The Garden Log

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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.

Ben Dark


    • Oct 18, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 103 EPISODES

    4.8 from 53 ratings Listeners of The Garden Log that love the show mention: gardening, ben, witty, voice, wonderful, fantastic, interesting, stories, listening.



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    Latest episodes from The Garden Log

    Hellos and Goodbyes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 5:55


    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  

    How to keep plants alive (and other mysteries)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 34:00


    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.  

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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2022 39:58


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 32:34


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 30:47


    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  

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 36:49


    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    

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 34:19


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 31:36


    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

    #95 Rose pruning with King Midas: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 32:18


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 27:51


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 26:58


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

    Life in the Ruins: Mutant brambles and runaway figs in the deserted village of Campo di Brenzone

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 38:16


    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

    Kitchen Garden Confidential

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 36:50


    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

    Bernstorff Slotshave 1: A good walk foiled

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 28:25


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 29:36


    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. 

    #88 Goodbye to all that

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 32:05


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2021 32:44


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 33:18


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 27:44


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 28:14


    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.

    #83 Hard edges, cold winds and twelve thousand little droplets of hope: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 24:47


    In this season-straddling episode of the Garden Log Ben discusses the art of horticultural gossip, rides a new machine, names many beetles and get the business of bulb planting under way. ko-fi.com/bendark

    #82 Scything for beginners, rose pruning for experts and lawn mowing for everyone

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 27:51


    n this hot and humid episode of Britain’s Best Gardening Podcast Ben deals with a rambling rose, learns a new technique and tries to hide the damage of midsummer heat.   https://ko-fi.com/bendark

    #81 Yellow trees, purple trees and Isabella Trees + naked calendars, shredded perennials and a new vegetable garden.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2020 26:36


    In this wind buffeted episode of the Garden Log Ben takes a risk in the compost heap, plants some very special trees and batters the hedges.

    #80 How to choose bog plants for dry gardens, plant a wild urn and massively amplify astrantias

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020 40:19


    This week the gardeners spread outrageous herbaceous perennials to all corners of the garden and report from the meadow. Ligularia 'Zepter' Centranthus ruber 'Albus' Rodgersia aesculifolia Astrantia major 'Gill Richardson’ Iris 'Dusky Challenger' Geranium 'Sirak' Cynara cardunculus Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunray' The Albertus Oak Mysteries: Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0871XW1HC Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B084TRFVNF Ko-fi.com/bendark

    #79 The economy of beauty: tree ferns, aconites, thermopsis and frost

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 31:55


    In this daring episode of Britain’s favourite gardening podcast Ben comes up the wrong side of the weather, explains how to divide dahlias and encounters an exciting new plant. www.ko-fi.com/bendark

    #78 Creative weeding, lily beetles and impossibly clashing shades of tulip

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 31:11


    In this episode of the Garden Log Ben returns after three weeks in lockdown to find the grounds more beautiful than ever. Also: aphids, cleomes and the hart’s tongue fern. https://ko-fi.com/bendark

    #77 How to argue about tulips, judge front gardens and appreciate euphorbia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 32:28


    In this locked-down edition of the Garden Log Ben takes a horticultural stroll, makes a case for blowsy tulips and reconsiders the London amelanchier. Soothing noises for troubled times   thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com   bendark.com

    #76 How to make a very new tree look old and beautiful, plant a heather canyon and measure a life in rosebuds

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 32:47


    Ben modifies a large pinus sylvestris, plants green mondo grass and develops a nostalgic new form of gardening. All this and more in horticultures most discursive podcast.

    #75 How to select hardy geraniums, fake the wild look and survive two storms in a week

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 32:55


    In this blustery episode of the Garden Log Ben and the team carry out some subterranean demolition, find a tree corpse, and plant 458 herbaceous perennials

    #74 Training figs, burying barns under clematis montana, and cutting back hybrid hellebores: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020 24:14


    In this January episode of The Garden Log Ben ties in fruit trees, makes a bet on a daffodil and rescues some asters from a heap of dumped clay. Also, musings on the season to come, general plant chat and very nice sunrise. All this and more on England’s finest horticultural podcast!

    #73 Twenty-three thuja, two-hundred-thousand worms and one almighty disaster - happy new year everybody!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 30:44


    In this episode of the Garden Log Ben celebrates very happy news, makes some awful horticultural mistakes, plants roses and talks of irrigation.

    #72 How to lift dahlias, grow summer fruiting raspberries, naturalise scilla and be a horticultural vigilante

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2019 31:43


    In this early December episode of the Garden Log Ben plants bulbs at three per second, worries about citrus trees, looks into the rooting capacity of autumn soil and encounters mob justice in Finsbury Park

    #71 Gardeners’ wages, frozen toes and martagon lilies: A horticultural podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 24:37


    In this November episode of the garden log Ben rescues a flopped wisteria, plants vast quantities of spring bulbs, starts the mulching and discusses the best technique for clearing leaves from saturated soil.

