Our Plant Stories

I think this Offshoot episode will make you pause next time you find yourself in front of a colourful wall of seed packets. As with many seemingly simple things, the story of a small seed, can in fact be a lot more fascinating and complicated than it might at first appear. So take a journey into the history and science of seeds. We'll ponder the Portuguese, spreading pepper seeds around the world and seed banks in St Petersburg, Syria and the Arctic Circle. We'll hear about the skills of Ethiopian farmers. Adam Alexander, also known as the seed detective and a self confessed vegetable anorak is endlessly curious about seeds and in his new book The Accidental Seed Heroes he is on the trail of the growers who are championing traditional varieties and breeding new ones that will adapt to our changing climate.What can these seed heroes teach us, as we think about what to grow this April?.Takeaways: The inception of plant breeding can be traced back to our Neolithic ancestors, who began selecting wild relatives for cultivation approximately 12,000 years ago, primarily focusing on cereals. Adam Alexander, the author of The Accidental Seed Heroes, emphasises the significance of traditional plant breeding and the critical need to preserve genetic diversity in crops for future food security. The podcast highlights the remarkable adaptive capabilities of open-pollinated crops, which are essential for resilience against climate change and environmental fluctuations. The discussion reveals the importance of seed banks and living collections, such as the Vavilov Institute, in maintaining genetic diversity and supporting agro-biodiversity. Adam Alexander describes his travels to Ethiopia and Albania, where he learned from indigenous farmers who practice sustainable agriculture and maintain a rich diversity of crops. The episode sheds light on the necessity of evolving our agricultural practices to ensure food security in the face of climate change, advocating for the cultivation of diverse and adaptive crop varieties. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Richard Bowman tells the story of seeds salvaged from great uncle Eric's potting shed. The shed, perched on the Yorkshire moors had been untouched for 20 years when Richard was given the task of clearing it out. These seeds, stored in Oxo tins and match boxes, sparking memories of a bygone era, lead to a conversation with the Seed Detective, Adam Alexander, who discusses their potential for germination despite their advanced age. Richard's passion for gardening, is deep rooted and these seeds with their potential to put the colour back into the black and white photos of uncle Eric's garden are more precious than any everyday object. But the seeds have been 'asleep' for so many years, can he get them to grow? If Richard can get them to germinate - they will emerge into a very different climate. Adam, the Seed Detective, talks about why we should all save seeds and shares his knowledge about storing and growing seeds and the need to store them in cool , dry, dark conditions. Have great uncle Eric's seeds survived in the potting shed? Follow the podcast to find out what happens!Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Follow podcast This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In Rough Patch - How a year in the garden brought me back to life; Kathy Slack shares all the lessons she learned from her own story of recovery from depression. She shared her plant story with us in series 2 in an episode called Kathy's Radishes. As we sat by her veg patch she explained why it was so powerful to see life in the soil and discover its potential to grow food. In the conversation in this Offshoot episode she tells us why it was so important for her to get those lessons down on paper. We talk about what she wants readers to take away and as she explains; a book like this when she was struggling would not have solved her problems but she would not have felt so alone. And we find out how a cow can perhaps teach all of us something about just being present. And Kathy being so generous with her recipes and her expertise - I ask her for some advice on what to grow this year!Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Every month I will make a plant story but stories often lead to more stories and I end up publishing Offshoot episodes. So if you 'Follow' the podcast on your podcast app you will never miss an episode.It also makes a real difference if you can spare the time to rate and/or review an episode after you have listened. Spotify and Apple look at these ratings and it helps to get the podcast promoted to other plant lovers. Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Trailer for next months Plant StoryThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

