book is beautifully illustrated by Clare Roberts. ( )