    #70 Agapanthus and autumn flowering snowdrops

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2019 30:52


    In this blazing autumnal episode of the Garden Log Ben takes a trip to Mottisfont Abbey and RHS Wisley. Also, hellebores, peonies, variegated yew, mud eating and much much more

    #69 Hot tea and rainclouds: a week in an English garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2019 26:26


    Head Gardener Ben Dark considers the dock, rejects time travel, splits bananas and plants cyclamen

    #68 Slug life, magnolia death and a ground elder invasion: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 30:15


    This week the Garden Log gets into the weeds. Barrowloads of brambles, some nettles, wood avens, ground elder, dandelions and purple cherry plum. Also! Dog's tooth violets, camassias, water pipes and flooded lanes.

    #67 Three-thousand true blue pansies, playing with epimedium and finding the right path for candelabra primulas: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2019 25:54


    In this sun-kissed episode of the garden log we mix bedding plants with grasses, plant up an ancient stone trough and slander Edwardian sailors. A podcast for people who like gardens and the people who garden them.

    #66 The trouble with dahlias, meadow mowing and stylish underplanting for the stylish gardener

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2019 26:13


    In this episode of the Garden Log we scythe the last sweet grass of summer, spread fine mulch and sings a cricket’s song. As mentioned on the podcast, to see me at the landscape show register here: http://www.landscapeshow.co.uk/register

    #65 Planting a pagan yew grove, playing the delphinium blues and preaching the wallflower gospel: a gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2019 25:13


    In this episode of the Garden Log Ben summons the Elder Gods, meets a canary fancying diamond magnate and trims the wisteria.   Solomon Joel’s garden party - https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-foxhill-estate-1926-online   Hampton Court: Our growing year - https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/hampton-court-gardens/our-growing-year/#gs.xkd84m   Gherado Cibo’s plantain - https://www.moleiro.com/en/books-of-medicine/dioscorides-by-mattioli-and-cibo/miniatura/broadleaf-plantain-dioscorides   If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and sharing on social media!

    #64 High summer meadows, the hottest day on record and falling in love with a saxifraga: A gardening podcast.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2019 29:09


    In liquidating heat Ben plants, digs, sweats and chops when he should be drinking in the shade - all in the name of Beauty! Also, how to look at a familiar garden in a totally new light. This and much more in episode 64 of the award winning Garden Log podcast.

    #63 Poppies, roses, wood sorrels and willow herbs: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2019 24:01


    Weeds take centre stage in high summer as Ben turns farmers wife and chops off their roots with a carving knife.   Thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com

    #62 Acanthus out, clematis up, lawns in a horrible yellow mess: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 30:27


    In this week’s heat-drenched episode of the Garden Log Ben makes a terrible mistake, battles powdery mildew and coats himself in a layer of thorns, twigs and earwigs. No other half-hour contains more gardening - fact!   Thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com   Twitter: @bensgarden   Instagram: ben_dark_   Facebook: The Garden Log Podcast

    #61 Spent delphiniums, silver ragwort and prehistoric planting: A gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2019 23:40


    In this episode of the Garden Log Ben cuts back the mint in preparation for mojito season, erects a rhomboid arch and talks extensively about stinging nettles. Enjoy!

    #60 Adventures in the cosmos hole: red thread, ranunculus, obelisks and chalk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2019 22:08


    In this weeks episode Ben ruins a York stone path, heaves some iron and reflects on horticultural lessons learned.

    #59 Houttuynia (tastes like fish) bracken (gets stamped on) and Uvdale Price (is full of regrets): A gardening podcast!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2019 28:09


    A full smorgasbord of horticulture - served rain-soaked and half-composted. In this episode we discuss when and why to cut back long-flowering perennials, look at some ferns and make preparations for the summer we wish we had. Enjoy! 

    #58 Pitching for TV, the cool green cave and fighting the orange fire: a gardening podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019 26:17


    This week Ben completes the woodland garden, rediscovers a gardening archive and sends the herbaceous borders off in a blaze of glory

    #57 A week in the garden

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2019 24:25


    Ben works on woods, weeds and walks. Also on his tan. The Garden Log is an award winning podcast all about a head gardener and the plants he works with.

    #56 Potting lemons, splitting day lilies, paranoia, drunkenness and burning down the Hyde Park Pagoda

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2019 29:19


    In this Episode of the Garden Log Ben talks tulips, talks with two lips, walks with two hips, speaks of new tips and cuts the grass. Also, optical illusions for lawnmowers, the family Ranunculacea and seasonal weeding.   thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com

    #55 How to take risks, unwrap ferns and apply for gardening’s most prestigious job

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2019 24:06


    Welcome to Episode 55 of the garden log in which we shunt bulbs, buy trees and gossip about UK horticulture.   Feel free to email me about plants you have known: thegardenlogpodcast@gmail.com   The National Trust’s Sissinghurst video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbm14Q-teLo&feature=youtu.be

    #54 Molasses lawn-soup, foaming scilla and how to hire a pliant gardener

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2019 25:52


    Sap rises in this long anticipated episode of the Garden Log. We take a trip to see the gurus of grass, move a statue without the help of helicopters and get excited about spring bulbs. A podcast for people who like people who like plants!

    #53 Frosted five fingers, Taxus soufflé and the sweet smell of sunrise

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2019 27:41


    Sarcococca scented signs of spring to come. This week verges are repaired, hedges replanted and strange sights spotted in the trees. Very much a gardening podcast from the makers of the Garden Log episodes 1-52

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