Podcasts about Alys Fowler

The second episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about the thistle!Resources used for this episode:* Breverton's Complete Herbal by Terry Breverton* Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker* Floriography by Jessica Roux* The Language of Flowers by Odessa Begay* The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford* Witch's Garden by Sandra Lawrence* The Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa Dietz* A Modern Herbal by Alys Fowler* https://www.efdss.org/learning/resources/beginners-guides/47-british-folk-customs-may/3412-may-morning#* https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/arts-culture/thistle* https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/the-thistle-scotlands-national-flower* https://www.icysedgwick.com/thistles-folklore/Find Sarah online:* Instagram* Substack* PinterestHave you heard some interesting folklore about thistles? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

This episode of The English Homemaker is a gorgeous conversation with the incredible Elisa Rathje of AppleTurnoverTV and The Journal of Small Work. We talk life on Salt Spring Island on the homestead, technicolour tomatoes,  not underestimating the deep nourishing work, switching the lead and follow, cooperative, conquering & traditional patterns and lifetime tools. She is a philosophical and artistic thinker and communicator, and I loved our conversation and hope you will too. We ask 'why am I trying to do this faster?', 'am I enough?', 'do I have value without a pay check?'. Find Elisa at: https://appleturnover.tv/farm/ https://www.youtube.com/c/appleturnovertv https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-journal-of-small-work/id1618683400   Mentioned: River Cottage old episodes  Alys Fowler and her polyculture backyard, The Edible Garden old episodes Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver Gravetye Manor https://www.gravetyemanor.co.uk/ Zero Waste Chef on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zerowastechef/ The Medicine Circle on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themedicinecircle/ Feminism and the Mastery of Nature by Val Plumwood Less Is More by Jason Hickel Podcast with Jennifer Hinton https://accidentalgods.life/re-imagining-our-relationship-with-profit/ Waxed Jacket from New Forest Clothing https://www.newforestclothing.co.uk/collections/womens-wax-jackets Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman On enoughness essay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0LvceHhgew   I am your host Alissa Evelyn, you can find me over at: https://www.instagram.com/theenglishhomemaker/ https://alissaevelyn.blogspot.com/ https://www.youtube.com/alissaevelyn Music: Dove Love by Quincas Moreira

Join my chat with illustrator Heidi Griffiths, who shares her inspiring story of rediscovering her artistic passion after a long hiatus while raising her children. From studying graphic design to pursuing a non-creative career, Heidi takes us through her journey of finding solace and healing in art during challenging times. Discover how she turned her artistic talent into a successful career in children's book illustration, all while balancing the demands of motherhood. Prepare to be inspired and motivated to pursue your own creative dreams, no matter the obstacles.Heidi is a self-taught freelance Artist & Illustrator (& Mother)  living and working in the South East of England, UK.  She divides her time between making children's picture books, drinking coffee, moaning at her two children to brush their teeth and looking for her pet Tortoise (Who escapes on a regular basis)She has illustrated 4 picture books including:'Grow, forage & Make'   Written by Alys Fowler and Published by Bloomsbury'A treasury of Tales for 4 year olds' Written by Gabby Dawnay published by Francis Lincoln (Quarto)'A treasury of Tales for 5 year olds' Written by Gabby Dawnay published by Francis Lincoln (Quarto)'All your Tomorrows' Written by Harriet Evans & Published by Little Tiger (UK) & Tiger Tales US. As well as Making books she runs an Etsy shop selling prints & artwork and she loves to play in her sketchbook.Connect with Heidi at the links below:https://www.heidigriffithsart.com/https://www.instagram.com/heidi_griffiths_art/https://www.facebook.com/HeidiGriffithsArt/https://www.tiktok.com/@heidi_griffiths_arthttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Treasury-Tales-Four-Year-Olds-Recommended-Literacy-ebook/dp/B0B9T8MBCKSupport the showFollow Moms Who Create:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/momswhocreatepodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/momswhocreatepodcastMonthly Meeting Book Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/momswhocreatebookclubWebsite - https://www.momswhocreate.com/

Episode 33 is brought to you from the road via our state of the art mobile studio setup (a single microphone propped up next to our bed!)This week we take a break from the home series and talk about Mother's Day, vacation, travel with two, and our usual segments (including Word of the Week!) Things should get back on track next week but you never know with us, so we'll just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.Greg's Reads of the Week- Ditch your spade, forget fertiliser, listen to the weeds: Alys Fowler's guide to laid-back gardening- Infinite Banking Has TikTok Buzzing, but Is It for You? - NerdWallet- Can You Be Too Young to Invest in a Roth IRA? | Morningstar- Common Herb Gardening Mistakes | Help Around the Kitchen : Food Network- America's men are in crisis and it's rooted in one big lie | Fox NewsIf you've got a voicemail or want our (likely unqualified) advice on something, hit us up at the Speakpipe link below!http://www.speakpipe.com/oversharingwiththeoverbysIf you'd like to email us you can reach the pod at oversharing@jojohnsonoverby.com!CONNECT:TikTok: @jojohnsonoverby / @mrjojohnsonInstagram: @jojohnsonoverby / @matt.overbyWebsite: https://jojohnsonoverby.com/Watch the Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL29Si0ylWz2qj5t6hYHSCxYkvZCDGejGq

There's plenty to chat about in the garden this January as Dig It's Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the gardening stories making the headlines, the Dig It Top 5 as well as tackling those gardening tasks.What's onSnowdrop gardens and snowdrop days https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/seasonal/snowdrops.htmlMonday 16th January: Small is Beautiful, a talk by Alys Fowler www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on27-29th January RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch www.rspb.org.ukUntil 31st January: Winter Sculpture Exhibition at RHS Rosemoor www.rhs.org.ukIn the newsWelsh announce peat banWentworth House in Yorkshire wins Historic Houses Association competition.Plant Heritage, the conservation charity, has approached the Government in a bid to become part of the UKs commitment to conserving the country's genetic diversity.Charity Greenfingers opens its new children's garden at St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle.The 500-year-old ancient Waverley Abbey yew has been named tree of the year by the Woodland Trust.Vertical farmed trees grown under lights could help solve shortfalls in UK tree-planting targets.Restaurant fire hits Alton Garden CentreThe Garden Centre Association Christmas Display Winners announcedClover lawns on TikTok become a massive hit with over 62 million views!Defra letting down country over ‘plastic grass' debate, claims The Lawn Association.The National Allotment Society has unveiled a new service encouraging housing developers and local government to include space for allotments in new developments.The Garden Media Guild awards for 2022 have been announced, including the Lifetime achievement award to rosarian Michael Marriott.The Pantone colour of the year for 2023 is Viva Magenta!Dig It Top 5 - bird foodNo 1 spot Wild bird, followed by bird peanuts at no 2, Henry Bell Fat Balls at no 3 with Wild Bird Mix (3kg bags) at no 4 and 20kg large sacks of Wild Bird Mix in 5th position.Plant mentions: Alfalfa, Apples, Brussel sprouts, Clover, Chamomile, Pears, Potatoes, micro greens, Hellebores, Rosa rugosa and YewProduct mentions: Secateurs, garden gloves, rhubarb forcer, large dustbin or trug.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for providing the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!In the second of our two-part series with incredible gardener and author Joy Larkcom, Tim and Peter discuss Joy's general garden observations and tips. This includes her passion for tomatoes, chilies, and sweet peas  along with her advice for sowing direct v modules. Joy also shares her advice and enthusiasm on intercropping, mulching, organic gardening and saving seeds. We feel so privileged to have chatted to Joy these past two episodes and we can't recommend her books highly enough for anyone interested in the practicalities of gardening advice in Grow Your Own Vegetables and to indulge yourself in writing of her memoir and travel journal of Just Vegetating: A Memoir. Joy Larkcom, Just Vegetating: A Memoir : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Vegetating-Memoir-Joy-Larkcom/dp/071122935XJoy Larkcom, Grow Your Own Vegetables:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Your-Own-Vegetables-Larkcom/dp/071121963X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=grow+your+own+vegetables&qid=1671655275&s=books&sprefix=grow+your+own+%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-3Notes: Joy's Favourites and Tips: Sweet peas: Matucana, Cupani, Emilia FoxTomato plants: Mountain Magic, Ferline and San MarzanoSweetcorn: Supersweet varieties Garden Museum Archive:https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/archive/Alys Fowler: ode to Joy Larkom (The Guardian 2012)https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/19/alys-fowler-joy-larkcomA message from Joy after listening to the first podcast in relation to the set up of her garden:The other thing that occurred to me, at the beginning of the first podcast when I'm talking about the garden, that I never mentioned the main windbreak, which was crucial to us growing anything here. I just talked about the ‘inner windbreak' of the fan, and the spokes of the fan protecting espalier fruit etc. Essentially, our first line of defence against the salt laden winds was a mighty windbreak on the two most vulnerable sides of the garden. We first put up an artificial windbreak, about 6 ft high, of very strong net battened to substantial posts concreted into the ground. Part of this was zigzagging - giving it extra strength and increased protection for the trees we then planted. 

