The Garden Log

The Garden Log is an award winning podcast from Ben Dark, Head Gardener at an English country estate. Episodes begin with a review of events in the flowerbeds, meadows and woodland, before moving on to discuss horticultural matters more generally. Ben is an ever-curious host who does not take himself, his job or gardening too seriously. A half-hour spent in his company is a half-hour spent far away from the myriad concerns of modern life.

Hellos and Goodbyes

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  

10-18
05:55

How to keep plants alive (and other mysteries)

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.  

06-16
34:00

Pine riots, wolf-vines and the joy of other people's gardens: A gardening podcast

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. https://ko-fi.com/bendark linktr.ee/bendark

05-20
39:58

Underrated shrubs, sweet perfumes and the art of the Garden Room: A petal strewn podcast

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. https://ko-fi.com/bendark

05-12
32:34

#100 Perfect mistakes, rhubarb, rollercoasters, tulips and timeslips: A gardening podcast

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  

05-05
30:47

#99 Wildflowers, Tyrants and Sweet Magnolia: A Gardening Podcast

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  https://ko-fi.com/bendark    

04-26
36:49

#98 [On Location] The good, the mad and the hyggeligt: front gardens of Hellerup

In this special episode of The Garden Log Ben walks out one mid-spring morning in search of beauty and blossom. The pavements brings him plants, thoughts, birdsong and some sort of helicopter, all of which are lovingly reported on. For more of this sort of thing try The Grove: Available to order now: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-grove/ben-dark/9781784727383

04-01
34:19

#97 Of oligarchs, snowberries and other shade lovers: A gardening podcast

The garden log comes out in favour of seed heads, weeds some beds, throws some droops, sees some shoots - you know, gardening stuff! For events tickets go here - https://linktr.ee/bendark

03-18
31:36

#95 Rose pruning with King Midas: A gardening podcast

What’s more tangled: a neglected climber or or human morality? The Garden Log sticks its head into thorns and finds out. https://ko-fi.com/bendark http://linktr.ee/bendark

02-10
32:18

#94 Sowing Eupatorium, seeing Sorbus and reverting Picea + The Grove, the wind, the snow and the seagulls

Ben takes to the seed compost, hunts cactus through the snow and talks about his new book, which, by the way, is available to buy here! https://linktr.ee/bendark

01-28
27:51

#93 The surprising speed of Arum italicum: featuring Proust’s Asparagus, Mahonia x media and the Aucuba fertilisation frenzy of 1865

Celebrate the return of the Garden Log with some of your favourite shrubs!  Plus mulch shovelling, cotinus and some dodgey but lovable carex   

01-19
26:58

#92 [On Location] Life in the Ruins: Mutant brambles and runaway figs in the deserted village of Campo di Brenzone

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

11-08
38:16

#91 [On Location] Kitchen Garden Confidential

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

10-26
36:50

#90 [On Location] Bernstorff Slotshave 1: A good walk foiled

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

10-14
28:25

#89 Copenhagen: city of roses (A gardening podcast)

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. 

08-02
29:36

#88 Goodbye to all that

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

06-30
32:05

#87 Acer griseum, Crocus chrysanthus, frost reports and water fountains: a gardening podcast

Spring breezes blow the daffodils as Ben reports on the damage that winter hath wrought and the beauty of new growth   www.ko-fi.com/bendark

03-12
32:44

#86 New discoveries, old adversaries and very strong coffee: A gardening podcast

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 www.ko-fi.com/bendark

01-11
33:18

#85 Russian sage, British mud, almond puddings: A gardening podcast

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

12-21
27:44

#85 How to rehabilitate an olive, revive a flowerbed and restore a rockery

www.ko-fi.com/bendark 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.

11-20
28:14

Wendy

Style reminds me of Mirabel Osler A Gentle Plea for Chaos💚

11-26 Reply

Wendy

Please write a book!

07-18 Reply

Wendy

wonderful

07-09 Reply

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