One Summer Lucy Houliston, aged just 6, set herself the mission of raising awareness of weeds as plants that deserve love and attention, just like everything else. And so The Weed Trust was born. She also had a passion for insects, she remembers having pockets full of woodlice! Adult Lucy is now working in urban ecology and she shares the story of The Weed Trust and where it has led her. We went together to the Eden Nature Garden to meet Benny Hawkesbee, who describes himself as a wildlife gardener, he greeted us wearing his favourite dandelion teeshirt! There will be bees, beetles and frogs along the way! Independent podcasts like Our Plant Stories depend on their listeners for help with the costs of making the podcast such as the hosting platform and the editing programme.Using the Buy Me A Coffee platform you can make a one off online donation of £5 and that money will go towards making more episodes. Everyone who buys a 'virtual coffee' will get a shout out on the podcast. The support of listeners means a lot to me. Buy Me A Coffee Every month I will make a plant story but stories often lead to more stories and I end up publishing Offshoot episodes. So if you 'Follow' the podcast on your podcast app you will never miss an episode.It also makes a real difference if you can spare the time to rate and/or review an episode after you have listened. Spotify and Apple look at these ratings and it helps to get the podcast promoted to other plant lovers. Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:A trailer to the next episode of Our Plant StoriesIn the next Offshoot episode I'll be chatting to Kathy Slack, food writer, cook and veg grower, about her new book 'Rough Patch - How a year in the garden brought me back to life'. You can of course also hear her Plant Story episode called Kathy's Radishes. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Imagine 1500 different snowdrops, roaming around an arboretum. Sometimes a new one joins, sometimes a group is divided, sometimes one just wanders off on its own. You need a snowdrop shepherd and at Thenford Arboretum that is Emma Thick.This is the perfect time to grow our knowledge about snowdrops and I think I have found the perfect person, a galanthophile, to help us. If you know the podcast well, you won't be surprised that I am drawn to an expert because in my experience their passion for the plant can prove contagious. So if you want to know which snowdrop to buy, when or where to plant it, how they spread and why they can sometimes be miffy - well you have come to the right podcast!My guests are Emma Thick, a gardener and Rupert Heseltine whose parents developed this garden and I met them both at Thenford Arboretum.The book I mention is called Thenford - The Creation of an English Garden by Michael & Anne HeseltineOur Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyYou can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Mentioned in this episode:Buy Me A CoffeeBuy Me A CoffeeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

This podcast episode delves into the inspiring story behind the Daffodil Project, a community-driven initiative that has resulted in the planting of over 12 million daffodil bulbs across New York City since its inception in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.Sally Flatman speaks with Constance Casey who was working for the New York Parks Department when the gift of one million daffodil bulbs , was given to the city by Hans van Waardenburg and the city of Rotterdam following on from the attack on the World Trade Centre. That Autumn as the community took on the task of planting the bulbs, they were creating "a ribbon of yellow around the island of Manhattan" that would bloom the following Spring.Adam Ganser, the Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, joins the conversation to discuss the ongoing efforts to maintain and expand this initiative, emphasising the importance of community involvement and equitable access to parks. The episode highlights not only the significance of the daffodil project as a living memorial but also the broader impact of green spaces on public health and community wellbeing. Of course we also learn how to grow the plant ourselves though as Adam assures us: "its hard to screw it up"!Our Plant Stories is back and once again we will be sharing stories about plants. You can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyTakeaways: The Daffodil Project began as a response to the tragedy of 9/11, aiming to bring beauty and hope to New York City. Every fall, thousands of volunteers participate in planting daffodil bulbs. The project has distributed around 12 to 13 million daffodil bulbs over 23 years, making it a significant and beloved initiative. Daffodils are hardy and easy to grow, making them accessible for both new and experienced gardeners alike. The initiative highlights the importance of parks and open spaces in urban areas, fostering a sense of community. New Yorkers for Parks advocates for equitable funding for parks, ensuring all neighbourhoods have access to green spaces. Mentioned in this episode:Buy Me A CoffeeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Season 3 of Our Plant Stories will be starting on the 4th February 2025. These plant stories will once again take us all over the world. We'll be meeting gardeners, botanists and historians and along the way of course we will all learn how to grow the plants.If you have a story that you would like me to follow up in this new series you can email me - sally@ourplantstories.comTo find out about the plants featured in all the episodes just go to the websiteOur Plant Stories website where you can also subscribe to the blog Our Plant Stories blog which will mean you'll be first to hear about upcoming episodes. The series is presented and produced by Sally Flatman. Follow podcast Buy Me A Coffee Instagram This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

You may well have heard about the New York High Line but did you know that there are plans afoot for a Highline in London? It has got the same design team as the NY one and Piet Oudolf will be doing the planting but before we get to the plants - there's a 'bit of treacle' to wade through.Take this audio tour so you can start to become familiar with this incredibly exciting venture and hear about seeing 'trains in the wild'! I hope in the podcast we will follow its progress. There's plenty of imagination and tenacity at work here and we as plant lovers, can get on board too.Simon Pitkeathley, the CEO of the Camden Highline is our guide.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Buy Me A Coffee

Take an audio walk through a park in the sky above Manchester. We'll walk a route that spans 130 years of history; where once there were trains now there are plants and pedestrians. We perhaps associate the National Trust with stately homes, grand gardens and stretches of countryside but this episode may make you think again.And how does the Castlefield viaduct link with an iconic structure in a famous British seaside town? Kate Picker from the National Trust is our guide.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Buy Me A Coffee

