On this episode of Dear Gardener, host Ben Dark explores the legacy and afterlife of gardens. The starting points are: a Laburnum safari through Østerbro, a fence-climb into an abandoned garden, and a run through the acid-sands of West Sussex.

Featuring Gertrude Jekyll, Edwin Lutyens and the National Trust in the news that Munstead Wood is 'to be preserved for the nation'

Support the show on Kofi https://ko-fi.com/bendark

Tickets to the Birmingham Talk here: https://www.bournvillehub.com/box-office/the-grove-a-nature-odyssey-in-19-1-2-front-gardens

Episode Breakdown:

[00:00:06] Lime tree mist season in Copenhagen. Excellent for spoiling cars

[00:05:36] Tennyson praised for 'rosey plumelets bud the larch'

[00:08:24] Golden chain tree and the particularity of its yellow

[00:13:01] Lilac's use as a besmirching foil. The neighbour's trampoline of huge and surprising beauty

[00:15:38] Father's death inspires thoughts on gardens.

[00:19:16] Gertrude Jekyll and the Arts and Crafts movement

[00:23:52] Gardens best seen after suffering?

[00:27:32] The Canterbury tales as told on the Hidcot coach.

[00:29:27] Small towns end abruptly.

[00:32:41] Rhododendron ponticum invasive but lovely in the shade

[00:35:50] Stalin's mimosa.