Explore every episode of the podcast The Garden Log
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Hellos and Goodbyes | 18 Oct 2022 | 00:05:55 | |
A fond farewell from Ben and directions to the new podcast Dear Gardener, where the Garden Log lives on in spirit. I'm going to keep the Garden Log online for those who want to relisten or are finding it for the first time. I'm think ready to start again from the beginning! Dear Gardener can be found on apple here: https://linktr.ee/deargardener
If you have enjoyed the Garden Log over the past 4 years or would like to contribute to its ongoing hosting fees consider buying me a digital coffee at https://ko-fi.com/bendark
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| How to keep plants alive (and other mysteries) | 16 Jun 2022 | 00:34:00 | |
In this excellent episode Ben finds roses like cats, lawns like dunes and flowers like clothes pegs. Also featuring a few simple tricks to stop things dying.
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| #93 The surprising speed of Arum italicum: featuring Proust’s Asparagus, Mahonia x media and the Aucuba fertilisation frenzy of 1865 | 19 Jan 2022 | 00:26:58 | |
Celebrate the return of the Garden Log with some of your favourite shrubs! Plus mulch shovelling, cotinus and some dodgey but lovable carex
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| #92 [On Location] Life in the Ruins: Mutant brambles and runaway figs in the deserted village of Campo di Brenzone | 08 Nov 2021 | 00:38:16 | |
In this starling-squalled episode of the Garden Log Ben is turned away from the botanic garden and makes his way to the mountains of Italy to talk about vegetables, olives and the Villa Cimbrone https://ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #91 [On Location] Kitchen Garden Confidential | 26 Oct 2021 | 00:36:50 | |
Ben tours the fruit trees of Bernstorff Slotshave, discovers a nuttery and uses it to muse on pruning, ivy, bees, wasps, dogs, figs, cliffs and trees. https://ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #90 [On Location] Bernstorff Slotshave 1: A good walk foiled | 14 Oct 2021 | 00:28:25 | |
In Ben's first ever outdoor recording for the Garden Log he is driven from a historic kitchen garden to wander in search of euonymus, yew trees and friendly dogs. https://ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #89 Copenhagen: city of roses (A gardening podcast) | 02 Aug 2021 | 00:29:36 | |
In this northerly episode of The Garden Log Ben discusses lime trees, hollyhocks, hedge heights and salsify and is refreshed by the Scandinavian approach to Japanese Knotweed. | |||
| #88 Goodbye to all that | 30 Jun 2021 | 00:32:05 | |
In the last episode of the Garden Log’s three-and-half-year ‘season 1’ Ben reflects on the garden and looks forward a new chapter… www.ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #87 Acer griseum, Crocus chrysanthus, frost reports and water fountains: a gardening podcast | 12 Mar 2021 | 00:32:44 | |
Spring breezes blow the daffodils as Ben reports on the damage that winter hath wrought and the beauty of new growth
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| #86 New discoveries, old adversaries and very strong coffee: A gardening podcast | 11 Jan 2021 | 00:33:18 | |
In this midwinter episode of the Garden Log Ben plays dice with the Gods of Winter, prunes ground cover roses and discusses the newty beauty of psuedopanax | |||
| #85 Russian sage, British mud, almond puddings: A gardening podcast | 21 Dec 2020 | 00:27:44 | |
Ben discusses snowdrop planting, creates a forget-me-not dream screen and warns of the dangers of the plum bun.
www.ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #85 How to rehabilitate an olive, revive a flowerbed and restore a rockery | 20 Nov 2020 | 00:28:14 | |
Hello! Ben here. It’s wet. The garden is half-flooded and really only good for eels and starfish. But never mind! We’re planting bright yellow achillea to cheer everybody up. All aboard for another voyage on H.M.S Horticulture. | |||
| Pine riots, wolf-vines and the joy of other people's gardens: A gardening podcast | 20 May 2022 | 00:39:58 | |
Its a sultry spring day on the Garden Log. We muse on the kindness of strangers, advise on planting for a rubble-strewn drive and yearn for romance. | |||
| #83 Hard edges, cold winds and twelve thousand little droplets of hope: A gardening podcast | 28 Sep 2020 | 00:24:47 | |
In this season-straddling episode of the Garden Log Ben discusses the art of horticultural gossip, rides a new machine, names many beetles and get the business of bulb planting under way. ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #82 Scything for beginners, rose pruning for experts and lawn mowing for everyone | 10 Aug 2020 | 00:27:51 | |
n this hot and humid episode of Britain’s Best Gardening Podcast Ben deals with a rambling rose, learns a new technique and tries to hide the damage of midsummer heat.
