This episode goes out in celebration of The Chelsea Fringe. The Fringe is an annual event which runs concurrently to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and celebrates everything alternative in horticulture. And this episode is certainly alternative! It was intended to be an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode but quickly evolved into a general chat with my host this week, Jake Rayson. We then moved on to talk about a new initiative I’m launching. The idea is in its embryonic stage and I have no idea how it’s going to develop, but listen on for some more info.  Thank you very much Jake for being a friend, stand-in host and long-term supporter of Roots and All. Please check out the links to Jake’s work below.  Links Jake made a handy list of free resources, NBN Atlas and GBIF his latest faves, quite amazing.  And he's available for wildlife forest garden design work, remote sites a speciality. Here's his portfolio Here's Jake's Garden Wild Spreadsheet Other episodes if you liked this one: The Chelsea Fringe with Tim Richardson Introduction to Forest Gardening with Jake Rayson Patreon Custom permalink

Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Toss the Salad!

This episode features writer, garden historian and returning guest Caroline Ball. In eighteenth-century Bavaria a prosperous apothecary, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann began an extraordinary project, the compilation of an A to Z of plants, meticulously documented, and lavishly illustrated by botanical artists using the latest colour-printing methods of the time. He aimed to include thousands of plants from all over the world, describing their individual characteristics and commissioning magnificent colour illustrations of each specimen. The first complete volume of the Phytanthoza Iconographia, as he called it, was published in 1737 and the work grew to four immense tomes. The Iconographia gives an unparalleled view of the ornamental and useful plants that were known to botanists and gardeners in the early eighteenth-century. Caroline has written two books, A Splendour of Succulents & Cacti and A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables, which document how this piece of work came to be collated and which reproduce many of the amazing images featured within.  Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Butterfly Tongues & Buddleia What We Talk About  Johann Wilhelmina Weinmann and his Phytanthoza Iconographia  Where Weinmann sourced the plants that were included The painters who documented the specimens Historical plant pots How the work was reproduced Matching the plants depicted to contemporary specimens Are historical botanical texts merely a curiosity, or can they inform our knowledge of horticulture in the present day? Some of the more surprising medicinal uses for plants that are documented in the book About Caroline Ball & the Phytanthoza Iconagraphia In eighteenth-century Bavaria a prosperous apothecary, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann, grew an ‘American aloe’ that astounded all who saw it. He was also the mastermind behind an extraordinary project - a comprehensive A to Z of plants, meticulously documented, and lavishly illustrated by botanical artists using the latest colour-printing methods of the time. Weinmann aimed to include thousands of plants from all over the world, describing their individual characteristics and commissioning magnificent colour illustrations of each specimen. The first complete volume of the Phytanthoza Iconographia, as he called it, was published in 1737 and the work grew to four immense tomes. The Iconographia gives an unparalleled view of the ornamental and useful plants that were known to botanists and gardeners in the early eighteenth-century. Caroline Ball is an editor, copywriter and occasional translator who has written on many subjects, but has a particular interest in horticulture, garden history and plant-hunters. She is also a keen gardener. Caroline’s books A Splendour of Succulents & Cacti and A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables feature illustrations from an eighteenth-century botanical treasury, celebrating Weinmann’s rare and precious volumes by theme.  Links A Splendour of Succulents & Cacti A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables: Illustrations from an eighteenth-century botanical treasury Members of the public can explore the collections via the Bodleian’s online image portal here. digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Heritage Apples with Caroline Ball Herbs with the Herb Society Patreon

