Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This week’s guest in Simon Morley, a British artist and art historian. Simon is the author of several books on modern and contemporary art and is a keen rose gardener. Simon’s latest book was released a few weeks ago and is called ‘By Any Other Name: A Cultural History of the Rose’. During the interview I ask Simon about the cultural significance of roses throughout history, their symbolism, their origins and what how we use roses in gardens today says about us as a society. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Cluster flies Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover Why the rose is a meme  Why the rose has been so enduringly beloved by humans  The origins of Valentine’s Day and why roses are intrinsically linked to it Why roses in religious symbology fell out of favour during protestantism  Of all the concepts or beliefs that the rose signifies, which most resonates with Simon Which nations were the most important players in the development of the rose varieties we know today?  Simon writes "aesthetic horticultural considerations were often coupled with a theoretical component, and the selection and arrangement of plants were determined by the botanical theory of the period, which in its turn reflected the way the world was perceived to be ordered”. What does Simon think the way we use roses today tell us about how we perceive the world to be ordered?  The lack of a role for roses in movements such as rewilding and the new perennial movement About Simon Morley Simon Morley is a British artist and art historian. He is the author of several books on modern and contemporary art, and has contributed reviews and essays to a number of publications. His artworks have been exhibited internationally. He is currently writing a new history of modern painting, to be published in 2023. Simon lives in France and South Korea, where he teaches at Dankook University. He is also a keen rose gardener. Links By Any Other Name: A Cultural History of the Rose by Simon Morley - Oneworld Publications, 2021  Simon’s website  Simon on Instagram 

This week’s guest is my second ever returning guest, Fiona Edmond of Green Island Gardens a garden and nursery in Essex. Fiona holds National Plant Collection status for her range of camellias, which includes winter/spring flowering varieties, but also the sometimes overlooked autumn flowering varieties, unjustly so as they offer colour in the garden when little else is happening. This episode tells you everything you need to know about successfully growing camellias.  Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Spanish slugs Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover Autumn and spring flowering varieties The need for acidic soil when growing camellias Cultivation Feeding Some of Fiona’s favourite varieties for the garden Pests and diseases About Fiona Edmond Links wwwgreenislandgardens.co.uk The Green Island Nursery  On Instagram  On Twitter  On Facebook 

This week’s guest is Harriet Carty. Harriet is the Charity Director & Beautiful Burial Ground Project Manager at Caring for God’s Acre, an organisation which works nationally to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy burial grounds and graveyards. These sites are refuges for wildlife, veteran trees and plants. They’re community assets which need protecting and preserving for us and for future generations and I was fascinated to find out more about what’s being done to look after these local treasures. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Overwintering butterflies Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover About Caring For God’s Acre Why it’s so important to protect burial grounds and the wildlife and plants that call then home Burial grounds as important historical sites and as a link to the past Veteran trees and ancient yews in burial grounds Biodiversity in burial sites How you can get involved with recording wildlife How to check if your local church is involved About Caring for God’s Acre “Caring for God’s Acre works nationally to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy burial grounds and graveyards. There are over 20,000 burial grounds in England and Wales, ranging from small rural medieval churchyards to large Victorian city cemeteries, spanning different cultures, religions and centuries. Appealing to many who are interested in local history and the natural world, burial grounds encapsulate the history of communities whilst offering refuge for our native wildlife.” https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk Links www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk On Twitter  On Facebook 

This week’s guest is Philip Oostenbrink, Head Gardener at Walmer Castle and Gardens, Collections Coordinator for Plant Heritage in Kent, Plant Trials committee member for the RHS and self-confessed jungle plant nut. Philip has just published a new book titled ‘The Jungle Garden’ and in this interview, I talk to him about what a jungle garden is, whether they can work in shady and sunny aspects, easy jungle plants, rarer ones, plant hardiness, seasonal and winter interest and where to get plants.  Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Black vine weevil Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover What sparked Philip’s interest in jungle plants How the jungle influences his design aesthetic The importance of seasonal changes and how do you can highlight these in a jungle garden scheme How much did writing the book make Philip examine what is an instinctual talent for grouping plants? Can jungle plants mix with more traditional cottage style plants?  Mixing exotic plants from different continents or eco regions Winter interest in a jungle garden Jungle gardens in full sunshine Good jungle garden climbers Trees for a small space but big impact Easy to look after starter plants  Rarer plants to wow your friends About Philip Oostenbrink “My name is Philip Oostenbrink and I am Head Gardener at Walmer Castle and Gardens in East Kent. Apart from my full-time job I am Collections Coordinator for Plant Heritage in Kent and Plant Trials committee member for the RHS. I am also a horticultural speaker for any groups who are interested in gardening and/or history. I have been a plant collector all my life. I have a passion for jungle gardening and I have four National Plant Collections: Aspidistra elatior & sichuanensis, Variegated and Yellow-leaved Convallaria, Hakonechloa macra and Ophiopogon japonicus. I have a love for variegated plants.” https://myplants.me Links The Jungle Garden by Philip Oostenbrink - Filbert Press, October 2021  Philip’s Blog - ‘Thoughts of a plant nut.”  Philip on Instagram - mr.plantaholic 