Picture yourself in a garden. Do you get your phone out to take photos of the plants and send them to friends and family? Maybe a swift selfie! Perhaps like me you google the plants - wanting to identify them.Now picture a bench in the same garden but this time you and anyone else around you are just sitting, not a phone in sight. You're in the equivalent of the 'quiet carriage on the train' - and as you sit, you start to experience the garden in a different way.Welcome to Silent Space the brainchild of garden writer Liz Ware.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyYou can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Mentioned in this episode:Finalist in the Independent Podcast Awards 2024Check out the blog to see what happens!Our Plant Stories blogBuy Me A Coffee

Some of us (I think I mean me!) buy flowers, rummage for a vase, search for the scissors and then maybe tweak them a little bit before standing back to admire our handiwork. This is lovely but it is not art.In this podcast episode we travel to Strawberry Hill flower festival where floral artists take British grown flowers to a whole new level and they do create art. Follow up and down the stairs of this small gothic mansion, as it is transformed for one weekend into a feast of flowers. The theme this year is 'Nature unbound.' At the end of this sustainable flower festival all that will be left is a compost heap.Guests:Leigh Chappell and Janne Ford are the co-founders and creators of this festival now in its sixth year.Leigh Chappell grew up in Wales where she studied Botanical Illustration. She later moved to London and worked in graphic design before decided she wanted to be a floral designer. She is passionate about flowers. Follow her Instagram account. Janne Ford is a floral photographer. "I use natural light, composition and colour to create emotive floral imagery." She works from her garden studio at home, growing many of the flowers she uses in her designs. Follow her instagram account In this episode you also hear from:Philippa Stewart of Just Dahlias who you can also hear in two other episodes - 'Dahlia bonus' and 'Philippa's dahlias'. Andy Monaghan - who on his website says: "With a background in dance, I bring movement to my floral work, crafting a free and natural aesthetic inspired by the vibrant, changing seasons".Lucy Phillips who describes herself on her website as: "grower and supplier of unusual and unruly dried flowers. Part of the slow flower movement."Kara Johnson of Floral Odyssey, Kara spent 14 years as a Creative Producer in the design industry before becoming a floral designer.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard Levy You can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Mentioned in this episode:Our Plant Stories website

Have you fallen in love with dahlias this year? Perhaps you have loved them for many years. But have you ever thought of harvesting the seed from your favourite blooms and creating your own unique flowers? Listen to hear how this is exactly what Philippa Stewart has been doing for the past few years.We also learn about the relationship between the grower and the floral designer as Philippa in conversation with Leigh Chappell, describes how they work together to produce stunning installations using Philippa's flowers.You can find Philippa Stewart, a dahlia farmer, at her Instagram account: Just DahliasLeigh Chappell is a floral designer - you can see her work on her website here. Or follow Leigh on Instagram. Leigh will be designing with Philippa's unique dahlia blooms at the Strawberry Hill flower festival which takes place in Horace Walpole's 18th Century gothic villa (Twickenham, London) between the Friday 13th - Sunday 15th September 2024. 30 floral designers will be "pushing the boundaries of sustainable floristry". Booking is advised.02.00 How do you become a dahlia farmer?05.10 The first 70 dahlias08.00 Selling the first bucket of flowers09.45 Can you dry dahlia flowers?12.27 Growing from seed15.00 Working with a floral designer20.20 What's a floral installation?22.30 The Japanese art of Ikebana23.30 How to save dahlia seed30.15 When to sow your dahlia seedsOur Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyYou can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Mentioned in this episode:Our Plant Stories website

Hill Close was a pasture until 1845 when its owner decided to divide it up into gardens. Individual plots where Victorians could rent a space to tend their plants, build a summer house, relax with their family. These were detached gardens for people who had no outdoor space where they lived but a little bit of money to rent one nearby. Once there were many such gardens in the UK. Where did they go? Why did Hill Close survive? And who were the people who gardened here?Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyYou can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Mentioned in this episode:Buy Me A CoffeeFind out about the Hill Close Gardens fundraising campaignOur Plant Stories website Follow, Rate and Review Our Plant StoriesFollow podcast

Cacti are among the world's most threatened species. Jared Margulies research led him to the extraordinary illegal trade in these plants. Hear him talk about his work and his book The Cactus Hunters. Who are stealing the cacti and where are they taking them?You can click the Buy Me A Coffee link here or on the website to buy a virtual coffee and join the crew and get a shout out. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee THANK YOU!Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyCan I share my plant story with you? YES PLEASE! I called this OUR Plant Stories for a reason and that is that I love to hear from listeners wherever you are in the world!You can email me Sally@ourplantstories.com and tell me your plant story. That's all you need to do - I'll do the rest. I'll work out who we can talk to. Can we find someone who shares your passion for the plant, they maybe in the same country as you or the other side of the world. Mentioned in this episode:Follow, Rate and Review Our Plant StoriesFollow podcast