The Apothecary

This week, my guest is Dr Neil Bell, bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and author of The Hidden World of Mosses, which takes a look into the minute and fascinating world of bryophytes.  If you’ve ever wanted to know how these plants live and reproduce, whether you can cultivate moss indoors or outdoors, what that green stuff is you find on the surface of potted plant’s compost and whether you should take it off, the environmental and habitat value of mosses and how they are affected by the moon, listen on… Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Tardegrades What We Talk About  What is moss? How is it different to other plants?  Liverworts and hornworts How mosses reproduce Moss species in the UK Cultivating mosses in a garden or as a houseplant Liverworts growing on the surface of potted plants Is there a place for mosses on brownfield sites? Do all mosses need shade and moisture?  How mosses take in nutrients and attach to structures The role mosses play in the environment in terms of water attenuation and conservation, and as habitats for other creatures Sphagnum bogs as a ‘potential positive feedback loop’ for climate change and what can be done about this The connection between sphagnum moss and the moon How you can better see mosses, to explore what they look like in detail and appreciate them About The Hidden World of Mosses Did you know that there are nearly 20,000 different species of mosses and their relatives worldwide with over 1000 in the UK? And did you know that Sphagnum moss is almost wholly responsible for the creation and maintenance of peat bogs, preventing harmful carbon from being released into the atmosphere? The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has published The Hidden World of Mosses, providing an accessible guide to these not-so-humble botanical gems. Written by bryologist Dr Neil Bell, the book presents information about these incredible plants, exploring their tiny, intriguing and diverse environments in detail. This fascinating book also contains hundreds of stunning photographs which reveal the beauty and splendour of moss. Perhaps the most misunderstood and misrepresented of all groups of organisms, moss is often thought of as unattractive and unremarkable, but nothing could be further from the truth. Mosses and their relatives (liverworts and hornworts) are found in almost every part of the world, from lush forests to rocky mountains tops and from city centres in the tropics to Antarctic tundra. Mosses are critical to the planet - if they ceased to exist tomorrow the world would be in a lot of trouble.  Examining the many different types of moss, including those found in the UK and internationally, The Hidden World of Mosses explores the incredible environments of these plants that form their own miniature forests filled with grazers and predators, and have their own ecological norms and mechanics. They play a critical role in climate change prevention and have an extraordinary ability to hold and control water in forests, uplands and valleys.  Incredibly, some mosses can hold more than 20 times their own weight in water. Peat mosses (Sphagnum) are almost entirely responsible for creating and maintaining peat, which is a traditional fuel and used for the flavour it imparts to many whiskies. Sphagnum moss keeps the soil in which it grows permanently wet, largely preventing decomposition.Interestingly, Sphagnum moss has also been used by medics over the centuries. Due to its absorbent and antiseptic properties, it was used as a cheaper alternative to cotton wool dressings in World Wars One and Two, and has been used to treat wounds for many years.  On tropical mountains, mosses prevent flooding by capturing large amounts of water, gently controlling the flow of heavy rainfall, absorbing it like a giant sponge and then slowly letting it out again into rivers in a regulated manner. Additionally, mosses offer hunting grounds, protection and food for a host of much smaller creatures such as worms, mites, spiders and beetles, who use moss as a place to shelter, graze, or reproduce.  Speaking about the publication of The Hidden World of Mosses, Neil Bell said, “Mosses are just a little smaller than most things we deal with in our everyday lives, so we tend not to notice their intricate beauty and how different they are from each other unless we make the effort to look really closely. Mosses and their relatives have evolved to live in a different way from other plants, playing a critical role in the environment that other plants can’t, and the mosses and liverworts we have in Scotland are of international significance - far more so than our other native plants, in fact. We need to recognise that and protect them. I hope that this book will raise awareness of this hidden botanical world and encourage more people to explore it .” Dr Neil Bell is a bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.  Much of his research is focused on quantifying, understanding and promoting Scotland’s globally important bryophyte flora, of which mosses are part.  Neil is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Bryology.  This year, the British Bryology Society celebrates its centenary.  The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading scientific botanic gardens, holding knowledge gained over centuries that the world needs today.  All known life depends on plants and fungi. The Garden’s mission is to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future. We all know biodiversity loss and climate change is threatening thousands of plants with extinction. Through cutting edge science, conservation and education, the organisation is helping to save them.  Its four Scottish gardens – Benmore, Dawyk, Logan and ‘The Botanics’ in Edinburgh – attract over a million visitors every year. Together, these gardens comprise one of the richest plant collections on earth. As a registered Scottish charity, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is funded principally by the Scottish Government – but as an organisation, it is very much global, taking positive action for plants and people around the world – from local communities in Scotland, to over 40 countries overseas. Links The Hidden World of Mosses by Dr Neil Bell    www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Lichen Mycorrhizal Fungi with Jeff Lowenfels Patreon