In this episode sponsored by Genus gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Barbara Segall about her new book GARDENS of the SOUTH-EAST published by Frances Lincoln. Within its 144 pages are  20 gardens many of which often remain overlooked but all of which display the passion of the owners or gardeners that look after them. It's a fascinating talk with not just the gardens, but many names of people involved in horticulture scattered throughout the episode for one reason or another. Jane perrone, Alys Fowler, Peter Donegan, Rocky Coles, Marcus Harper, Fergus Garrett, Clive Boursnell,Beth Chatto, Christopher LLoyd, Tom Coward,William Robinson, John Brookes,  and Gertrude Jekyll all get a mention. The publisher says: A tour of some of the UK's most beguiling gardens in the counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, the counties that exemplify 'the garden of England'. In these three counties a wealth of history and horticulture has combined with geography in the shape of rolling landscapes, wooded valleys and meandering waterways, to provide an attractive and fascinating collection. They are in villages and towns, as well as in deep countryside, and all are privately owned. Some have been in the possession of the same family for many generations, while others have recently been transformed by new owners. Some open for the National Garden Scheme, while others are open privately and in some cases for just the occasional day for charity. The stunning gardens explored in this visually rich guide include: Arundel Castle, Denmans, Gravetye Manor, Munstead Wood and Sussex Prairie Garden. The book also includes a gazetteer of other important gardens in the area with location advice, to enable readers to plan a more elaborate tour of this fertile garden area. Filled with stunning, specially commissioned photographs by Clive Boursnell, Secret Gardens of the South East is a unique guide that opens the gates to the most intriguing gardens in this part of England.

This week's programme is stuffed with barrowloads of seasonal kitchen gardening advice from organic grower for top chefs Anna Greenland. RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter offers a guide to harvesting sweetcorn and author Alys Fowler shares some hard-won thrifty gardening wisdom. Useful links Grow your own (RHS website) Grow Easy by Anna Greenland The Thrifty Gardener by Alys Fowler (eBook)

Complete show notes: soireeleone.com/podcast In 2008 there was flurry of folks starting gardens and again in 2020—both coupled with a run on canning jars. A gardener needs jars to put up the harvest—so do plan for a garden doing well—if not this year then next year. Buy canning jars and other preservation equipment and ingredients well ahead of canning season. Instagram: Soirée-Leone  Website: soireeleone.com My garden book recommendations: https://www.soireeleone.com/resources/gardening My favorite garden book: Alys Fowler's Garden Anywhere: How to grow gorgeous container gardens, herb gardens, kitchen gardens, and more—without spending a fortune. Chronicle Books, 2009. If you are in the Southeast U.S., I highly recommend: Ira Wallace's Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast. Timber Press, 2013. Producer: Marina Darling Recorded in beautiful Hampshire, Tennessee Try a Podcasting 2.0 Certified app: Podfriend - Breez - Sphinx - Podstation - Curiocaster - Fountain

Discover author Julia Watkins' light and loving approach to gardening and to slow living as she shares her perspective on parenting, work, and finding joy and compassion in the midst of it all. As an author, photographer, fellow slow living enthusiast, and Lady Farmer friend, Julia has a wealth of knowledge about how to cultivate a slow and beautiful life in a way that is honest and approachable. Her new book, Gardening for Everyone is a beautiful guide to planning, planting and playing in the garden, that is sure to be a foundational reference for gardening year after year. During this catch-up conversation, Mary and Emma discuss with Julia how life has unfolded during the pandemic, how to find balance as a parent and as a creative, and how to use social media in ways that bring light and connection. In this honest and joyful conversation, Julia inspires an approach to life filled with happiness, grace and grounded in a love for good dirt.  Listen to the episode onhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-dirt/id1492217846 ( Apple Podcasts),https://open.spotify.com/show/2lpelAmHPGbMVdOOpxhxTo ( Spotify),https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-good-dirt-981565 ( Podchaser),https://podtail.com/en/podcast/the-good-dirt/ ( Podtail), or on your favorite podcast platform.   Topics Covered: Slow Living Social Media  Gardening  Perennials  Parenting during a Pandemic  Small Space Gardening  Resources Mentioned:  Pre-Order, https://simplylivingwell.com/gardening-for-everyone (Gardening for Everyone ) https://simplylivingwell.com/simply-living-well (Simply Living Well ) https://lady-farmer.com (Subscribe to the Lady Farmer Newsletter ) https://almanac.lady-farmer.com/landing?from=communitypage (The ALMANAC ) https://www.amazon.com/Edible-Garden-How-Have-Your/dp/1846079748 (Alys Fowler, "The Edible Garden" ) The Fisherman and His Wife, Brothers Grimm  https://lady-farmer.com/blogs/the-good-dirt-podcast/julia-watkins?_pos=1&_sid=9df0c02af&_ss=r (Julia Watkins Episode 31 )   Guest Info Connect with Julia athttps://simplylivingwell.com/ ( simplylivingwell.com)  @simply.living.well on Instagram  Follow Us: https://lady-farmer.com/blogs/the-good-dirt-podcast (Our Website) @weareladyfarmer onhttps://www.instagram.com/thegooddirtph/ ( Instagram)   Original music by John Kingsley @jkingsley1026 Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well being. Mentioned in this episode: ALMANAC Special Offer Join The ALMANAC at www.ladyfarmer.com/community to get your exclusive discount as a listener of The Good Dirt. https://the-good-dirt-mindful-sustainability.captivate.fm/almanac (ALMANAC TGD Discount)

In ​The Woman Who Buried Herself (Hazel Press) Alys Fowler takes us deeper and deeper into, and under the soil, until there is no longer a separation. This story emerged like a fairy tale told to her during long hours daydreaming whilst weeding, in a sense it is her garden's own tale which ventures into mythic realms, exploring the seen and unseen, mysteries of science, the animal and the organic in consciousness of life and love.Fowler was reading from the book and in discussion with Bee Wilson, LRB contributor and the author of the recent The Way We Eat Now (Harpercollins). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does a parsnip feel kinship with a carrot? This question and so many more are mulled over by special guest, Alys Fowler, on this week's episode of our award-winning podcast The Dirt. Alys explained her biggest successes on the plot, as well as some hard lessons she has learnt.    The Dirt is sponsored by Envii. Visit Envii.co.uk for more information on their product range.   

