Tune into the_Gardenerben Gardening Podcast, where we dive into the enchanting world of English Roses, explore the charm of Modern Cottage Gardening, and celebr...
On today’s episode, we’re heading up to Shropshire, where I caught up with @our.english.topiarygarden. This episode could not be better timed, as after many years in their containers, Mark and I have finally got round to planting the huge 8-foot-tall yew pyramids I’ve been growing. They have finally made their way into our newly landscaped Wintergarden, where they’re making the centerpiece and backbone of this new area.Bee and her husband have spent nearly 30 years creating their perfect topiary garden—a long-term vision that has come together in an absolutely astonishingly beautiful, stylish, and timeless garden that looks great in all four seasons.Bee talked me through where they gain their inspiration and some hints and tips for keeping box and yew healthy and happy. It’s lovely to hear that through their Instagram account, they’ve met some wonderful real-life gardening friends and have found a real sense of community from building their social media account.Head over to @our.english.topiarygarden now and show their account some 💚.Next week, I’m slingshotting it back across the Atlantic Sea, where I’m talking to Justin from @tacomarosesociety.
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S2 E6 Gilbert’s dahlias
In this week's episode of the Gardener Ben podcast, I have the absolute pleasure of catching up with Nick, the owner and operator of @gilbertsdahlias, just outside Romsey in Hampshire.We talk about dahlias, the hybridization of new varieties, and Nick shares with us some really good hints and tips on how a professional grower goes about lifting, storing, dividing, and propagating his stock. Throughout the entire conversation, Nick's passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for the dahlia shine through. What you can’t unfortunately see is the look on his face when he’s talking about his favorite varieties and walking around the dahlia field at sunrise during high summer.Please head across to their Instagram channel and show it some love 💚And if you’re ever near Romsey, make sure that you pop into Gilberts to not only take a look at the dahlias in August, September, October, and into the very beginning of November, but also to grab yourself a good slice of cake or a hearty ploughman in their café.Something that Nick said during our conversation has got me a little scared, so I’m off out into the garden now to see whether I can dig up this enormous dahlia imperialis I have - wish me luck!On the next episode, we’re talking all things toy when I get to catch up with Bee Wilson of @our.english.topiarygarden.#gardenerben #podcast #podcaster #gardenerben #gardenchat #gardener #dahlia #listennow #streamingnow #helpingyougrow
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S2E5 Building A Food Forest
As we creep towards the beginning of spring, the garden is slowly waking up. I’ve had my flower press out again to encapsulate and capture just a few of the early spring blooms.At North Lodge, I'm also pressing on with the new winter garden. The digger has been in and removed the stumps from the laurel hedge we cut down, and it’s now time to start mulching and preparing the area for planting.On today’s episode of the Gardener Ben podcast, I have the absolute honor of talking to Katrina, Clayton’s mum, who shares with us her and Clayton’s journey into gardening, most specifically permaculture, and how the family is now building a food forest in Scotland.Clayton has autism and is homeschooled by his mum. He developed a keen interest in growing, tending, and harvesting his own food—a story that resonates strongly with my own personal journey and is a testament to how finding the spark that ignites your child’s imagination can really unlock an entirely different world of learning.Head over to their Instagram channel now and show them some love 💚 @buildingafoodforest_scotland.We had so much to talk about in a limited time scale, but I’ve already invited Katrina back if she has time to talk to me in season three.If you grow dogwood for their colorful and vibrant stems, it is now time to cut these back to their permanent framework, which will stimulate strong and vigorous growth and brightly colored stems for next winter. Make sure that you give them a thoroughly good mulch and head to Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube to see my full tutorial.On next week’s episode, I’ll be talking everything dahlia with Nick, owner and proprietor of Gilbert’s Dahlias near Romsey.
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S2E4 Rake Expectations.
Episode 4 of my podcast is available for you to download and stream now.Now that March has arrived, it’s time to really start sowing some seeds. I’ve got some tomatoes and the first batch of peas sown in the greenhouse outside. It’s time for some carrots and some beetroot, which I’ll have to keep tightly covered under cloches to save them from the pesky birds.On today’s episode, I’m joined by Karen @rakeexpectations on Instagram, who shares with us what she grows in her garden in Fife, Scotland.As well as tales and stories of Trevor and Dorian's garden antics, head to Karen’s profile now and show it some 💚!
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S2E3 Urban Farm & Kitchen.
As we head towards March, I finally got the time to weigh my way into the last frontier of the garden. Now celebrating just under seven years in this particular cottage, what will be known as the Wintergarden is going to take quite a lot of work.I’ve started by removing the very strange laurel hedge, which ran along our drive, opening up the space. I’m going to have to get a mini digger to remove the stumps before I can start thinking about planting and adding lots of soil conditioner.It’s time to start thinking about planting your daily tubers undercover, and on this week's episode, I’m joined by Luay Ghafari, who’s somewhat of a massive inspiration known as @urbanfarmandkitchen on Instagram and TikTok. He also maintains and writes a successful food blog and is a published author. I really don’t know how he finds the time to keep it all in the air.Specializing in garden-to-table produce, he shares his love for tomatoes and cooking during our brief conversation.If you don’t follow along already, head over to his Instagram account and show it some love now!
Tune into the_Gardenerben Gardening Podcast, where we dive into the enchanting world of English Roses, explore the charm of Modern Cottage Gardening, and celebrate all things plants. Join me for inspiring garden projects and expert tips to transform your green spaces into blooming paradises.
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