Mosses

My guest this week is Ben Raskin, the Soil Association’s Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry. Ben is the author of several books on gardening, including Zero-Waste Garden and The Community Gardening Handbook. His latest book is ‘The Woodchip Handbook’, which I was very excited to read and even more excited to speak with Ben about, because I’ve long been a fan of using wood chip in the garden.  In the interview, we cover the many uses for woodchip in the garden, how it can help with plant and soil health, what sort of wood makes good chip and the do’s and don’ts of using it. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: The Syrphids What We Talk About  Sourcing woodchip Making your own Different species of tree woodchip Runoff when storing woodchip Do we need to store or compost woodchip before we use it? The uses for woodchip in the garden What is ramial chipped wood and what can it be used for?  The benefits of using woodchip as a mulch Avoiding suppressing self-seeders Woodchip and carbon retention What happens to woodchip if treated as ‘waste’?  About Ben Raskin Ben Raskin has worked in horticulture for more than 25 years, developing a wide range of experience both in practical commercial growing and wider policy and advocacy work. As the Soil Association’s Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry, he provides growers at all levels of production with technical, marketing, policy, supply chain and networking support. He is currently implementing a 200-acre silvopastural agroforestry planting in Wiltshire. Ben is the author of several previous books on gardening, including Zero-Waste Gardening (2021), The Community Gardening Handbook (2017) and three volumes of the Grow Together Guides aimed at families with young children: Compost, Grow, and Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies. Additionally, Ben co-chairs the Defra Edibles Horticulture Roundtable and sits on the boards of the Organic Growers Alliance and Community Supported Agriculture Network UK. Links  The Woodchip Handbook by Ben Raskin www.benraskin.uk Innovative Farmers Field Lab - willow woodchip for apple scab (with Glynn Percival) Innovative Farmers Field Lab  - peat free woodchip propagation substrate (with Iain Tolhurst) Other episodes if you liked this one: Dr Glynn Percival’s episode where he talks about tree health and the various uses of different mulches in terms of suppressing diseases A recording of Iain Tolhurst, where he talks about his use of ramial woodchip Patreon

Woodchip

This week’s episode, I’m speaking to holistic funeral director, Holly Lyon-Hawk. It’s not easy for most of us to talk about end of life, death and funeral arrangements and yet it’s such an important thing to prepare for, it’s unavoidable, it needn’t be frightening or taboo, and it is something we can make easier for ourselves and our loved ones if we start a conversation around it whilst we still can. In the interview, Holly talks about her approach and about what options are open to those of us who love nature and gardens and I expect you’ll find what we talk about sometimes surprising and also reassuring to know that there are alternative options. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Choices for pest control What We Talk About  Holly’s background and how she became a holistic funeral director How Holly approaches funerals differently Some common misconceptions around funerals Can I be composted? Can I be buried in my garden? Eco-friendly ways to be buried How a garden or love of gardening can be incorporated into a funeral Talking about your funeral wishes and how we can prepare for dying How to make sure your last wishes are followed About Holly Lyon-Hawk I originally trained as a veterinary nurse before working as a sculptor for many years.  I set up my own business  working as a holistic funeral director many years ago understanding that people needed not only more choice, but also more support than they had been, on the whole, from mainstream traditional funeral directors. I now work across the S/E England supporting many families as both as End of Life Practitioner and a Holistic Funeral Director. I am an author as well as a multi-award winning Holistic Funeral Director, Specialist in Ceremonial Care of the Body and End of Life Practitioner for People and Pets.  Links www.hollylyonhawk.com Holly’s Podcast - No One Gets Out of Here Alivehttps://noonegetsoutofherealive.buzzsprout.com Holly’s Book - A Gentle Goodbye Other episodes if you liked this one: Caring for God’s Acre with Harriet Carty Sacred Woodlands with Simon Leadbeater Patreon