In this weeks show I interview gardener, TV broadcaster & writer Alys Fowler about her new book Grow Forage and Make. Plus we chat what to sow this week and we head down to the woods to forage for wild garlic. I'll also be sharing how best to eat this seasonal star.

During the first Coronavirus lockdown in the UK, a strange phenomenon was seen in towns and cities across the country. As councils became unable, or unwilling, to maintain their usual programmes of spraying weeds and cutting grass, pavements began to feature what had previously been dismissed as 'weeds'. In response, and using a hashtag #MoreThanWeeds, people began using chalk to circle them and to write their names, both common and Latin.   In this podcast we explore how different the future would be if we were to cultivate a culture of better understanding and loving weeds. How would it affect the world around us, and how would it affect us? And how does the way we talk about that dazzling diversity of plants that we dismiss as 'weeds' give insights to how many people 'other' groups of people such as immigrants? What does our attitude to weeds tell us about ourselves?   For this, our fifteenth episode, we are joined by two people who have been central to this chalky-fingered rebellion. Sophie Leguil is a freelance botanical consultant, writer, translator and nature tour leader. In 2019, she created the project "More Than Weeds", which hopes to change people's perception of urban flora and inspire authorities to adopt biodiversity-friendly practices. Sophie previously worked for the charity Plant Heritage, developing initiatives to conserve the diversity of garden plants in the UK. Having lived in Brussels and London, she became interested in urban greening issues, particularly in relation to planning. Using her background in ecology and horticulture, she is advocating for better landscaping choices in cities, to create healthy streets and spaces for both humans and wildlife."   Jane Perrone is a freelance journalist, and presenter and producer of indoor gardening podcast On The Ledge. She is currently crowdfunding a book on houseplants called Legends of the Leaf. She loves growing houseplants inside and raising weird veg in her garden, and walking in the countryside with her hound Wolfie. She has a background in news journalism, spending more than 20 years working in local newspapers, then joining the Guardian as a reporter online and working her way up to an online news desk editor. In 2008 she became gardening editor at the Guardian, editing the gardens pages of Weekend magazine, making the Sow, Grow, Repeat podcast with Alys Fowler and writing features, news stories and blogposts. She left in 2017 to become fully freelance.   Please consider supporting the podcast by visiting www.patreon.com/fromwhatiftowhatnext and becoming a patron.

During the first Coronavirus lockdown in the UK, a strange phenomenon was seen in towns and cities across the country. As councils became unable, or unwilling, to maintain their usual programmes of spraying weeds and cutting grass, pavements began to feature what had previously been dismissed as 'weeds'. In response, and using a hashtag #MoreThanWeeds, people began using chalk to circle them and to write their names, both common and Latin. In this podcast we explore how different the future would be if we were to cultivate a culture of better understanding and loving weeds. How would it affect the world around us, and how would it affect us? And how does the way we talk about that dazzling diversity of plants that we dismiss as 'weeds' give insights to how many people 'other' groups of people such as immigrants? What does our attitude to weeds tell us about ourselves? For this, our fifteenth episode, we are joined by two people who have been central to this chalky-fingered rebellion. Sophie Leguil is a freelance botanical consultant, writer, translator and nature tour leader. In 2019, she created the project "More Than Weeds", which hopes to change people's perception of urban flora and inspire authorities to adopt biodiversity-friendly practices. Sophie previously worked for the charity Plant Heritage, developing initiatives to conserve the diversity of garden plants in the UK. Having lived in Brussels and London, she became interested in urban greening issues, particularly in relation to planning. Using her background in ecology and horticulture, she is advocating for better landscaping choices in cities, to create healthy streets and spaces for both humans and wildlife." Jane Perrone is a freelance journalist, and presenter and producer of indoor gardening podcast On The Ledge. She is currently crowdfunding a book on houseplants called Legends of the Leaf. She loves growing houseplants inside and raising weird veg in her garden, and walking in the countryside with her hound Wolfie. She has a background in news journalism, spending more than 20 years working in local newspapers, then joining the Guardian as a reporter online and working her way up to an online news desk editor. In 2008 she became gardening editor at the Guardian, editing the gardens pages of Weekend magazine, making the Sow, Grow, Repeat podcast with Alys Fowler and writing features, news stories and blogposts. She left in 2017 to become fully freelance. My thanks, as always, to Ben Addicott for theme music and production. Do let me know what you thought of this episode. Thanks for listening.

In this weeks episode of Master My Garden podcast I talk to Jane Perrone a houseplant expert who has been growing houseplants since she was a child. She has her own podcast all about indoor gardening called "On the ledge podcast" and is currently crowdfunding for a houseplant book called "legends of the leaf".In this weeks episode we talk all about houseplants the best plants for beginners and also talk about some of Jane's personal favourite houseplants I hope you enjoy. Jane's about info: Jane writes for a range of publications, including the Guardian, the Financial Times, Gardens Illustrated, Grow Your Own magazine and The English Garden. I have a background in news journalism, spending more than 20 years working in local newspapers, then joining the Guardian as a reporter online and working my way up to an online news desk editor. In 2008 I became gardening editor at the Guardian, editing the gardens pages of Weekend magazine, making the Sow, Grow, Repeat podcast with Alys Fowler and writing features, news stories and blogposts. I left in 2017 to become fully freelance.I regularly give talks to gardening groups and societies (click here for a list of upcoming talks), appear on gardening podcasts (my own and others’) and give interviews on the radio about everything from slugs to succulents. I am a member of the Garden Media Guild in the UK, and I am also on the RHS Advisory Committee on Houseplants and Cut Flowers.In 2019 I won the GardenComm Podcast Talent award for On The Ledge, and in 2015 I won the Garden Media Guild radio/broadcast award category for Sow, Grow, Repeat. Jane can be found on the below links.Website: https://www.janeperrone.com/on-the-ledgeTwitter: https://twitter.com/janeperroneFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/OnTheLedgePod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.l.perrone/There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my website https://mastermygarden.com/If you are enjoying the podcast it would be great if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts its good to know people are enjoying and getting something from the podcast. If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know, you can find me on Master My Garden social channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMGor email info@mastermygarden.comUntil the next time Happy GardeningJohn