A Disocactus x hybridus or forest cactus but in Lindy's family this particular plant is known as Sally's Cactus! It is also sometimes known by a common name: orchid cactus. In finding out about Sally who gave the original cutting we also learn how to get these cacti to bloom, what "soil' you should use to pot them up and where you should put them. This is all thanks to Sarah Gerrard Jones who is also known as The Plant Rescuer, who says: “I just think there is something so... beautiful about all the care and attention that has gone into nurturing this plant and when that person passes away I feel all that love is still contained there within every single cell of those plants and I feel that's something you can really feel.”Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyCan I share my plant story with you? YES PLEASE! I called this OUR Plant Stories for a reason and that is that I love to hear from listeners wherever you are in the world!You can email me Sally@ourplantstories.com and tell me your plant story. That's all you need to do - I'll do the rest. I'll work out who we can talk to. Can we find someone who shares your passion for the plant, they maybe in the same country as you or the other side of the world. Can I dig into more plant stories?YES! You can check out the website where there are lots of photographs of plants and how to grow instructions. Our Plant Stories website You can also follow the weekly blog where you will get the behind the scenes lowdown on making the podcast and you could also contribute - readers have suggested gardens to visit, plants to feature, experts to contact. Our Plant Stories blog And you can follow more plants over on my Instagram account Instagram Can you grow this podcast?! Well we can grow it together by doing a few things. Number one is by following, rating and reviewing it on your podcast app...be that Apple or Spotify whichever one you use because then other people will discover it. Think of your review as some fertiliser or a good mulch!Follow the podcast on your preferred app here: Listen to Our Plant Stories We don't yet have a sponsor but we do have a Coffee Crew and if you become part of it, you'll get a shout-out on the next episode and you'll know you have supported this independent podcast. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee Mentioned in this episode:Follow, Rate and Review Our Plant StoriesFollow podcast Buy Me A Coffee

How's your knowledge of Latin plant names? Meet Elizabeth Richmond she loves Latin plant names and she chalks them around the plants she finds growing between pavement cracks or along kerbsides. She does also chalk the common name too!Why does she do it? And how an earth did she get started?Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyCan you grow this podcast?! Well we can grow it together by doing a few things. Number one is by following, rating and reviewing it on your podcast app...be that Apple or Spotify whichever one you use because then other people will discover it. Think of your review as some fertiliser or a good mulch!Follow the podcast on your preferred app here: Listen to Our Plant Stories We don't yet have a sponsor but we do have a Coffee Crew and if you become part of it, you'll get a shout-out on the next episode and you'll know you have supported this independent podcast. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. Buy Me A Coffee Can I dig into more plant stories?YES! You can check out the website where there are lots of photographs of plants and how to grow instructions. Our Plant Stories website You can also follow the weekly blog where you will get the behind the scenes lowdown on making the podcast and you could also contribute - readers have suggested gardens to visit, plants to feature, experts to contact. Our Plant Stories blog And you can follow more plants over on my Instagram account Instagram Can I share my plant story with you? YES PLEASE! I called this OUR Plant Stories for a reason and that is that I love to hear from listeners wherever you are in the world!You can email me Sally@ourplantstories.com and tell me your plant story. That's all you need to do - I'll do the rest. I'll work out who we can talk to. Can we find someone who shares your passion for the plant, they maybe in the same country as you or the other side of the world. Mentioned in this episode:Buy Me A CoffeeFollow, Rate and Review Our Plant StoriesFollow podcast

"Every child needs someone to introduce them to nature" - Rachel Carson author of Silent SpringIn this episode we hear how one woman came up with the idea for a GCSE in Natural History - a way for children to be introduced to nature. So where did the idea come from, what would an exam look like, and how far has she got? She had the idea in 2011.In this episode we learn what it takes to introduce a new exam and the reasons that despite many setbacks, Mary Colwell is not giving up, indeed she is determined to see this through.Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally FlatmanThe music is Fade to Black by Howard LevyYou can check out the website where there are lots of photographs of plants and how to grow instructions... just waiting for you! Our Plant Stories website You can also follow the weekly blog where you will get the behind the scenes lowdown on making the podcast and you could also contribute - readers have suggested gardens to visit, plants to feature, experts to contact. Our Plant Stories blog You can also follow the plants over on my Instagram account Instagram Well we can grow it together by doing a few things. Number one is by rating and reviewing it on your podcast app...be that Apple or Spotify whichever one you use because then other people will discover it. Think of your review some fertiliser or a good mulch!You can also support it with coffee! Buy Me A Coffee We don't yet have a sponsor but we have a Coffee Crew and if you become part of it, you'll get a shout-out on the next episode and you'll know you have supported this independent podcast. Everyone shares their stories for free and I make it because I love it but there are costs like the hosting platform and the editing programmes etc. YES PLEASE! I called this OUR Plant Stories for a reason and that is that I love to hear from listeners wherever you are in the world!You can email me Sally@ourplantstories.com and tell me about your plant story. That's all you need to do - I'll do the rest. I 'll work out who we can talk to, can we find someone who shares your passion or can help you, if like in one story, Lynne needed to know the name of the peony her mum grew.Mentioned in this episode:Buy Me A Coffee