The End of the Life Cycle

This week’s episode I’m speaking to horticulturist, journalist, host of the On the Ledge podcast and author of a new book ‘Legends of the Leaf’, Jane Perrone. Have you ever wondered why the leaves of the Swiss cheese plant have holes? How aloe vera came to be harnessed as a medicinal powerhouse? Or why – despite your best efforts – you can’t keep your Venus flytrap alive? If you’re familiar with the On the Ledge podcast, you’ll know Jane takes deep dives into the background of houseplants; where they come from, how they behave and how we can best grow them. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: The Lepidoptera About Legends of the Leaf Have you ever wondered why the leaves of the Swiss cheese plant have holes? How aloe vera came to be harnessed as a medicinal powerhouse? Or why – despite your best efforts – you can’t keep your Venus flytrap alive? You are not alone: houseplant expert Jane Perrone has asked herself those very questions, and in Legends of the Leaf she digs deep beneath the surface to reveal the answers. By exploring how they grow in the wild, and the ways they are understood and used by the people who live among them, we can learn almost everything we need to know about our cherished houseplants. Along the way, she unearths their hidden histories and the journeys they’ve taken to become prized possessions in our homes: from the Kentia palms which stood either side of Queen Victoria’s coffin as she lay in state; to the dark history of the leopard lily, once exploited for its toxic properties; to English ivy, which provided fishermen with a source of bait. Each houseplant history in this beautifully illustrated collection is accompanied by a detailed care guide and hard-won practical advice, but it is only by understanding their roots that we can truly unlock the secrets to helping plants thrive. About Jane Perrone Jane Perrone is a horticultural expert, journalist and the host of On The Ledge, a podcast dedicated to houseplants and indoor gardening. She is a regular contributor to the Guardian, the Financial Times and Gardens Illustrated. She lives in Bedfordshire with her husband, two children, a dog called Wolfie and a home full of plants.  Links www.janeperrone.com  Order Legends of the Leaf  Jane on Instagram  On Twitter  Other episodes if you liked this one: Plants as Art with Alyson Mowat Botanical Styling with Michelle Mason Patreon

Houseplant Legends

My guest this week is Shawn Maestretti of Studio Petrichor, a design studio working out of California. Shawn’s personal mission is to reconnect with the natural world, tread lightly on the land, nurture biodiversity, protect water, and bring people together. We speak about how Studio Petrichor designs with these values in mind and the systems and techniques that are used to achieve these goals. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Orange Tip Butterflies About Studio Petrichor & Shawn Maestretti Studio Petrichor is a group of compassionate individuals on a journey to manifest meaningful change in the world through transformational and environmentally-aligned landscaping practices. Our goal is to help individuals and communities cultivate stronger, richer relationships with their environment. Along the way, we educate and empower one another to support and protect Mother Nature’s living systems. When we see and believe our actions and lives matter, it places us in a role of responsibility. It is this belief that will bring about a more beautiful, abundant, connected world. Shawn Maestretti is an Oracle and Alchemist, (aka plant daddy, licensed landscape architect, certified arborist, certified permaculture designer, biospheric caretaker, speaker, and educator). Shawn is a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corp, a Kiss the Ground Soil Advocate, and has co-founded the non-profit Poly/Ana to empower communities to honor and protect natural, living systems. He is also a Landscape Design Teacher at the Theodore Payne Foundation. Shawn has been presenting on Nature’s intelligence and humanity’s impact on climate change in his presentation series Regenerative Landscapes and the Climate Crisis, Reimagining Landscape and Lifestyle, and Landscape Architecture and The Death of the Ego. His personal mission is to reconnect with the natural world, tread lightly on the land, nurture biodiversity, protect water, and bring people together. Shawn always considers impacts on flora, fauna, fungi, soil, water, the environment, the interconnectedness of our actions, and of course, a changing climate. Links www.studio-petrichor.com Other episodes if you liked this one: A Post-Wild World with Thomas Rainer Water-wise Gardening with Janet Manning https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Ecologically Integrated Gardens

Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of Roots and All where I’m speaking to both of the Seeds Sistas, Fiona Heckels and Kazzla Goodweather about their latest book ‘Poison Prescriptions’. The book takes a look at three key plants; datura, henbane and belladonna aka the power plants. Steeped in political history, the mysterious past of our native power plants calls to us somewhere deep within. The book urges the resurrection of the ancient tradition of using of these plants in medicine, as well as being a practical guide to plant magic, medicine and ritual. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Ectoparasites What We Talk About Witching herbs How long have they been used by humans and what have they been used for? The chemicals they contain and how they can affect the body Developing a deeper connection with plants Henbane Datura Belladonna Links www.seedsistas.co.uk Poison Prescriptions by The Seed Sistas - Watkins Media Limited, November 2022 Other episodes if you liked this one: Sensory Herbalism Nicole Rose of Solidarity Apothecary Patreon Membership

Poison Prescriptions

Hello and welcome to this week’s episode, where in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Week, I’m speaking about Sensory Gardens, with a focus on design for people with autism. I have three guests; Camellia Taylor who’s designed The Natural Affinity Garden, which will be at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, after which time it will be relocated to Kent, to the charity Aspens where it will be used by residents of and visitors to the site. Next, I speak with Meraud Davis who’s overseeing the project at Aspens and finally, to Alexis Selby a foraging obsessed, nature-loving, all-round amazing person who’s giving us her take on using outdoor spaces with her son, Jared. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Narcissus Root Fly What We Talk About Why do we need to distinguish between men and women when it comes to environmentalism?  Isn’t it fair to say some women are interested in improving and caring for their environment and some aren’t, and this is the case too with men?  The feminisation of responsibility as it relates to climate change Why women are more affected by climate change than men Women and the control of the means of polluting production  Why women lack the opportunity to generate a larger climate footprint Women who are making a difference About The Natural Affinity Garden Aspens will partner with garden designer Camellia Taylor to create a show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (23 – 27 May 2023), supported by Project Giving Back. Aspens is a social care charity that provides high quality care and support topeople on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, and their families in the South-East. The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens, is one of six All About Plants gardens being supported by Project Giving Back in 2023. It will encourage a connection with nature and maximise the benefits to a visitor’s wellbeing by engaging with the seven senses (touch, taste, scent, sight, sound, movement and temperature). Each planting zone of the design targets specific senses and every aspect of the planting has been included for sensory stimulation. The dominant use of green in the garden provides an overall feeling of calm for those with hyper-sensitivity (sensory avoidant) and subtle additions of purple and yellow provide stimulation and interaction for those with hypo-sensitivity (sensory seeking). After the show, the garden will be relocated to the heart of Aspens’ Kent site, where it will provide a rich, therapeutic haven for the charity’s community. The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens’ designer Camellia Taylor has a background in psychology and health care and has worked on previous projects with Aspens. She has a strong connection with the charity’s core values of empowerment, inclusivity and integrity and is passionate about supporting their vision for an inclusive society where people with disabilities can thrive. Links www.aspens.org.uk World Autism Awareness Week - The National Autistic Society Social Stories Autism Training  Other episodes if you liked this one: Making Gardening Accessible with Mark Lane Gardening for Your Senses Patreon Membership