Julie Laussat et Laetitia Roux sont deux amies d'enfance mais surtout deux passionnées de nature et d'écologie, à l'origine de Veìr magazine. Bichonner ses plantes vertes, faire pousser ses légumes, observer les fleurs sauvages, voici les sujets que l'on peut retrouver dans cette belle publication trimestrielle sur le jardinage. Veìr s'adresse à tous, à tous les curieux des plantes, aux jardiniers débutants, ceux qui n'ont qu'un bout de balcon en ville ou un jardin plus spacieux, mais également aux plus expérimentés qui cherchent à apprendre de nouvelles techniques. Derrière ce projet, il est avant tout question de renforcer le lien des citadins avec la nature. Dans cet épisode, Julie et Laetitia reviennent sur la naissance de ce projet, nous parle de leur passion commune pour le végétal et nous livre leurs bonnes adresses du quotidien, à Pau et sur l'île de Ré.  ______ Pour prolonger l'épisode :  Le site de Veìr Magazine : https://veirmagazine.com/  Compte Instagram de Veìr : https://www.instagram.com/veirmagazine/  ______ Idées lecture :  • Jardiner dans un mètre carré, chez Larousse  • Urban Jungle, Igor Josifovic & Judith de Graaff • Le jardinier débutant, Alys Fowler  • Tout le potager, Alan Buckingham • Les plantes multi-usages, Bärbel Oftring • Sauvages et comestibles, Marie-Claude Paume • Stratégies de la framboise, Dominique Pelegrin • Miscellanées de mon jardin, Anne-France Dautheville ______ Bonnes adresses : Julie à Pau  • Beanz Café : https://en.beanzcafepau.fr/  • Fika pause Nordic : https://www.facebook.com/fikapausenordic/  • Little Monkey Bar : https://www.facebook.com/littlemonkeybar/  • Maynats : https://lefooding.com/en/restaurants/restaurant-maynats-pau  • Les biscuits de Monsieur Laurent : https://www.lesbiscuitsdemrlaurent.com/  • Château d'Henri IV • Boulevard des Pyrénées  • Parc Beaumont  • Jardin botanique de Kofu Laetitia à Toulouse et à l'île de Ré • Campillo, café-épicerie à Toulouse : https://epicerie-campillo.fr/  • Les dépanneuses, restaurant à Toulouse : https://lesdepanneuses.wordpress.com/ • Le restaurant sans nom, restaurant à Toulouse : https://www.instagram.com/lerestaurantsansnom/ • Le Potager des Mille Fleurs, maraîchers : https://www.facebook.com/LePotagerdesMilleFleurs/  • Matahari Boui-boui : https://www.facebook.com/matahari.bouiboui/ • Ré Glisse, bar de plage : http://www.reglisse.fr/  • La Java des baleines : https://www.lajavadesbaleines.fr/  • Les Copains Babord, cabane à huîtres : https://www.facebook.com/les.copains.babord/  • Le sentier des cinq paysages, boucle de promenades sur l'île de Ré : https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-sentier-des-cinq-paysages-a-sainte-ma/  • L'Ancre Maritaise, balades botaniques depuis Sainte-Marie de Ré  ______ Si cet épisode vous a plu, n'hésitez pas à le partager, à mettre une note ou un commentaire sur votre plateforme d'écoute préférée et surtout, à en parler autour de vous ! Pour prolonger l'expérience et retrouver les bonnes adresses de notre invité : https://www.instagram.com/journalurbain/ Et si vous avez envie d'entendre quelqu'un en particulier dans les prochains épisodes, vous pouvez m'envoyer vos suggestions.

Today we answer four spring like questions, they are from Seraphina, Alex, Elizabeth and Anurada they are: how do buds appear on trees? how do trees make their leaves? what the husks of seeds are made out of?Why are blueberries skin blue? A big thank you to Seraphina, Elizabeth, Anurada and Alex for this week's questions and to Jess Evans at the National Trust and Alys Fowler for this week's excellent answers about buds, leaves and the husks of seeds! Remember to send everyone who doesn't know about it and might like it the link to the podcast and ask them to subscribe to the show. If you get time you can leave a review and send me a question! To send a question just ask an adult to borrow their smartphone, record yourself saying your name and your age and a bit about yourself and send it into me at molly@everythingunderthesun.co.ukThanks everyone! Sending lots of love for a good week ahead, thank you and GOODBYE! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When all things seem uncertain we take solace in that which connects us to ourselves, to each other, to the land. When we are forming we learn to eat through the hospitality of the feminine; the womb, the breast, what the mother eats the child does also. And the land is the greatest mother of all, its abundant provisions are given over and over to us. We are speaking this week with Alys Fowler, horticulturist and journalist, about what we can do to confront issues of power, dominance, control, and what the wild provisions can tell us about the relationships we need the most right now...

Healing nature. With Alys Fowler   A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.   These notes may contain affiliate links.        Garden soundtrack   January, getting back out into the garden.   Rains and flooding.   A sign that not all’s ok with our relationship with nature     Micro book review 03:30   from The Garden Jungle or Gardening to Save the Planet by Dave Goulson. Published by Jonathan Cape July 2019 https://amzn.to/2ZRfueo   Extract read by Rachel Coldbreath   Insect declines and why they matter, Dave Goulson, FRES, 2019. Dorset Wildlife Trust https://www.flipsnack.com/devonwildlifetrust/insect-declines/full-view.html     Interview with Alys Fowler 06:04    07:05 Urban vs. country – where were Alys’s skills for observing the natural world honed?   09:03 Nature under your feet. Being detail orientated.    09:55 Plant blind    Plant blindness   Wandersee, J. H., & Schussler, E. E. (1999). Preventing plant blindness. The American Biology Teacher, 61, 82–86. https://abt.ucpress.edu/content/61/2/82   Wikipedia Article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_blindness   Article on Plant Blindness by Sandy Knapp of the Natural History Museum (London) https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.36   12:20 The way we garden and how it interacts with the wider landscape   14:43 How well is the rewilding message being communicated?   15:20 A generational shift to a more sympathetic relationship with nature   16:35 Countering late stage capitalism   17:25 How long change takes   18:36 Caring in spite of it all   19:43 Mindfulness vs. paying attention   22:42 Vested interests and inertia   24:52 How our gardens help us to make sense of it all     26:29 Finding meaning and hope in a relationship with plants   27:25 What’s the definition of a gardner?   28:32 Thrifty gardening – recycling   31:37 Style vs. meaning in the garden   34:20 A multi-faceted job description   36:55 The relationship of the garden to the house – pushing the boundaries   39:10 Approaches to making gardens   42:20 Japanese gardens – listening to nature   44:45 Control, dominion – human relationships to nature and the garden. Patriarchy, religion, feminism.   48:46 A Modern Herbal – Alys’s take on herbs and herbals.    52:49 Gender roles in the transmission of herb lore   55:29 Herbal medicine and conventional medicine.    Gayla Trail  http://yougrowgirl.com/ https://www.instagram.com/yougrowgirl/     56:40 Can we garden our way out of this,  Alys?!     ***   New Year, New You.    A new relationship with nature.   Paying it back.       Thank you to Alys for joining me on this episode. You can find Alys on Instagram here instagram.com/alysf and on the Guardian pages here https://www.theguardian.com/profile/alys-fowler. In the interview we talked about Alys’s latest book, A Modern Herbal, published by Michael Joseph in 2019. You can find that here https://amzn.to/39DaVc4.    Of course, as she says in the interview, the best way to get hold of her is by phone!   Thanks too to Rachel Coldbreath for a cracking reading from Dave Goulson’s book .    With thanks to all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.      One-to-one online garden coaching I’m very excited about my new venture – it’s a way for me to work with more people than I can physically get around to, helping them to make the very best of their gardens in a way that suits the life they lead. A few limited places left on introductory prices! https://www.gardensweedsandwords.com/garden-coaching       website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: gardensweedsandwords@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB   

Acclaimed gardening writer, Alys Fowler, tries to work out where she wants to live, in the city or the countryside, with the help of poet, Gregory Leadbetter. Alys grew up in deepest rural England but for years has found happiness in the city of Birmingham, her small garden and local allotment. But she's starting to feel the pull of the countryside again, and the access to the natural world it offers. However, Gregory - through the lens of poetry - discusses how paying close attention to nature wherever you are can have a profound effect. Producer: Karen Gregor