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| #81 Yellow trees, purple trees and Isabella Trees + naked calendars, shredded perennials and a new vegetable garden. | 05 Jul 2020 | 00:26:36 | |
In this wind buffeted episode of the Garden Log Ben takes a risk in the compost heap, plants some very special trees and batters the hedges. | |||
| #80 How to choose bog plants for dry gardens, plant a wild urn and massively amplify astrantias | 10 Jun 2020 | 00:40:19 | |
This week the gardeners spread outrageous herbaceous perennials to all corners of the garden and report from the meadow. Ligularia 'Zepter' The Albertus Oak Mysteries: Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B084TRFVNF Ko-fi.com/bendark | |||
| #79 The economy of beauty: tree ferns, aconites, thermopsis and frost | 15 May 2020 | 00:31:55 | |
In this daring episode of Britain’s favourite gardening podcast Ben comes up the wrong side of the weather, explains how to divide dahlias and encounters an exciting new plant. | |||
| #78 Creative weeding, lily beetles and impossibly clashing shades of tulip | 28 Apr 2020 | 00:31:11 | |
In this episode of the Garden Log Ben returns after three weeks in lockdown to find the grounds more beautiful than ever. Also: aphids, cleomes and the hart’s tongue fern. | |||
| #77 How to argue about tulips, judge front gardens and appreciate euphorbia | 09 Apr 2020 | 00:32:28 | |
In this locked-down edition of the Garden Log Ben takes a horticultural stroll, makes a case for blowsy tulips and reconsiders the London amelanchier. Soothing noises for troubled times
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| #76 How to make a very new tree look old and beautiful, plant a heather canyon and measure a life in rosebuds | 11 Mar 2020 | 00:32:47 | |
Ben modifies a large pinus sylvestris, plants green mondo grass and develops a nostalgic new form of gardening. All this and more in horticultures most discursive podcast. | |||
| #75 How to select hardy geraniums, fake the wild look and survive two storms in a week | 19 Feb 2020 | 00:32:55 | |
In this blustery episode of the Garden Log Ben and the team carry out some subterranean demolition, find a tree corpse, and plant 458 herbaceous perennials | |||
| #74 Training figs, burying barns under clematis montana, and cutting back hybrid hellebores: A gardening podcast | 31 Jan 2020 | 00:24:14 | |
In this January episode of The Garden Log Ben ties in fruit trees, makes a bet on a daffodil and rescues some asters from a heap of dumped clay. Also, musings on the season to come, general plant chat and very nice sunrise. All this and more on England’s finest horticultural podcast! | |||
| Underrated shrubs, sweet perfumes and the art of the Garden Room: A petal strewn podcast | 12 May 2022 | 00:32:34 | |
In this recreation of a lost walk Ben visits the garden of G. N Brandt (deceased) who brought the arts and crafts movement to Denmark and whose modest orchard-watergarden-woodland survives in the suburbs north of Copenhagen. | |||
| #73 Twenty-three thuja, two-hundred-thousand worms and one almighty disaster - happy new year everybody! | 14 Jan 2020 | 00:30:44 | |
In this episode of the Garden Log Ben celebrates very happy news, makes some awful horticultural mistakes, plants roses and talks of irrigation. | |||
| #72 How to lift dahlias, grow summer fruiting raspberries, naturalise scilla and be a horticultural vigilante | 09 Dec 2019 | 00:31:43 | |
In this early December episode of the Garden Log Ben plants bulbs at three per second, worries about citrus trees, looks into the rooting capacity of autumn soil and encounters mob justice in Finsbury Park | |||
| #71 Gardeners’ wages, frozen toes and martagon lilies: A horticultural podcast | 19 Nov 2019 | 00:24:37 | |