Sensory Gardens & Autism

This week I’m speaking to Dr Anne Karpf. Anne is Professor of Life Writing and Culture at London Metropolitan University and is a writer, sociologist and award-winning journalist. In 2021 she released the book ‘How Women Can Save the Planet’, where she looks at how there is gender inequality across the board from how we experience the climate crisis to our ability to effect change. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Queen Bumblebees What We Talk About Why do we need to distinguish between men and women when it comes to environmentalism?  Isn’t it fair to say some women are interested in improving and caring for their environment and some aren’t, and this is the case too with men?  The feminisation of responsibility as it relates to climate change Why women are more affected by climate change than men Women and the control of the means of polluting production  Why women lack the opportunity to generate a larger climate footprint Women who are making a difference Links How Women Can Save the Planet by Anne Karpf - C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, May 2021 Other episodes if you liked this one: Gardening in a Changing World Wildfires with Saul Elbein Patreon Membership

Can Women Save the Planet?

This week my guest is Tim Richardson, who, amongst many other things, is a garden writer, historian and founder of the Chelsea Fringe. The Fringe is an annual event which is a collection of all things horticultural, the quirkier the better, and it runs concurrent to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show each May. Events are held around the world and are an opportunity to celebrate horticulture in an alternative way. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Cabbage Bomb Aphids About the Chelsea Fringe The Chelsea Fringe – the alternative garden festival and established highlight of the horticultural calendar – will take place for a 12th year with nine days of festivities confirmed from 20 - 28 May 2023. After two years in which participants responded creatively to the restrictions of the pandemic, the festival returned to the real world with a bang in 2022. A programme brimming with stimulating and diverse events took place with contributions from Cranbrook to Perth, and from Naples to Seattle. Fringe organisers are now encouraging everyone to start thinking about the imaginative, quirky, and unusual ideas they might bring to the 2023 Fringe to help create another bumper celebration of horticulture and grassroots gardening. Fringe founder and director Tim Richardson said: “We are a ‘true Fringe’ in that we don’t commission or curate. We accept everything that our participants suggest – if an event is on-topic, legal and interesting, it’s in! That means everything from community-garden events, art projects and performances to walks and talks, craft demos, and workshops – just a few of the categories we end up with. We are always surprised – and delighted – by what pops up each year, fresh from the imagination of our horticultural comrades in the UK and around the world.” Thousands of events have taken place in more than 20 different countries since the first Fringe was held in 2012. What started as a back-of-a-postcard idea has grown over a decade into an international event which is an established — if unorthodox — fixture of the gardening calendar. It remains an unfunded, unsponsored and volunteer-run Community Interest Company (CIC), powered by a small but dedicated group, with many events in the festival free to attend. Contributors and venues over the years have included community gardening groups, public parks, artists, poets, chefs, galleries, schools, and major institutions such as Kew, the Inner Temple, the Natural History Museum, and Covent Garden Flower Market, among many others. Despite its name, the festival reaches well beyond Chelsea; not just to every quarter of London, but also to the far corners of the UK and around the world. Events have taken place on the Isle of Mull, in Monmouth, Margate, Leeds, Bristol and Henley-on-Thames, and the Fringe’s global appeal has been underlined by enthusiastic participants signing up in Canada, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Australia, and Japan. Events usually begin to appear on the Fringe website from February, while registration remains open right up until the very last day of the festival. Potential event organisers are encouraged to make contact as soon as possible in order to make the most of the promotional potential that taking part brings. Anyone with an idea – however unformed – is encouraged to get in touch now. Our team of volunteers will do everything we can to turn germs of ideas into flourishing blooms by May 2023. The Chelsea Fringe is now inviting individuals and organisations, first-timers and Fringe veterans, to contact us at info@chelseafringe.com outlining what they propose to do as part of the 2023 festival programme. Links https://chelseafringe.com www.chelseafringe.com On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook Other episodes if you liked this one: Show Gardens Public Green Spaces Patreon Membership