Why is a tiny plant from Janet Hickenbottom's childhood so important? And what was the special thing that her mum Margaret shared with Janet and her brother that has stayed with her for all her life?Lee Connelly is also a bit obsessed by this thing and he's on a mission to make sure we don't miss out on it....and even if we weren't given it as children, like Janet was, he promises we can still get it.And learn to grow a plant that you can literally fit anywhere - it only requires the tiniest of spaces and it's guaranteed to spread.Our Plant Stories is Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman.Remember if you listen on Google Podcasts you need to switch to a new podcast app which you can find here: https://ourplantstories.captivate.fm/listenMentioned in this episode:Buy Me A CoffeeBuy Me A Coffee

When we think of 'allotment history' we perhaps have images from the two world wars with the population being urged to cultivate every spare bit of land from parks to bomb craters. But to really understand our relationship with these spaces we need to go back much further in time. Lally Snow has written a book called My Family and Other Seedlings and in this episode she tells us how she has woven this history into her own experiences of growing food on an allotment with the aid of 3 under 5 year olds.Buy me a coffeeProduced and Presented by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black Howard Levy Mentioned in this episode:Buy Me A CoffeeBuy me a CoffeeBuy me a Coffee is a way to support me to make this podcast and every virtual coffee you buy goes towards Our Plant Stories. Thank You!Buy Me A Coffee

Kathy Slack brings us the first plant story to feature a vegetable, it is a root vegetable; a radish. They may be tiny but as you will hear in this plant story the impact of growing radish seeds was rather enormous. Kathy has a passion for vegetables so we not only discuss her journey growing them but other questions too - if you were to come back as a vegetable what would it be? Spoiler alert she seems to favour being a broad bean not a radish!Hear her in conversation with Lally Snow, who we first met in Mint. Lally has just published a book about the history of allotments in the UK woven with her own story of taking on a plot and growing vegetables with the help of 3 under 5 year olds. They discuss their shared attitude of just 'having a go'.And of course we also learn how to grow the plant. 5 weeks from now you too could be eating a radish slammer, made with your own radishes, just add butter and salt!All the details are on the episode page.Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman Buy me a CoffeeMusic Howard LevyMentioned in this episode:Buy me a CoffeeBuy me a Coffee is a way to support me to make this podcast and every virtual coffee you buy goes towards Our Plant Stories. Thank You!

Philippa Steward of Justdahlias admits that her passion for dahlias has become somewhat of an obsession! So who better than Philippa to share with us that enthusiasm and love of this beautiful flower in its many shapes and colours. Philippa has a plant story for later in this series but I couldn't resist talking to her about dahlias now so we could all share her excitement and plant some for this summer.In this bonus episode we learn about planting tubers, she shares how to select your varieties and there is promise of gathering dahlia seeds in the future.Do follow Philippa on Instagram at Justdahlias.Produced and presented by Sally FlatmanMusic Fade to Black Howard Levy

Judith Kleinman had a Silver Birch tree outside her bedroom window when she was growing up. She now has three beautiful Silver Birch trees outside her back door in her small courtyard garden. But to understand why these trees are her plant story you need to go back to her first student summer and a terrible traffic accident that left her in a spinal injuries unit. She tells her story and returns to the hospital to see a garden that has been built by the charity Horatio's Garden and meet the Head Gardener Ashley Edwards. Will she find Silver Birch trees?You can see photographs of the trees on ourplantstories.com and of course we learn how to grow the plant.Judith has written a book - Finding Quiet Strength which I think draws inspiration from these strong and flexible trees.Presented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

A short bonus episode in which David Gedye pieces together the story of how the Monkey Puzzle tree made its way to the UK and how it became so popular with gardeners in the country.David has been researching this tree and its links to his family for the past 68 years. He wrote a book about it, sadly sold out but luckily for us he shares his knowledge here.Presented and Produced: Sally FlatmanFade to Black by Howard Lake