Today we celebrate the botanist who bred more than 40 types of pears - including our most popular varieties. We'll learn about the cultural meanings associated with the chrysanthemum and the Swedish botanist who posed as a Dutchman to botanize in Japan. We'll hear some thoughts on November from one of my favorite garden writers And, we Grow That Garden Library with one of the best books on Gardening for Butterflies I'll talk about straightening your ornamental trees, and then we'll wrap things up with the story of the woman who loved blueberries so much she shared them with the world.   But first, let's catch up on a few recent events.     Gardens, Paradise, & Kashmir| Searchkashmir.org | @SearchKashmir   It's no surprise that the word 'paradise' was first used to describe a garden.   This Farsi poem about Kashmir by Amir Khusrau does the same:   If ever there is Paradise on Earth, It is here! It is here! It is here!       How to grow orchids by Alys Fowler| @guardian @guardianweekend This is an excellent post about orchids, and I always love to hear how people approach caring for their orchids. Alys says: "An east-facing window... plus consistent watering (every week in the growing season, every other during winter) & Lou’s Poo, dried alpaca poo." Every gardener reading this now will search online for Lou's Poo... but just a heads up - they don't deliver to the US.       Vermont Garden Journal: Some New Ideas For Perennial Garden Care| @charlienardozzi @vprnet I couldn't agree more! Love this post from @charlienardozzi @vprnet The first thing I tell my student gardeners is that plant material doesn't leave the property. The second thing I teach them is Chop & Drop. https://buff.ly/32aL8TI     Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community.So there’s no need to take notes or track down links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.     Brevities   #OTD  Today is the birthday of Jean-Baptiste Van Mons, who was born on this day in 1765. The name of the game for Van Mons was selective breeding for pears. Selective breeding happens when humans breed plants to develop particular characteristics by choosing the parent plants to make the offspring.   Check out the patience and endurance that was required as Van  Mon's described his work:   “I have found this art to consist in regenerating in a direct line of descent, and as rapidly as possible an improving variety, taking care that there be no interval between the generations. To sow, to re-sow, to sow again, to sow perpetually, in short, to do nothing but sow, is the practice to be pursued, and which cannot be departed from; and in short, this is the whole secret of the art I have employed.”   Jean-Baptiste Van Mons produced a tremendous amount of new pear cultivars in his breeding program - something north of forty incredible species throughout his lifetime. The Bosc and D'Anjou pears, we know today, are his legacy.          #OTD On this day in 1790, Chrysanthemums are introduced to England from China. Chrysanthemums are the November birth flower and the 13th wedding anniversary flower. The greens and blossoms of the chrysanthemum are edible, and they are particularly popular in Japan, China, and Vietnam. Generally, chrysanthemums symbolize optimism and joy - but they have some unique cultural meanings around the world. Back in the Victorian language of flowers, the red chrysanthemum meant "I Love," and the yellow chrysanthemum symbolized slighted love. In China, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn and the flower of the ninth moon. During the Han dynasty, the Chinese drank chrysanthemum wine - they believed it made their lives longer and made them healthier. As a result, the chrysanthemum was often worn to funerals. On Mother's Day down under, Australians traditionally wear a white chrysanthemum to honor their moms, and Chrysanthemums are common Mother's Day presents. In Poland, chrysanthemums are the flower of choice to be placed on graves for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Finally, in 1966, Mayor Richard Daley declared the chrysanthemum as the official flower of the city of Chicago.       #OTD  On this day in 1799, the Leonids meteor shower was seen from Europe and South America. The famous German explorer and botanist Alexander Humboldt had just arrived in South America to begin his great five-year exploration, and he wrote this in his journal from Chile as he saw the Leonids: The night between November 11 and 12 was calm and beautiful... During 4 hours, we observed thousands of huge fireballs, often with a brightness like Jupiter. Long smoke trails were left behind, lasting 7-8 seconds, often the meteors exploded, leaving trails too. It wasn't just Humboldt who witnessed this event. Andrew Ellicott Douglass, an early American astronomer who was born in Vermont, observed the Leonids from a ship off the Florida Keys. Douglass, who later became an assistant to the famous astronomer Percival Lowell, wrote the first- known record of a meteor shower in North America in his journal, saying that the, "whole heaven appeared as if illuminated with skyrockets, flying in an infinity of directions, and I was in constant expectation of some of them falling on the vessel. They continued until put out by the light of the sun after daybreak."        #OTD  Today is the anniversary of the death of the father of South African botany, the botanist Carl Peter Thunberg, who died on this day in 1828.   As fellow Swedes, Carl Linnaeus had taught Thunberg, and Linnaeus encouraged him to continue his work by visiting other parts of Europe.   Eventually, Thunberg joined the Dutch East India Company, and he botanized in South Africa for three years. After South Africa, he set his sights on Japan. But, before he went, Thunberg needed to become Dutch.    Averse to the influence of Christianity, the Japanese had closed their country off to all European nations except for Holland - because they valued the medicinal plant knowledge of the Dutch botanists.   So, when Thunberg went to Japan, he hid his Swedish heritage and posed as a Dutchman.   In fact, during the 18th century, Thunberg was Japan's only European visitor, and his Flora Japonica published in 1784 was a revelation to botanists around the world.    During his time in Japan, Thunberg discovered the Easter Lily growing near the city of Nagasaki. He also found Forsythia in Japan, and he named it to honor William Forsyth.   And, during his entire time in Japan, Thunberg was confined to a small artificial island in Nagasaki harbor. So how did he manage to learn so much about the country's flora?   Ever the clever end-rounder, Thunberg came up with a unique strategy to obtain botanical samples. Thunberg knew that goats are picky plant-eaters. So, while staying on the island, Thunberg asked to have some goats. Then, he asked his Japanese assistants to collect plants to feed the goats.   It was through the guise of feeding the goats that Thunberg was able to collect all kinds of plant specimens. The most impressive examples were a total of five different species of hydrangea that were previously unknown to the West. These hydrangeas included the lace caps – they're the ones that produce the beautiful UFO ring of blooms around the flowerhead of small florets -  Japan was very private about them. Can you imagine his excitement? The entire time Thunberg was away, which amounted to an incredible nine-year journey -  from his native Sweden to South Africa and then Japan - Thunberg sent plants and letters to his old teacher and friend, Linnaeus, who wrote that he had never received, "more delight and comfort from any other botanist [than Thunberg]."     Unearthed Words   "Most people, early in November, take last looks at their gardens, are then prepared to ignore them until the spring. I am quite sure that a garden doesn't like to be ignored like this. It doesn't like to be covered in dust sheets, as though it were an old room which you had shut up during the winter. Especially since a garden knows how gay and delightful it can be, even in the very frozen heart of the winter, if you only give it a chance." - Beverley Nichols, garden author   It's time to Grow That Garden Library with today's book recommendation: Gardening for Butterflies by The Xerces Society The subtitle for this book is How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects. In this 2016 book, gardeners get practical and expert advice from the Xerxes Society on all things butterflies. You will learn why butterflies matter, why they are in danger, and what simple steps we can take to make a difference.   Gardeners will appreciate learning about the best blooms for attracting the garden's prettiest winged visitors, like Penstemon, Pearly Everlasting, and Golden Alexanders. There are sections on designing a butterfly garden, creating shelter, observing and conserving, even tagging butterflies to help track migration. Gardening for Butterflies  provides home gardeners with everything they need to create a beautiful, beneficial, butterfly-loving gardens.      Today's Garden Chore It's the perfect time to stake your ornamental trees. While you are outside wrapping your boxwoods, arborvitaes, and shrubs in burlap, take the time to stake your trees - especially your smaller ornamentals like lilacs and hydrangea. It's something you can do now that can actually mean one less thing to do in the spring.      Something Sweet  Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today is the anniversary of the death of the Queen of Blueberries, Elizabeth Coleman White, who died on this day in 1954. When Elizabeth was a little girl, growing up on her dad's Cranberry Farm in the Pine Barrens of Burlington County, New Jersey, she would take walks and gather blueberries - wild blueberries. There wasn't any other way to procure them.  Over time, Elizabeth began to wonder about creating a blueberry crop - something that would fit in nicely with the cranberry harvest, which happened at the end of the season. Cranberries grow in highly acidic soil, which is also perfect for growing blueberries. Elizabeth began by having the local blueberry pickers keep their eyes out for the plants with the biggest berries, and then she would have them transplanted to her father's field. She wrote: "I used to call them swamp huckleberries and thought an occasional one - half an inch in diameter - huge. They always grew luxuriantly about the margins of our cranberry bogs, and as a girl, I used to hunt the largest and best-flavored berries and dream of a field full of bushes as good. I knew it was a wild dream."   As fate would have it, in 1910, the chief botanist at the USDA, Frederick Colville, was also working on blueberries at his summer home in New Hampshire. When Elizabeth read about his efforts, she reached out, and the two worked out a deal where Elizabeth would use her land and labor. Colville would supply his technical expertise, especially when it came to propagation. Together, they crossbred the largest New Jersey blueberries with the largest New Hampshire blueberries, and the rest, as they say, is history. "Enough of the puzzle has been fitted together to show that my old dream was but a faint shadowing of the possibilities. Now I dream of cultivated blueberries shipped by the trainload, - blueberry specials - to every part of the country.    She continued:   The little berries of today's dreams are half an inch in diameter. And the big ones? - Well, it is hard to measure a dream accurately, but they are at least an inch across. And raising all these blueberries will give healthful remuneration and employment to lots of people. But you can dream for yourself - [but] only if you are to share my confidence that this dream is not wild. Some day it will come true."   It took Elizabeth five years to develop the first blueberry crop. The wastelands around the pines districts in New Jersey where  Elizabeth grew her blueberries increased in value from 50 cents an acre to $500 an acre after the blueberry was cultivated. That first harvest yielded 21 bushels of berries, and it sold for $114. By 1947, more than 8,000 bushels were harvested.  In 2016, a total of 690 million pounds of cultivated wild blueberries were harvested in the United States, and annual revenue was s around $80 million. In addition to cultivating the first blueberry in 1916, Elizabeth was the first person to use cellophane to protect and market blueberries. The Whitman chocolate company inspired her because that was how they packaged their chocolates. Whitman's also partnered with Elizabeth; they helped her source the cellophane from France so that people all around the country could see her blueberries - right through the packaging. And there's one more footnote to the Elizabeth Coleman White story. She was a champion of native plants. She fought to save the American holly, and in 1947, Elizabeth helped found the Holly Society of America.   Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Acclaimed gardening writer, Alys Fowler, tries to work out where she wants to live, in the city or the countryside, with the help of outdoor counsellor, Dr. Ruth Allen. Alys grew up in deepest rural England, but for years has lived in Birmingham. She loves the city, and her small garden and allotment, but is starting to feel a pull to return to her roots. But should she? If she does, will the countryside offer her what she feels is missing from her life, a deeper connection with nature, or does the city provide all she needs? Producer: Karen Gregor

