Our Plant Stories

26/11/2024

https://www.ourplantstories.com/episodes/camden-highline

Take an audio walk along the proposed Camden Highline

12/11/2024

I recorded this on the Castlefield Viaduct back in April and today the episode went live. I love urban parks in the sky - sometimes called Highlines, just getting amongst plants above the city gives you a whole new perspective. Listen here to take an audio walk along the viaduct. https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1c626e1f-4860-47a1-80c7-80c08f479471/

26/03/2024

In the 19th century, this the Dropmore Monkey Puzzle was the most famous Monkey Puzzle in the UK. It was photographed, painted and written about. Queen Victoria visited it! Look carefully in the bottom left of the photograph and you will see a man in a top hat. That is David Gedye’s great great grandfather and he was the head gardener, looking after the Dropmore Monkey Puzzle. But did he plant the seed? Aged 10, David was told he did but over the past 68 years he’s been unravelling this story, told to him by his mum. And he shares it in this podcast episode of Our Plant Stories.

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b3f88e49-9fbd-43aa-b42f-35f9ee1e86d9

12/03/2024

This Monkey Puzzle tree is in Andrea’s front garden, planted by the previous owner some 40 years ago. When she first moved in, it was on the list, along with the peach shower curtains, of things to go!! But 12 years later it’s still there - find out why in the latest episode of the podcast. And you can learn more about the tree including how to grow it thanks to a Chilean botanist Eduardo Olate who joins us to talk about this, the National tree of Chile.

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e813b575-caea-4815-bfca-9eb6f6b834dd

03/03/2024

We’ve passed the 10,000 downloads mark on the Our Plant Stories podcast which is exciting and I’d like to thank each and every person who has downloaded and listened. It means a lot to me because when you start a new venture like this you are never quite sure if you will find listeners - it’s very different to making programmes for a guaranteed Radio 4 audience!

I’m thinking about the release day. Originally I thought Friday was best because people perhaps listen on a weekend. But now I am beginning to think that actually podcast listening is often something we do in our weekly routine. On our commute to or from work or perhaps at work if we work outside. So perhaps I may start to release the episodes earlier in the week.

Any comments on when or where you listen gratefully received - to Our Plant Stories or any other podcasts. I have 5 packets of seeds to give away to people who leave comments on this post or my blog or on instagram. Not very scientific audience research but betting Radio 4 didn’t offer seeds as an incentive 🤣

14/02/2024

Valentine’s Day is, according to Vicky Meads of New Forest Hosta’s the day to make your garlic wash to keep the snails off your Hosta’s! I think of it as showing your Hostas some love ❤️ 2 garlic bulbs, crushed in 2 pints of water boiled for 10 -15 mins. (It will smell!) then strained into a PLASTIC bottle. Read how to use it here
https://www.ourplantstories.com/episodes/hosta

06/02/2024

I emailed my friend Liz, saying “I’ll be near you next week - fancy lunch?”
She replied “I’m in New Zealand. So far away from lunch…
Hmmm over 11,000 miles!

BUT she was …just down the road from in Dunedin and head gardener Fiona Eadie features in this weeks Our Plant Stories podcast episode! I love serenity.

So I asked my friend to go to Larnach Castle and take some photos and she did and she met Fiona. So on Friday in the podcast, when Fiona shares her passion for native NZ plants with we’ll all know just how beautiful this NZ garden is.

Thank you Liz and I def now owe you lunch!

02/02/2024

Yesterday I picked up this packet of dahlia seeds. I had been reminded by a conversation with how much I loved this flower. A small shady London garden is not an idea place to grow them - though each year I do buy the odd tuber but it’s never a great success.
But back in 2019, in May, I bought a packet of Dahlia seeds from the National Dahlia Collection and this was the result that summer. There’s a tiny bit of front space - not a garden more of a retaining wall really, in front of the house and that’s where I put them, in pots.
I had such fun and lots of people stopped and commented when I was watering them or generally pottering in my ‘dahlia field’.
So I am going to try again in 2024

29/01/2024

Viburnum is a great plant to have in your garden because in January when little else is blooming you’ll have the Viburnum and it smells beautiful. This picture is from Penn Allen’s garden in France and it’s a Virburnum fragrans - the January plant story that has taken us to the Lake District and China.

21/01/2024

Signs of Spring - winter aconites

19/01/2024

I’ve sent socks and soap but I think I’ve finally cracked it - seeds are what you send to a 100 year old gardener. You can read about it in the blog on the Our Plant Stories website.

13/01/2024

If you listen to the podcast today - Penn’s Viburnum, you might enjoy these photographs that I took on my trip to Cumbria with .allen and her sister - you can see the places mentioned - the shrine with William Purdom’s initials and the steps Will and Penn’s great grandfather Harry built together which are mentioned in the diaries “filthy day building steps with Will in the garden”. Maybe someone has a Viburnum fragrans blooming - I hope so.

12/01/2024

I’m on the hunt for a vegetable story! I met Alan (in this pic) and Joe when invited me to come and see the work that he as artist in residence and the growers, with his skilful help, have produced. What a joy to spend the afternoon do check out Andrew’s page to see some of the wonderful allotment prints.
(You can also hear Andrew’s plant story - Ep 6, series 1 of Our Plant Stories)

10/01/2024

In readiness for the first episode of this second season of Our Plant Stories podcast, I’d like to prepare you for our trip to Cumbria on Friday. These images were taken on my first night in Windermere and the following morning as I drove to meet .allen and at White Craggs for the recording. There will be more amazing views and a very special story featuring a Viburnum and a friendship that spanned time and distance.

09/01/2024

Arctic Bells already blooming but all around the garden bulbs are emerging …which feels very exciting.

07/01/2024

I love our NZ cabbage tree but you do have to look up to enjoy it! It was in the garden when we moved here and it was then at fence height I think but that was almost 30 years ago!

05/01/2024

Season 2 of Our Plant Stories starts on the 12th Jan and the trailer is live. Very exciting and I already have some lovely plant stories and I am looking forward to gathering more along the way. You can read about the podcast on fhe website.

02/01/2024

Paperwhites always remind me of my friend Jill. When I first moved from Liverpool to London with my collection of plants in pots, I discovered I couldn’t put them on the steps outside our flat. Lovely Jill who lived on the ground floor, generously suggested I put my pots on her little patch and we gardened together whilst I lived there. Some kindnesses you never forget.