David Gedye's mum told him a plant story when he was just 10 years old. It involved a very famous Monkey Puzzle tree and his great great grandfather, a head gardener. That story has led him on a lifetime trail, 68 years so far, to learn more about head gardener Philip Frost and to find out about that tree. Could the story be true - did his great great grandfather carry Monkey Puzzle seed in a tin in his waistcoat pocket and plant the famous Dropmore Monkey Puzzle tree?He shares his story here. Do take a look at the episode page on the website to see the wonderful photograph of David's great great grandfather beside the tree. Presented and Produced by Sally FlatmanFade to Black by Howard Lake

When Andrea bought a new house there was a Monkey Puzzle tree in the front garden. She wasn't keen, it was marked down to go but 12 years later it is still there. Find out why in this Monkey Puzzle Plant Story.These trees first came to the UK in 1795 but they didn't really start to become popular till the 1850s. Queen Victoria saw the tree and wanted one for Prince Albert.We have a Chilean botanist in the podcast to help us understand the tree, learn how to grow it and unravel that story about the original Monkey Puzzle nuts being stolen off a dinner table in Santiago.As ever there are lots of photos and all the information on the episode page on the website. Produced and presented by Sally Flatman Music by Howard Lake

Who were the celebrity gardeners of the 1850's and why were they important to a fledgling charity?The charity still exists today, Mona Abboud (Ep 3 Mona's Corokia) has decided to leave her garden to it - it's called Perennial. It's dedicated to looking after people working in horticulture and their families, at any stage of life.The charity's roots go back almost 200 years and garden historian, Francesca Murray has, for her Phd, spent many hours in its archive. She shares a fascinating story for this Offshoot episode. You can see photographs of original documents on the website: Our Plant Stories.com Our Plant Stories is presented and produced by Sally Flatman Fade to Black by Howard Lake

Never say to Mona Abboud - "this plant is only for trade". This is a wonderful story of one woman's hunt for a plant, there's detective work, there's blackmail! The result is a beautiful New Zealand garden in North London created by a woman who has never set foot in New Zealand.Mona is on a one woman mission to get us all to love corokia - see if she can persuade you too, aided by Fiona Eadie, the author of 100 best native plants for New Zealand gardens. As always this is the podcast where knowledgeable, passionate people will be teaching you how to grow the plant they love.All the information, photographs and growing advice is on the website.Presented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

"What is a Purdom" by Vicky Aspin's own admission this was her first reaction to being sent to the Purdom bed in Holehird gardens. Then her curiosity was aroused by a name plaque on a bench: For Three Native Lakeland Gardeners, William Purdom and sons William and Harry and from that her hunt began...who was William Purdom?Her searches before the era of the internet, led her eventually to China and the Purdom Memorial Forest Park and you can hear the story of her search and Purdom's life in this Offshoot episode recorded on a sunny Autumn day, sitting on the Purdom bench in Holehird Gardens in Cumbria. As always there are photographs on the website.Presented and produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Season 2 of Our Plant Stories is here! And we begin with a very beautiful story from Penn Allen, a listener to the podcast who contacted me with a plant story that takes us to the Lake District. Diaries from Penn's Great Grandmother Alice Hough and her husband Harry reveal a garden built with love in the midst of loss and a friendship with Will Purdom that spanned years and continents leading to plants from China being planted on a rock overlooking Windermere.To understand more about mindset of Will Purdom, we talk to Tom Hart Dyke who has built the World Garden at Lullingstone Castle. We also learn how to grow the Viburnum thanks to wonderfully knowledgeable gardeners at Holehird gardens in Cumbria.All the information about the podcast is on the website.Presented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Our Plant Stories is back for a second season and once again the plant stories are going to take us all over the world. To follow and dig into the stories we'll be meeting gardeners, botanists and historians and along the way of course we will learn how to grow the plants.Season 2 starts 12th January 2024. If you have a story that you would like me to follow up in this new series you can email me - sally@ourplantstories.comTo find out about the plants featured in all the episodes just go to the website where you can also subscribe to a weekly blog which will mean you'll be first to hear about upcoming episodes. The series is presented and produced by Sally Flatman. Instagram: ourplantstories_podcast

Welcome to a bumper crop of plant stories! This is Pick of the Year but not just from my podcast, it includes 3 other plant podcasters too. We've all picked some clips from the past year that we hope you will enjoy. So thanks to Jane Perrone from On the Ledge, Sarah Wilson from Roots and All and M.T. O'Donnell of Scotland Grows. There are conversations about spiders and sacrificial lambs (well hostas actually), difficult decisions about felling trees and the value of researching local hedgerows. Jane, Sarah and M.T also talk about making their podcasts. I love the way Sarah describes herself as 'a kid chasing a butterfly'. All are connecting people with a passion for plants and it's been a real joy to talk to these fellow podcasters.I will put all the details of their podcasts on the website www.ourplantstories.com If you have a plant story you want me to investigate, you can email me:Sally@ourplantstories.comMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