In this November episode of the garden log Ben rescues a flopped wisteria, plants vast quantities of spring bulbs, starts the mulching and discusses the best technique for clearing leaves from saturated soil. | |||
| #70 Agapanthus and autumn flowering snowdrops | 06 Nov 2019 | 00:30:52 | |
In this blazing autumnal episode of the Garden Log Ben takes a trip to Mottisfont Abbey and RHS Wisley. Also, hellebores, peonies, variegated yew, mud eating and much much more | |||
| #69 Hot tea and rainclouds: a week in an English garden | 23 Oct 2019 | 00:26:26 | |
Head Gardener Ben Dark considers the dock, rejects time travel, splits bananas and plants cyclamen | |||
| #68 Slug life, magnolia death and a ground elder invasion: A gardening podcast | 01 Oct 2019 | 00:30:15 | |
This week the Garden Log gets into the weeds. Barrowloads of brambles, some nettles, wood avens, ground elder, dandelions and purple cherry plum. Also! Dog's tooth violets, camassias, water pipes and flooded lanes. | |||
| #67 Three-thousand true blue pansies, playing with epimedium and finding the right path for candelabra primulas: A gardening podcast | 24 Sep 2019 | 00:25:54 | |
In this sun-kissed episode of the garden log we mix bedding plants with grasses, plant up an ancient stone trough and slander Edwardian sailors. A podcast for people who like gardens and the people who garden them. | |||
| #66 The trouble with dahlias, meadow mowing and stylish underplanting for the stylish gardener | 04 Sep 2019 | 00:26:13 | |
In this episode of the Garden Log we scythe the last sweet grass of summer, spread fine mulch and sings a cricket’s song. As mentioned on the podcast, to see me at the landscape show register here: http://www.landscapeshow.co.uk/register | |||
| #65 Planting a pagan yew grove, playing the delphinium blues and preaching the wallflower gospel: a gardening podcast | 23 Aug 2019 | 00:25:13 | |
In this episode of the Garden Log Ben summons the Elder Gods, meets a canary fancying diamond magnate and trims the wisteria.
Solomon Joel’s garden party - https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-foxhill-estate-1926-online
Hampton Court: Our growing year - https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/hampton-court-gardens/our-growing-year/#gs.xkd84m
Gherado Cibo’s plantain - https://www.moleiro.com/en/books-of-medicine/dioscorides-by-mattioli-and-cibo/miniatura/broadleaf-plantain-dioscorides
If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and sharing on social media! | |||
| #64 High summer meadows, the hottest day on record and falling in love with a saxifraga: A gardening podcast. | 30 Jul 2019 | 00:29:09 | |
In liquidating heat Ben plants, digs, sweats and chops when he should be drinking in the shade - all in the name of Beauty! Also, how to look at a familiar garden in a totally new light. This and much more in episode 64 of the award winning Garden Log podcast. | |||
| #100 Perfect mistakes, rhubarb, rollercoasters, tulips and timeslips: A gardening podcast | 05 May 2022 | 00:30:47 | |
Its spring and Ben is gardening hard. In a special dispatch from the flowerbeds he reports on sparrows, cosmos and creeping jenny. Also featuring a trip to the fairground, tabloid libel and a woman named X
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| #63 Poppies, roses, wood sorrels and willow herbs: A gardening podcast | 18 Jul 2019 | 00:24:01 | |
Weeds take centre stage in high summer as Ben turns farmers wife and chops off their roots with a carving knife.
Thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com | |||
| #62 Acanthus out, clematis up, lawns in a horrible yellow mess: A gardening podcast | 09 Jul 2019 | 00:30:27 | |
In this week’s heat-drenched episode of the Garden Log Ben makes a terrible mistake, battles powdery mildew and coats himself in a layer of thorns, twigs and earwigs. No other half-hour contains more gardening - fact!