S01 Episode 09: Who is gardening for? With Sara Venn     A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.   These notes may contain affiliate links.        Garden soundtrack   April in the garden   Bees on the goat willow.     Micro book review   Letters to a Beekeeper by Alys Fowler and Steve Benbow, published by Unbound 2017 https://amzn.to/2Ud183o   Extract read by Rose White     How accessible is gardening to everyone? Or…Who is gardening for?   Interview with Sara Venn   07:45 Why should people care about gardening?   11:37 Gardening helping people to reclaim agency   16:30 Access to gardening – can the industry and the media get in the way?   20:46 Entry points to gardening – the problem with garden centres...   22:35 The Independent Plant Nursery Guide  http://independentplantnurseriesguide.uk/   The Hardy Plant Society http://www.hardy-plant.org.uk/   The Herb Society https://herbsociety.org.uk/   The Alpine Garden Society https://www.alpinegardensociety.net/   26:41 How is gardening doing as regards representation?   29:30 How about gardening jargon as a barrier?   34:08 Who is gardening for?   36:50 Three reasons to get involved with gardening   A huge thank you to Sara for joining me on this episode. You can find Sara here: instagram: instagram.com/saralimback twitter: twitter.com/saralimback blog: thecommunitygarden.co.uk website: ediblebristol.org.uk   Thank you to Rose White and Richard Chivers for contributing their warm and wonderful tones to this episodes with the readings. Rose is an intuitive eating coach, and you can find her on instagram at instagram.com/liveawelllife, or on her website at liveawelllife.co.uk. Richard is the man behind the highly acclaimed Grow Your Own blog at sharpenyourspades.com, also hanging out in the tiny squares at instagram.com/sharpenyourspades.      website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: gardensweedsandwords@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB   

A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.   These notes may contain affiliate links.      Call yourself a gardener? Gardening without a garden, with Alice Vincent.   Garden soundtrack   Autumn ending.   A micro review of The Thrifty Gardner, by Alys Fowler https://amzn.to/2zlYlgG, with an extract read by Beth Pinkerton.    Do you need a garden to consider yourself a gardener?     Interview with Alice Vincent, journalist and author of How to Grow Stuff https://amzn.to/2PM28OP, host of the Noughticutlurep talks at the Garden Museum https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/event_location/the-garden-museum/, and tap dancer extraordinaire.   Alice Vincent in the Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/alice-vincent/ Alice on Instagram instagram.com/noughticulture   LED growlights from Modern Sprout https://www.modsprout.com/   Jack Wallington, garden blogger, designer, and Telegraph Gardening columnist  https://www.jackwallington.com/        With thanks to Beth Pinkerton for providing her smooth tones for the reading, at criminally short notice. You can find Beth here: Twitter https://twitter.com/MissPinks Instagram instagram.com/misspinks      website: gardensweedsandwords.com email: gardensweedsandwords@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/AndrewTimothyOB Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTimothyOB   

SHOWNOTES from Episode 10:Hidden Life of Trees the surprise bestseller by Peter WohllebenHidden Nature: A Voyage of Discovery by Alys Fowler who has a Gardening column at the GuardianMeadowland: The Private Life of an English Field by Howard HughesSea and Shore Cornwall by Lisa WoollettSea Journal by Lisa WoollettScotland's Treescapes by Stuart LowCultivating Place - one of my favorite podcasts, I think the description “On Being for gardeners and nature lovers” is so apt!Special thanks to Mohit Shandilya & Rajat Upadhyay @ Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

I normally record On The ledge in my pyjamas with an unwashed face and a mug of tea at ten o’clock at night, so last Friday it was rather a novelty to be at the RHS halls in London, it’s rather a fully dressed and mostly clean, with a cocktail in my hand, recording an episode of On The Ledge in front of a live audience. My guests were Alys Fowler, Birmingham-based gardener, garden writer and author of houseplant book Plant Love, and London-based horticulturist and garden designer Rob Stacewicz, both fellow plant addicts: I talked to Rob about his incredible UV Garden installation at the show showcasing, and finding out what’s on Alys’s plant Christmas list and taking questions from the audience.  