This week I’m speaking to gardener, TV presenter, author, government adviser and wildlife and environment advocate, Chris Baines. Chris designed the first ever wildlife garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1985, which was swiftly followed by his bestselling book ‘How to Make a Wildlife Garden’ so I thought it would be a perfect time to speak to Chris, given the continuing interest in wild gardens that we witnessed again at this year’s Chelsea. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Carrot root flies Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover How Chris thinks things have changed since the 1980s with regard to the plight of wildlife Why a wildlife garden which mimics a woodland edge is desirable Planting a wildflower strip next to a mixed native hedge, how could you go about starting this type of strip and what plants you might use How you can identify the wildlife in your garden Is Chris hopeful for the future and are things changing quickly enough?  Documenting your garden wildlife, in order to help protect habitats threatened by developments About Chris Baines "Chris Baines is one of the UK’s leading environmental campaigners, an award-winning writer and broadcaster and an experienced speaker at national and international conferences. His particular garden-related expertise lies in wildlife gardening, community participation and trees in towns. Specilaist subjects: industry and environment, wildlife gardening, community participation, habitat creation, sustainable water management." https://www.gardenmediaguild.co.uk/guild-members/directory/profile/Chris-Baines/15

My guest this week is Jonathan Sheppard, a political lobbyist who somehow fell into becoming the holder of 2 national plant collections; hollyhocks and cosmos. Jonathan talks about how to grow hollyhocks and cosmos, what you can, or can’t do about rust, good varieties to try and what to look out for in the coming year in terms of new varieties and colours. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Dragonflies Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover Hollyhocks and rust When to sow hollyhocks Are they biennial or perennial? The best places to grow hollyhocks Some of the best varieties New colours  The cultivation of Cosmos Links British Hollyhocks Jonathan Sheppard on Twitter 

This week I’m speaking to social media sensation and veg grower Gerald Stratford about growing big veg - do they taste better, how do you avoid pests and diseases, what growing media is best and what you can do with your big veg once you’ve grown it? Gerald’s new book Big Veg has recently been published and his star continues to ascend. Gerald spoke to me from his shed, with his wonderful wife Liz and cat Jet in attendance. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Woodlice This episode is brought to you by Horti:couture, a conference exploring the influence of plants and gardens on the fashion world and featuring some of the industry’s leading academics and influencers. For more information visit the LCGD website LCGD.org.uk or their Eventbrite page. The conference will take place on the 9th October and tickets start at just £59 and the day will be streamed online as well as in person at Kew Gardens.  Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover How Gerald got started on social media Why would you want to grow big veg and is big always best for taste? What type of soil you need to grow big veg Avoiding blight on tomatoes and potatoes And rust on onions Using the trench system for runner beans What Gerald is doing on his plot right now  About Gerald Stratford Gerald’s book of tips and tricks, 'BIG VEG', is accessible for beginners and those interested in grow-your-own veg. This gentle guide distils years of knowledge, including the top 10 vegetables to begin with, how to ‘supersize’ them and a month-by-month breakdown to sowing, planting and harvesting. Aged 72, Gerald rose to fame later in life, gaining over 308k followers after sharing pictures of his potatoes at the height of lockdown in May 2020. He has been hailed the ‘Veg King’ by the press and is passionate about sharing the benefits of mindful gardening at any age and cultivating your own food. After becoming a social media sensation, he continues to go viral with his wholesome allotment content.   Illustrated with photos throughout, Big Veg is encouraging, full of wisdom and dry humour, much like lovely Gerald himself. In the spirit of bringing joy, please enjoy Gerald as the star of GUCCI’s latest campaign! Links Gerald Stratford on Twitter  'Big Veg' by Gerald Stratford Get your tickets for Horti:couture from Eventbrite 