The Chelsea Fringe

My guest this week is Dr Ana Attlee, co-founder of the company Seedball. The idea for Seedball started to germinate in 2010 when Ana and her fellow PhD student Emily Lambert were looking into ways to successful start wildflowers from seed in order to encourage pollinators. 13 years later, Seedballs are stocked in respectable horticultural establishments all over the country and their range continues to grow with new and exciting seed packages being added all the time. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Preparing for Spring What We Talk About What is a Seedball? What different types can you get? How many seeds are in a ball and what’s the germination rate like? How many seedballs do you need? Can you throw them anywhere? Do you need to water them? How long are they viable? How might you reuse the tins? Links www.seedball.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Creating Wildlife Habitats  The Garden Jungle with Dave Goulson Patreon Membership

Seed Balls

This week, I am delighted to welcome back champion of the soil food web, Jeff Lowenfels. Jeff is the author of the Teaming With series of books which look at what goes on at a micro level in the soil beneath our feet. His new title ‘Teaming with Bacteria’ lifts the lid on new findings about how plants use and interact with bacteria and he’s here to give us the lowdown on this amazing relationship. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Solitary Bees What We Talk About Rhizophagy Bacteria and endophytic bacteria How bacteria helps make healthy soil What bacteria does for plants and vice versa How plants attract bacteria How plants know when to stop letting in bacteria Can bacteria still exist happily in the soil without a plant? Bacteria and monocrops  Bacteria carried in seeds  Bacteria and hydroponics Simple and practical things we can do to help the plant/bacteria relationship Bacteria research and the future of gardening and plant growing About Jeff Lowefels Jeff Lowenfels is the author several of award-winning books on plants and soil, and he is the longest running garden columnist in North America. Lowenfels is a national lecturer as well as a fellow, hall of fame member, and former president of the Garden Writers of America. Links The Teaming with series, written by Jeff Lowenfels Teaming with Bacteria Teaming with Nutrients Teaming with Fungi  Teaming with Microbes Other episodes if you liked this one: Mycorrhizal Fungi with Jeff Lowenfels Mycorrhizal Fungi with Dr Petra Guy Patreon Membership