I'd like to transport you to Levens Hall and a garden that was created in 1694 when topiary was the height of fashion and taste. Over the intervening 329 years this Lake District garden has had only 10 Head Gardeners and each has cared for and clipped that topiary. We first met the current head gardener, Chris Crowder, in Episode 8 in conversation with Diana Boston about the slow nature of gardening with topiary. You can of course listen to that Plant Story and its Offshoot. Hearing Chris talk about his annual job of clipping some 100 pieces of topiary was fascinating, so I went to find out more. I hope you enjoy this visit to the garden and you can see photographs on the website.Produced and Presented by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

A short bonus episode to help us celebrate the UK's National Apple Day! Listen for just 15 minutes and you will have some fascinating facts both historical and horticultural to share with others this weekend or just anytime! And I hope you will look at the trees, the apples and the pips in a slightly different light. See pictures of the Reverend Wilkes on the website along with links to all the organisations and charities mentioned in this episode.Here's the original Plant Story and Offshoot about apples.Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

In October, 140 years ago, Mr R. Gilbert of 'the Gardens Burghley House in Stamford' exhibited the Peasgood's nonsuch apple at the National Apple conference held by the RHS in Chiswick. In Episode 5, we learned of the Peasgood's nonsuch; apples the size of small training footballs.Mr R. Gilbert was a prize winning Victorian gardener in charge of the walled and pleasure gardens at Burghley House. His staff: 120 gardeners! The walled gardens have hardly been touched since the late sixties. The current Head Gardener has a passion for walled gardens and a vision to bring this one back to life and there will be Peasgood's nonsuch apples in there. Join Joe Whitehead for a tour.You can see pictures of the fruit galleries, mushroom house and walled garden on the website.Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

We return to two lovely florists with a passion for flowers in this Offshoot episode. We first met Hannah and Maya in Episode 9, when Hannah told us the story of her plant tattoos, which honour and remind her of her mum. Maya introduced us to floriography - the language of flowers. Hannah offered to take me to New Covent Garden Market where she goes to buy flowers which is a place I have always wanted to go. So this Offshoot takes us to the market and hears more from Hannah and Maya about working as florists.You can see pictures of New Covent Garden Market on the website.Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

We first visited the Manor in Hemingford Grey in Episode 8, admiring the topiary: crowns and orbs that were shaped for the Queen's coronation. But this is a garden that holds many stories, including airmen from the second world war, picnicking on the lawn and the adventures of the children from the Green Knowe story books.You can see photographs of this special garden on the episode page.Check out Episode 8 for everything you need to know about topiary including how to start your own.Presented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy + Abide with Me - Ernest Lough

Imagine taking your 'babies' from show to show to show. That's what Vicky Meads has been doing with her Hostas all Summer. We first met Vicky back in May when she was gearing up for the season. I caught up with her first at RHS Malvern and then at the big one - the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This is a chance to see the shows through the eyes of the grower. Can she achieve that prestigious Gold Medal? Check out Episode 7 and the shownotes for everything you need to know about growing hostas. Presented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Jane Perrone, as a small child was given a very responsible job in the school library, involving Spider plants and look what it has led to - a houseplant podcast called On the Ledge and a book 'Legends of the Leaf'. I hope, if you have a forgotten Spider plant somewhere in your home, this episode will inspire you to repot it and show it a little more love! We learn where and how Chlorophytum comosum to give it the Latin name grows in the wild in South Africa and we hear from two people who hold National Plant collections of them. I have been learning about Variegatum, Vittatum, Ocean and Bonnie - there's a lot to learn.You can find lots of photographs of these plants growing in the wild and more information about them on the website ourplantstories.comIf you have a plant story you want me to investigate you can email me: sally@ourplantstories.comMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

In Episode 3 we heard about Fig Tree cuttings carried by the Italian Immigrants to new homes in America. In this Fig tree Off-Shoot we hear about Fig tree cuttings that were a gift from the Pope in Rome to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 500 years ago! And the three Fig Trees are still growing in the Lambeth Palace courtyard in London. Nick Stewart Smith has just published a book called The 1000 Year Old Garden about Lambeth Palace garden and in this episode he describes what it is like to garden in a place with such a long history. You can find all the information about this episode on the website www.ourplantstories.comPresented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Over 30 years ago Emma Dogliani planted a Magnolia tree. The reason she planted the tree was a sad one, a miscarriage in her first pregnancy. But that tree over the years also became a great source of joy. Recently she moved house. She would really like to take a cutting from that tree for her new home. She's tried once but it didn't work, can we help her?You can find all the advice and photos on the website www.ourplantstories.comPresented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