Twitter: @bensgarden
Instagram: ben_dark_
Facebook: The Garden Log Podcast | |||
| #61 Spent delphiniums, silver ragwort and prehistoric planting: A gardening podcast | 02 Jul 2019 | 00:23:40 | |
In this episode of the Garden Log Ben cuts back the mint in preparation for mojito season, erects a rhomboid arch and talks extensively about stinging nettles. Enjoy! | |||
| #60 Adventures in the cosmos hole: red thread, ranunculus, obelisks and chalk | 25 Jun 2019 | 00:22:08 | |
In this weeks episode Ben ruins a York stone path, heaves some iron and reflects on horticultural lessons learned. | |||
| #59 Houttuynia (tastes like fish) bracken (gets stamped on) and Uvdale Price (is full of regrets): A gardening podcast! | 18 Jun 2019 | 00:28:09 | |
A full smorgasbord of horticulture - served rain-soaked and half-composted. In this episode we discuss when and why to cut back long-flowering perennials, look at some ferns and make preparations for the summer we wish we had. Enjoy! | |||
| #58 Pitching for TV, the cool green cave and fighting the orange fire: a gardening podcast | 30 May 2019 | 00:26:17 | |
This week Ben completes the woodland garden, rediscovers a gardening archive and sends the herbaceous borders off in a blaze of glory | |||
| #57 A week in the garden | 24 May 2019 | 00:24:25 | |
Ben works on woods, weeds and walks. Also on his tan. The Garden Log is an award winning podcast all about a head gardener and the plants he works with. | |||
| #56 Potting lemons, splitting day lilies, paranoia, drunkenness and burning down the Hyde Park Pagoda | 11 Apr 2019 | 00:29:19 | |
In this Episode of the Garden Log Ben talks tulips, talks with two lips, walks with two hips, speaks of new tips and cuts the grass. Also, optical illusions for lawnmowers, the family Ranunculacea and seasonal weeding.
thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com | |||
| #55 How to take risks, unwrap ferns and apply for gardening’s most prestigious job | 20 Mar 2019 | 00:24:06 | |
Welcome to Episode 55 of the garden log in which we shunt bulbs, buy trees and gossip about UK horticulture.
Feel free to email me about plants you have known: thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com
The National Trust’s Sissinghurst video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbm14Q-teLo&feature=youtu.be | |||
| #54 Molasses lawn-soup, foaming scilla and how to hire a pliant gardener | 07 Mar 2019 | 00:25:52 | |
Sap rises in this long anticipated episode of the Garden Log. We take a trip to see the gurus of grass, move a statue without the help of helicopters and get excited about spring bulbs. A podcast for people who like people who like plants! | |||
| #99 Wildflowers, Tyrants and Sweet Magnolia: A Gardening Podcast | 26 Apr 2022 | 00:36:49 | |
Ben discusses Ornithogolum, irises, poppies and golden fleece. Also featuring a trip to the Boboli gardens in Florence and a reading from The Grove: A Nature Odyssey in 19 1/2 Front Gardens - recently described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘the best gardening book of 2022’ and available to order from everywhere here: linktr.ee/bendark
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| #53 Frosted five fingers, Taxus soufflé and the sweet smell of sunrise | 18 Feb 2019 | 00:27:41 | |
Sarcococca scented signs of spring to come. This week verges are repaired, hedges replanted and strange sights spotted in the trees. Very much a gardening podcast from the makers of the Garden Log episodes 1-52 | |||
| #52 Magnolia grandiflora, mud soup and flowers from beyond | 12 Feb 2019 | 00:26:53 | |
This week snow melts and rain pelts, trees rise and deer subside and we find thorny new ways to ornament walls @Bensgarden
Featured blog: https://www.oxoniangardener.co.uk
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| #51 Training a climbing rose, mistimed bulb planting and planning your perfect grave | 28 Jan 2019 | 00:25:16 | |
This week on the Log we bring order to thorny chaos, yearn for the perfect snowdrop and careen down hills in the snow.
Your money back if you find a more horticultural half hour! | |||
| #50 How to prune an apple tree, date a horticulturalist and see compost in all you survey | 21 Jan 2019 | 00:29:57 | |
For the Garden Log's half century we take a trip up a tree, visit Kew Gardens and look at the hosta bed. We also learn how prune fruit trees and how to live for ever. Happy listening!
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