This week on the Gardener Ben Podcast, I’m joined by Kenny @raybould_and_wild, who I’m lucky enough to call a personal friend.He has one of those jobs within the horticultural trade that I’m positive is incredibly stressful, but which many gardeners can only dream about — bringing together floristry, gardening, maintenance, and buying all in one role.Officially, Kenny is the Director of Horticulture at Covent Garden. He’s also the founder of Stoke in Bloom @stoke_in_bloom.We could’ve chatted for hours about plants, the environment, peat-free compost, and the challenges of gardening in such a public space visited by tens of thousands of people every year.I really hope you enjoy listening to our conversation and that you tune in again next week, as we’re heading up to Scotland, where I’ll be talking to Ethan, a plant and soil ecologist.#gardenerben #podcast #podcaster #gardeningpodcast #streamingnow #listennow #gardenersofinstagram #podcastsofinstagram
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S3E4 Grace Rose Farm
On today’s episode of the Gardener Ben podcast, I had the absolute privilege of getting to know Gracie from @gracerosefarm.I’ve been following her on Instagram for so long, and there are some really exciting things happening both personally and with the business as they plan to relocate to the other side of the country, taking their daughter and extended family of animals with them.We talked about many different subjects, including the processes behind creating her books, how the company strives to offer a rose suitable for everyone — from bare roots to larger, more mature plants that offer instant gratification — and how, with the move, they’ll be launching their own independent garden centre brand.I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation. Next week, I’m joined by the absolutely wonderful Kenny (@raybould_and_wild), Director of Horticulture in Covent Garden.#gardenerben #podcast #podcastsofinstagram #podcaster #gardeningpodcast #helpingyougrow #listennow #streamingnow #roses #roseexpert
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S3E3 Afternoon tea with Ann Russell
On episode three of series three of the Gardener Ben podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down for a face-to-face chat with the infallible, bold, and plain-speaking @ann.russell.3958.We are lucky enough that Ann lives very close to us here in the New Forest, which presented a real opportunity to have an open and rambling conversation — very much off-topic for me — over some tea and cake here at North Lodge.If you follow along with Ann’s content on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, you’ll know that she is unfazed and unafraid of rolling up her sleeves and delving into some of the most challenging subjects and topics circulating on the internet on a day-to-day basis, as well as sharing the tricks of her trade with pragmatic and useful cleaning hints and tips.Our conversation takes many twists and turns and was one of the most stimulating face-to-face conversations I’ve had in many years. It’s presented to you exactly as it was recorded — just two people chatting over tea and cake. I hope you enjoy our conversation, and if you don’t already, make sure to follow @ann.russell.3958 on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, and get your hands on any one of her three published books, the latest of which is How to Be an Adult.Next week, we’re heading back to America to talk roses once again — enjoy!#gardenerben #podcast #podcaster #listennow #annrussell #timefortea #streamingnow #podcastshow #podcastsofinstagram #offtopic
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S3E2 Heirloom Roses
Joining me on this week’s episode of the podcast is Robin Jennings, Senior Brand and Marketing Manager @heirloomroses.Robin joins me for a conversation about how the brand is advancing its range into bulbs and specialist perennials, how they are making huge movements to reduce single-use plastic waste with fully recyclable and compostable packaging, and the option to have your roses shipped with or without a plastic pot!On a personal note, I’m also really excited to hear about their collaboration with Brad from @selectroses, who was a guest on Season Two. @heirloomroses are going to be stocking some of his beautiful creations in the coming years, and it’s lovely to hear that some of those roses are going to be making their way into the gardens of a wider audience all across the USA and Canada.To celebrate this really special episode, @heirloomroses have issued me with a personal discount code to be used on all roses and bulbs ordered before the end of 2025 (USA and Canada only).Use the code GARDENERBEN at checkout for 20% off all roses and bulbs when ordered before the end of 2025.Don’t worry if you’re not ready to have your roses delivered before the New Year—simply go online, make sure that you use the discount code, and book your roses to be delivered within the next eight months at a time that is suitable for you or perfect for your growing zone.#gardenerben #roses #heirloomroses #podcast #podcaster #gardeningpodcast #listennow #streamingnow #gardenersofinstagram #helpingyougrow #rosegarden #plantagarden
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S3E1 Jen Flourish Nutrition
Welcome back to the Gardener Ben podcast.I hope that you’ve all had a wonderful summer. It seemed to have never ended here on the south coast of the UK, with temperatures soaring for weeks on end and very little rain for nearly three months.This has caused autumn to arrive early; the garden is tired and ready for a rest.In this season, I’m planning to bring you some incredibly interesting conversations, and we start this week with jen_flourishnutrition.The inspiration for this conversation came about after I posted a rose review to YouTube a few months ago, and I was really quite surprised by the comments that it attracted.The rose in question is the Menopause Charity Rose from Harkness Roses, and the issue didn’t seem to be around the quality of the presentation or the plant itself, but in fact the name and the stigma that goes with discussing the menopause openly.Jen specialises in women’s health nutrition and advises businesses and individuals on how they can feel better, especially when experiencing the symptoms of menopause, through paying attention to their diet, exercise, and understanding their bodies.The last part of the conversation is incredibly personal to me and was difficult not only to have in person with Jen but also to edit and put into the podcast, a real glimpse into why I have been a gardener working independently and self-employed for so long.I hope that you enjoy our conversation and head across to Instagram to show Jen’s account some love.
Tune into the_Gardenerben Gardening Podcast, where we dive into the enchanting world of English Roses, explore the charm of Modern Cottage Gardening, and celebrate all things plants. Join me for inspiring garden projects and expert tips to transform your green spaces into blooming paradises.
South Africa