Buying plants online is ridiculously easy - a few clicks and some fancy foliage plant or flowery specimen is on its way to you in the post. But it's a process that's fraught with potential problems. I recently did an interview for the BBC* about problems with online garden centres, but it was such a short chat that I really didn't get the chance to give many of the tips and suggestions I have up my sleeve, so I thought it was a good time to return to the subject here on On The Ledge. In this episode I offer up my tips for buying online and plant swaps by post. I also chat to Paul Holt (@greenwizzard on Instagram), creative director of N1 and W6 garden centres in London, to get some tips on what to do when you visit a plant shop in person.  *You can listen to my interview for BBC Radio 4's You & Yours consumer programme here - scroll down to 'online chapters' and select 'online gardening' to skip to the right segment.  Want to hear me talking about gardening more generally? Listen to my two-part interview with US gardening podcast Verdant North here and here And you can listen to my other podcast recommendation, Sharp, here Perrone's rules of plant ordering online 1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is Amazing deals do come up online, but generally you do get what you pay for, so if you see that Philodendron 'Pink Princess' for $5, do think before you jump, because rare plants don't come cheap. Be extra suspicious and check everything out very carefully before you buy.  2. What you see isn't always what you get It's easy to be wowed by pictures of houseplants, but ask yourself, are the pictures showing the actual size of plants delivered? Some sellers will put up pictures of a plant that's the eventual size of the plant you have ordered, rather than the size it will arrive at your door. Look for information about pot size, plant height and so on: good sellers should make it abundantly clear whether the picture next to a description is the actual plant you are buying or not. If it's a cutting, are you buying rooted or unrooted? Will the plant be sent still in the pot or bareroot? All of these factors should influence the price you are paying. If it's not clear to you from the website, ask the seller - a good seller should be upfront about all this.  3. Check the courier Many houseplant sellers fall down not because of anything they have done wrong, but because the delivery company they employ to get your plants to you is unreliable. Check what company your seller uses, and investigate their reputation online. Steer clear of couriers who have poor reviews that talk of parcels being flung over fences. When buying multiple plants, make sure you know whether you'll pay a flat delivery fee for all of them, or an individual fee per plant - this can add considerably to your bill!  4. Be extra-cautious when buying from overseas Sometimes the only place to get hold of more choice varieties is a supplier outside your home country, but think carefully before proceeding on this one. Delivery costs can be sky-high, delivery slow, and there can be unexpected roadblocks like phytosanitary certificates and customs charges. Always choose a seller that has lots of experience selling overseas. 5. Reward great service with a five-star review The best plant sellers build their reputation on excellent customer service, so if you have had a good experience with a particular company, spread the word online and offline.  And what about online plant swaps? There are many groups on Facebook and elsewhere that are forums for those who want to swap houseplants, and it's a great way to expand your collection at low cost. That said, you have to have something to swap in the first place, so it can be hard before your collection really gets going. Bear in mind that not all swaps will be a good 'fit', so if someone doesn't want what you are offering, don't get grouchy, just find someone who does!  Once a deal has been agreed, keep your communications timely, polite and clear - let the other person know how and when their plant will be dispatched and hopefully you'll get the same information from you. If things do go wrong, try to resolve things calmly rather than going off the deep end - bear in mind that delivery services are not always reliable, and sometimes life gets in the way of plants! If you have an issue with a swapper, get in touch with the admin on the relevant group. Personally I'd avoid 'naming and shaming' posts as I just don't think they are helpful. We're discussing online plant buying and swapping etiquette and tips over on the Houseplant fans of On The Ledge Facebook group - please do join if you haven't already and add your thoughts!  And finally, if you've got a plant seller you think deserves a mention in my houseplant buying guides for the UK and the US, please let me know in the comments below, or drop me a line to ontheledgepodcast@gmail.com.  Question of the week  Audrey has a problem with a poorly Syngonium, aka goosefoot plant with browning leaves. This could be a symptom of many things, but if the leaf tips and edges are browning it's probably a sign of dry air. Syngoniums are, after all, close relatives of the Philodendron, that lover of moist air. I suggest popping the plant in a clear plastic bag for a few days to help pep it up.  Want to ask me a question? Tweet @janeperrone, leave a message on my Facebook page or email ontheledgepodcast@gmail.com.  Are you supporting On The Ledge on Patreon yet?  If you like the idea of supporting On The Ledge on a regular basis but don't know what Patreon's all about, check out the FAQ here: if you still have questions, leave a comment or email me - ontheledgepodcast@gmail.com If you're already supporting others via Patreon, just click here to set up your rewards! For those who prefer to make a one-off donation, you can still buy me a coffee! A donation of just £3 helps keep On The Ledge going: helping to pay for me to travel to interviews, and for expenses like website hosting and audio equipment. Don't forget to join the Facebook page for news of what's coming up on the show and bonus blogposts! If you prefer to support the show in other ways, please do go and rate and review On The Ledge on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you listen. It's lovely to read your kind comments, and it really helps new listeners to find the show. On The Ledge talks, live show and houseplant chats  I'll be making an appearance at Gardeners' World Live in Birmingham this month. The show is on for four days (June 14 to 17) but I am *only* appearing next Thursday - June 14 - on the Blooming Interiors stage - check out the schedule here. I will, with any luck, be wearing my brand new On The Ledge t shirt so I should be easy to spot the OTL logo! I am also going to be at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on the afternoon of July 4 giving talks on houseplants in the roses theatre - do join me if you can. And on the evening of Friday October 26 I'll be bringing a live show of On The Ledge to the RHS London Urban Garden show, with special guests including Alys Fowler and all kinds of leafy fun! Put those dates in your diary NOW! Credits This week's show featured Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops, Hot Lips by Bill Brown and HIs Brownies, An Instrument the Boy Called Happy Day Gokarna by Samuel Corwin, and Overthrown by Josh Woodward, all licensed under Creative Commons.

The Chelsea flower show is the world's most famous gardening event, but houseplants are starting to make big inroads into this fixture in the horticultural calendar. I visited the show to check out the indoor gardening displays in the Great Pavilion, and met up with friend of the show Alys Fowler. Here's a summary of all my Chelsea interviews: Ian Drummond of Indoor Garden Design shows me around the stand he put together in partnership with houseplant mega-seller IKEA: I find out how easy it is to grow Sansevieria in water and why plants in the office are good for you. Alys Fowler and I cover everything from the dearth of peat-free houseplant compost, the difference between perlite and vermiculite, and how to keep a Begonia luxurians alive.  Jo Jackson of Ottershaw Cacti gives me a tour of the delightful display of succulents, including Beaucarnea recurvata, Senecio rowleyanus, Haworthia truncata, Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii and Echeveria 'Compton Carousel'. Follow them on Instragram as @cacti_dan Robbie Blackhall-Miles (who you'll remember from On The Ledge's bathroom plants episode) introduces me to the world of Aspidistras beyond A. elatior at the Crug Farm Plants stand, including the unmistakeable A. 'Uan Fat Lady' (pictured below). Robbie also recommends trying Oreopanax from Crug Farm as a big bold houseplant for spots with limited light. Every Picture Tells A Story is a nursery specialising in bromeliads including air plants, Vriesias, Neoregelias and more. Julia Carder explains how to look after these intriguing members of the houseplant world. Visit janeperrone.com for full show notes and images.