In this episode, I’m speaking to award-winning writer Catherine Mack about getting a gardening book published. Catherine talks about why you might want to write a book, the process of getting your ideas onto paper and how to get published. Plus, she addresses the most important issue of whether or not you’ll make your fortune! If you’ve ever harboured dreams of writing a book, listen on and be inspired by Catherine’s advice and encouragement. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Red Admirals This episode is brought to you by Horti:couture, a conference exploring the influence of plants and gardens on the fashion world and featuring some of the industry’s leading academics and influencers. For more information visit the LCGD website LCGD.org.uk or their Eventbrite page. The conference will take place on the 9th October and tickets start at just £59 and the day will be streamed online as well as in person at Kew Gardens.  Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover Good reasons for writing a book How do you know if it will be of interest to readers? How to check someone hasn’t already written something similar and does it matter if they have? Your options if you’re looking to get published Getting published in a magazine What you need in order to approach potential publishers or crowdfunders Traditional publisher vs. alternatives Are you likely to make any money?! About Catherine Mack Catherine is an award-winning travel writer specialising in sustainable and ethical tourism. Storytelling and sustainability go hand in hand for Catherine, who engages with people just as much as place on her travels. As Covid clipped her wings she started to focus on journeys that people took closer to home. In other words, to their allotments. She is delighted that The Allotmenteers, Profiles of a Growing Community - has now been commissioned by Unbound, an award-winning crowdfunding publisher.  Catherine has always sought to understand why people journey and is keen to capture what people gain from travelling this short distance from urban to rural, from home to allotment, as well as the growing and personal journeys they take while being allotmenteers. Catherine doesn’t have an allotment and, as it is considered such a private world by those who maintain them, she is able to offer an objective eye in her interviews and subsequent essays, helping the reader feel as if they too are privileged to enter this private world. Read more about The Allotmenteers, and do please pledge to help have this book hit its crowdfunding target. You can also follow Catherine on Twitter and Instagram.  Links The Allotmenteers on Unbound Catherine Mack on Twitter  Catherine Mack on Instagram  Get your tickets for Horti:couture from Eventbrite 

This week, I’m speaking to Gwendolyn van Paaschen about the legendary garden designer John Brookes. Gwendolyn is the owner of Denmans Garden and chairman of the John Brookes-Denmans Foundation. Gwendolyn’s new book ‘How to Design a Garden’ brings together a collection of John’s works from across his lengthy career, disseminating the fundamental principles which underpinned his design work, in a way that is useful to both professionals and home gardeners. Gwendolyn is carrying on John’s work at Denmans by opening the garden to the public and as she puts in at the end of the interview, keeping his conversation going.  Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: House Spiders Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover Who was John Brookes and what are some of the highlights he accomplished during his long career? The importance of designing in the vernacular and John expressed this through his designs  How John’s design style and interests evolved during his career  Garden designers today who particularly embody the work of John Brookes His influence on garden design over the past 50 years The long term effect of John's design in the realms of amateur gardening About Gwendolyn van Paasschen Gwendolyn van Paasschen, a garden designer and writer, worked with landscape designer John Brookes MBE and helped write his memoir, A Landscape Legacy (Pimpernel Press, 2018). Chairman of the John Brookes-Denmans Foundation, she owns Denmans Garden. Currently writing a book about Denmans, she also writes about garden design. Links How to Design a Garden By John Brookes MBE. Edited and introduction by Gwendolyn van Paasschen. Preface by Andrew Duff Released 7th October www.denmans.org

This week’s guest, Marlow Renton, is the co-founder of Wild Food UK. Marlow talks about why we should all go out foraging, especially children, about how we can overcome our fear of wild food (particularly mushrooms!), what to look out for, when to do it and where to do it responsibly and how to get help if, like me, you’re a bit of a wild food wuss. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Cabbage Root Flies Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover How Marlow learnt to forage How easy is it to forage? Why it’s important to take children foraging What to be careful of when foraging Foraging responsibly How scared should we be of mushrooms? Helpful resources if you’re unsure where to start About Wild Food UK “Wild Food UK was formed a few years ago by Marlow and Eric driven by a desire to expand peoples experience of nature into a practical source of enjoyment. Since then the company has grown in course leaders and course locations, covering most of the UK. Our aim is to educate people about tasty edible wild plants, mushrooms, fruits, roots and flowers that we think everyone should be able to identify, pick and eat with confidence. We’re extremely lucky in Britain to have a climate that provides us plenty of food all year round, all you need to know is how to find it. We teach these “skills for life”; and we believe that with the skills we teach, every life will be enhanced. Not only is foraging fun and interesting; you never know when being able to pick your own food might come in genuinely useful or even life saving!” https://www.wildfooduk.com/about-us/ Links www.wildfooduk.com