It's 200 years since the first Camellia arrived at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia. This is truly a plant story that spans continents and history but it's not all about the past. A new Camellia garden is about to be planted and there's been a 'Camellia Ark' to find and collect plants from across Australia. You can find photographs, information and bonus audio on the website www.ourplantstories.comPresented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

As Summer approaches and we shed the sweaters, I am sure you will start to notice people's tattoos. Hannah is a florist, so if you met her, you might not be surprised by her plant tattoos. But the selection of each plant has a story and they are interwoven with her Mum. This is an episode that touches on love, grief and memory. You can see Hannah's plant tattoos and learn this week how to grow freesias, on the website. Music: Fade to Black by Howard LevyPresented and produced by Sally Flatman

"The individual trees take on their own character - it's like your garden is peopled and generations of humans have passed by, scurrying about at their feet". Two gardeners discuss slow gardening; topiary. Planting a yew bush that could live up to 1000 years.Find lots of pictures and information on the website: www.ourplantstories.comFade to Black by Howard LevyPresented and Produced by Sally Flatman

Hostas - discuss them with your friends and you inevitably end up talking about slugs and snails. Unless you are Alison, whose hostas grow unchallenged with not a snail in sight. For the rest of us, Vicky Meads of New Forest Hostas is a fount of knowledge. Who knew you could eat them and that a sacrificial lamb may save your hostas from snails. There is lots of information in the show notes on the website www.ourplantstories.comPresented and produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

A Willow tree on a beautiful English river bank. A big pillow of nature where you can sit surrounded by leaves. Known also to the artist Andrew Carter as 'the tree I fell out of' and the inspiration for a wonderful print. Can we recreate that special place in our own gardens?Find pictures and information in the show notes at www.ourplantstories.comPresented and Produced by Sally FlatmanMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Andy Peasgood has a childhood memory of hopping around under a huge apple tree that had apples the size of small footballs. Is his memory playing tricks? Anna in BC says her Great Grandmother grew the tree from an apple pip but can we find Anna? The story of the Peasgood's nonsuch apple tree takes us on a journey and we learn that apples are like humans! Find masses of information about this in the show notes on the website: www.ourplantstories.comMusic: Fade to Black by Howard LevyOur Plant Stories is produced and presented by Sally Flatman

This week we share a story about mint, picked for a tea and a time to sit and talk. Except that is not so easy when you are now in London and your family are in Kyiv, but still Anya describes it as 'a plant which keeps us together.' We hear about a chain of gardening knowledge passed through 4 generations of Ukrainian women. We also talk about how people garden even in the midst of war with war journalist Lalage Snow. And Jean Levy the holder of a National Mint collection shares her passion for this plant.You can find all the names of the plants mentioned in the show notes on the website: Ourplantstories.comMusic: Fade to Black by Howard LevyOur Plant Stories is produced and presented by Sally Flatman

In Dion's backyard in Boston there was a Fig tree. Every Fall, his dad, watched by the six children, would wrap it up to protect it against the Winter weather. But where did the Fig tree come from and why was it so important to him? Mary Menniti runs the Italian Garden Project and she knows the answers to these questions. She has travelled across America gathering the stories of these Fig trees.Music by Howard Levy Show notes on the website www.ourplantstories.com

A Passion flower, Passiflora in a South London garden that seemed as glamorous and exotic as the grandmother who grew it; both a little mysterious. A grower - Myles Steward Irvine, who read an article in a Sunday paper, sent off for a catalogue and ended up breeding them. What is the attraction of this plant? Spanish priests called it - La flor de las cinco heridas or the flower with five wounds: ‘A lot of people think the passion is to do with love but of course it's the crucifixion.'Show notes at www.ourplantstories.comMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

There was one plant in Lynne and Gilly McCadden's childhood garden that the sisters were never allowed to go near or to touch. It was one of their mum's favourite plants - a peony. Now Lynne is desperate to find out it's name, all she knows is it was scarlet. Can Claire Austin, plantswoman and nursery owner with 40 years of experience in horticulture, identify the lost peony? She certainly shares a wealth of advice and knowledge to help all of us grow this glamorous plant. Show notes at www.ourplantstories.comMusic: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Listen to this short trailer of a brand new podcast featuring plant stories.Series one will start on the 2nd April. Do get in touch via www.ourplantstories.com if you have a plant story you would like to share. You can also get a sneak preview of some of the forthcoming stories via the website.The series is presented and produced by Sally Flatman and you can see more about the series on the Instagram account @ourplantstories_podcast