Whether you're a hashtag natural or tend to get your #Monsteramonday mixed up with #philodendronfriday, Instagram is a bit of a jungle for houseplant lovers: fun to negotiate but sometimes rather confusing. I talk to Kimberley Aston aka @kingstreetjungle, who's a houseplant lover of the Instagram generation, and one of the faces behind smash hit accounts @philomemedron and @therealhouseplantsof_ig We discuss how to get the best out of hashtags, how to take great photos of your plants, why real houseplant photos should show the unvarnished truth about your plants, and more.  Here's a guide to some of the things we talk about in this episode so you can read on and click through as you listen... We talk about the range of hashtags to use with houseplants, including #Monsteramonday, #philodendronfriday, #glasshouses and #aspidistraaddict and Kimberley explains why it's useful to follow hashtags on Instagram - here's how. I mention some of my new Peperomias including P. maculosa, P. bangroana and P. prostrata. I single out the Aglaeonema picta tricolor meme and the plant knowledge meme on @philomemedron. Kimberley singles out Epiphyllum chrysocardium as a plant on her wishlist - check it out on Instagram She also names some of her favourite IG accounts including @jamiesjungle, @foxhollowfarmer and @botanygeek. I would also recommend these Instagram accounts to follow - @plantsandcollecting, @arapisarda and @warsawjungle: have a look at this piece I wrote for Gardenista for more suggestions. How to support On The Ledge If you like the idea of supporting On The Ledge on a regular basis but don't know what Patreon's all about, check out the FAQ here: if you still have questions, leave a comment or email me - ontheledgepodcast@gmail.com If you're already supporting others via Patreon, just click here to set up your rewards! For those who prefer to make a one-off donation, you can still buy me a coffee A donation of just £3 helps keep On The Ledge going: helping to pay for me to travel to interviews, and for expenses like website hosting and audio equipment. Don't forget to join the Facebook page for news of what's coming up on the show and bonus blogposts! If you prefer to support the show in other ways, please do go and rate and review On The Ledge on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you listen. It's lovely to read your kind comments, and it really helps new listeners to find the show. On The Ledge talks, live show and houseplant chats  I'll be making an appearance at Gardeners' World Live in Birmingham on June 14 on the Blooming Interiors stage - check out the schedule here, and stay tuned as I'll have a ticket giveaway coming up in the next few weeks. I am also going to be at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on the afternoon of July 4 giving talks on houseplants in the roses theatre - do join me if you can. And on the evening of Friday October 26 I'll be bringing a live show of On The Ledge to the RHS London Urban Garden show, with special guests including Alys Fowler and all kinds of leafy fun! Put those dates in your diary NOW! Credits This week's show featured Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops, An Instrument the Boy Called Happy Day Gokarna by Samuel Corwin, and Oh Mallory by Josh Woodward, all licensed under Creative Commons.

The RHS Shows season got off to a flying start with the Early Spring Plant Fair last week. We went along to marvel at the hanging snowdrop extravaganza and meet the growers and celebrity experts who make it all happen - including Alys Fowler who gives seasonal houseplant tips and the team from Birmingham Botanical Gardens who share insight into the wonderful world of cyclamen. Plus a look at the RHS Master Grower Scheme, which is now in its third season. For links see www.rhs.org.uk/podcast

Alys Fowler is a gardener and garden writer who I first met when she became the gardening columnist at the Guardian, and I was gardening editor. Her new book on houseplants, Plant Love, is out now - I visited her at home to talk about why top-selling houseplants are like tights, how Instagram has made variegated leaves popular and why propagating cuttings in water works (despite my doubts).

Peter Donegan talks to Juliet Roberts, the Editor of Gardens Illustrated Magazine. @sodshow on twitter. facebook, The Sodshow Formerly in the film industry, in 2012 Juliet was listed as one of the top 30 most influential gardeners and since the now Bristol based (formerly London) Gardens Illustrated magazine, that at present now boasts its highest ever subscription rate. Peter and Juliet talk gardens, garden shows, James Alexander Sinclair, former guest of the show Noel Kingsbury, life in London and a history of veg plots. We chat life in Bristol, a life not always in the garden industry, but were the love for that was always there and how that evolved. The next event on the horizon is of course the Gardens Illustrated Festival. Of that they note: Join Gardens Illustrated magazine for their second Gardens Festival, taking place at the magnificent Westonbirt School, Tetbury in the heart of the Cotswolds on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March. Visitors will enjoy a fascinating programme of talks from leading experts covering everything from discovering the allure of umbellifers with plantswoman Marina Christopher, to understanding the finer points of what makes a great garden with designer Annie Guilfoyle. Other speakers include Alys Fowler, Roy Lancaster and Sarah Raven. To keep you busy in between the talks you are invited to browse the beautiful Shopping Marquee within the grounds of the spectacular Westonbirt School. The Shopping Marquee is free to all visitors and you'll find over 40 of the top traders in the industry including nurseries, artists and garden accessory companies. There will also be FREE plant and design clinics offering 10 minute individual advice and self guided tours of the stunning Westonbirt School gardens. Tickets to the talks are limited and so be sure to book yours today by visiting www.gardensfestival.com or phoning 0871 230 7156. *calls cost 13p per minute plus standard network charges. Lines open 24 hours a day. This interview with much thanks to Marie Davies and Caroline Roper. Thank you ladies for all of your hard work. Show Links: Tickets: Gardens Illustrated Festival twitter: @GdnsIllustrated Magazine: www.gardensillustrated.com FB: gardensillustrated

The Sodshow Garden Podcast - every Friday - live 3pm - 4pm in iTunes and all good podcast stores. Podcast listen/ subscribe: The SodShow in iTunes The Sodshow in Stitcher – for android users This Friday Peter Donegan and Brian Greene chat with Jane Perrone. Jane is the Guardian's gardening editor, co-presenter of the Guardian's Sow, Grow, Repeat gardening podcast with Alys Fowler and the author of the Allotment Keeper's Handbook. She [quote] lives in Bedfordshire with her husband, two children and a hairy lurcher. Show Links: more info: www.janeperrone.com twitter: @janeperrone facebook: GuardianGardening instagram: j.l.perrone Thoughts or comments ? @sodshow on twitter or on facebook as The Sodshow.

This panel event explored the current state and future potential of contemporary urban gardening. Chaired by journalist and horticulturist Alys Fowler, the subversive and exciting work of guerrilla gardener and author Richard Reynolds, forager John Rensten and artist Wendy Shillam are brought to the table. Image caption: video still of the dahlias in Emil Nolde's garden © Royal Academy of Arts

Alys Fowler digs into our virtual postbag of gardening questions from listeners and readers

Do pets and gardens mix? Alys Fowler and Jane Perrone investigate how to keep your garden and your pets happy

Alys Fowler and Jane Perrone find out what’s hot in the world of horticulture at the Chelsea flower show

In the first of the Guardian’s new gardening podcasts, Alys Fowler and Jane Perrone and a host of experts tell you everything you need to know about tomatoes. Scroll down for a full list of all the tomato varieties mentioned

Alys Fowler and Jane Perrone host our gardening podcast packed full of insight and inspiration for all you green-thumbs

This is a chat with Alys Fowler with a contribution from Steve Benbow about her venture into beekeeping with a top bar hive, and the book they are writing together.  

Gayla chats with UK garden writer Alys Fowler about polyculture, foraging, preserving & more.

Alys Fowler is writing another book, this time with London beekeeper Steve Benbow. It will be full of great gardening tips, focusing on how to plant for pollinators - especially bees.Steve talks about the book and his plans for siting top bar hives at the Tate Gallery. This is where to find out more about the book - http://unbound.co.uk/books/letters-to-a-beekeeper