Soil Bacteria & Rhizophagy

My guest this week is Hilary Collins who runs Hardy Eucalyptus at Grafton Nursery. Hilary researches the best way to grow Eucalyptus trees in the UK and also Europe. At the nursery, they run all manner of trials and Hilary writes papers and articles on Eucalyptus plus she has a book called Cut Foliage Eucalyptus – Fantastic Foliage and How to Farm it. She consults all over the world, and also works in the Garden Design and Construction Company advising on planting design. Hilary is here today talking all things eucalyptus and my first question was how she came to specialise in this group of plants. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Signals What We Talk About Different garden-worth eucalyptus varieties Eucalyptus selection Eucalyptus pruning Eucalyptus seed provenance How to plant them to ensure success The benefits of air-pot containers What is March 18th all about in the Horticultural Calendar and the life of any Eucalyptus tree owner? About Hilary Collins First and foremost in my career: I am a horticulturist…and also parent to 2 daughters Charlie and Victoria.  Charlie is our landscape Architect for our garden design and build company Envisage Gardens.  Victoria has escaped from professional horticulture and works in education. I started growing plants when I was about 3 or 4 with my father who was a very keen gardener and amateur tree-grower, but we grew all manner of bedding plants, fruit and vegetables, tomatoes, perennials. He was very into Bonsai too.  And my mother was very keen that I should learn all about our native flora, from a very early age. I went to University of Bath to read Horticulture because I loved the subject, loved the city and the location and also partly in rebellion because it really appalled my headmistress who thought it was a really unsuitable career for a ‘young lady’!  The course is no longer on offer sadly.   Whilst at Bath, I worked for Long Ashton Research Station running the Specific Apple Replant Disease Trials, following year I ran the Fireblight Trials for Showerings (Allied Lyons) and then just before my final year I worked at the National Fruit Trials – trees again, but this time working in Tissue Culture.  So I would have liked to have gone into research, but all the Research Stations closed down.  I am an escaped Lab Rat. So I went into commercial horticulture, growing plants and also garden design. When I graduated, I ran a tree seed business for a couple of years before selling it.  We bought Grafton Nursery in 2008 and decided amongst other plants, to grow trees.  This has evolved into almost exclusively growing Eucalyptus trees for a wide range of customers.   I like to talk talk about the wide range of applications of Eucalyptus.  There isn’t just Eucalyptus gunnii.  We grow over 70 species.  They have a wide range of applications. ·       Carbon sequestration ·       Producing timber for firewood logs, biomass, hardwood lumber and silvo pasture ·       Cut Foliage for floral art and fodder for Zoo Animals ·       Screening trees – shade trees ·       Nectar and pollen for bees – all year round ·       Sustainable drainage systems – via the Swamp Gums ·       Tencel – Lycocell for clothing fabric and carpets etc ·       Oil – antimicrobial – used in cosmetics, medicinal products and rocket fuel ·       Gold prospected – ok may be not in the UK… I run Hardy Eucalyptus at Grafton Nursery, where I research the best way to grow Eucalyptus trees in the UK and also Europe.  We run all manner of trials. I write papers and articles on Eucalyptus; Shrub-on-a-stick – how to prune them to keep them small Shrub-in-a-tub – how to grow them successful in containers Screening trees for privacy. How to grow them as a hedge Best way to grow Cut Foliage so we can support our Flower Farmers with the right advice in their Eucalyptus orchards/plantations We also have a small firewood plantation and we trial the trees for their use in sustainable drainage systems. I’ve written a book on how to grow Cut Foliage Eucalyptus – Fantastic Foliage and How to Farm it. Prior to Brexit we exported all over Europe – trying to make that happen again with our French Project. I consult all over the world, including America, Norway, New Zealand and Australia. I also work in our Garden Design and Construction Company – I do the planting plans. I have a particular interest in Wild Gardens and Kitchen/Fruit Gardens. Links www.hardy-eucalyptus.com Cut Foliage Eucalyptus: Fantastic Foliage and How to Farm It by Hilary Collins  Other episodes if you liked this one: Exotic Plants with Graham Blunt of Plantbase Nursery Camellias with Fiona Edmond Patreon Membership

Hardy Eucalyptus

Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of Roots and All, where my guest is garden designer, TV personality and Trustee of the Gardening with Disabilities Trust Mark Lane. Mark talks about the various types of challenges people can face that might impede their activity in the garden, and how gardens and gardening can be adapted to enable people to carry on with these activities. He gives some excellent, practical advice for anyone who may need to adapt horticulture to suit their own needs or those of others. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Stridulation What We Talk About Is gardening one of the more tricky hobbies to modify if you find yourself less able? Why is it a good thing to keep on gardening? How many people in the UK are gardening with disabilities? What are some of the most common types of disabilities facing gardeners? Some of the biggest challenges you see come up time and again Helpful solutions Where can people go to get help to garden/grants? Where can designers and pro gardeners go to get guidance? About Mark Lane Roger Hirons has been a horticultural speaker for over thirty years, presenting to garden clubs and societies as well as the University of the Third Age and the Women's Institute. Since studying horticulture at Pershore College, he has also run and co-run plant centres and worked in the landscaping industry for nearly twenty years. Links Mark Lane Designs Gardening with Disabilities Trust Other episodes if you liked this one: Gardening by Touch, Smell, Sound and Taste with Andrew Hesser Stephen Hackett of Horatio’s Garden Patreon Membership

Making Gardening Accessible

Do you want to know how to grow plants and get the best out of your outdoor space? Do you find traditional gardening media baffling and/or boring? Then you’re in the right place, because the Roots and All podcast is here to dig deep into how to create a successful garden. If you want honest information and insider knowledge about how to get results, join irreverent horticulturist Sarah Wilson as she chats to the best people from the world of plants and gardens. Sarah is on a mission to help you create your own beautiful green environment, with a focus on saving resources and working with nature. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

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Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

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