The Gatekeepers
Have you ever had the feeling you're not being given the whole truth? I suspect it's part and parcel of modern life; there always seems to be someone trying to [...]
Ben Probert
Iford Manor
The far south west of the UK is regarded as one of the very best areas to make a garden. Blessed with the Gulf Stream just to the west and [...]
For You And For Me
I like to think of myself as someone who never lets the opportunity to visit a garden pass by. I can reel off the names of the gardens I've visited, [...]
Reading And Writing
My name is Ben, and I am a professional gardener. Some might consider me lucky; some might feel sorry for me. A career in gardening is something many look down [...]
Adventures With Pines
Plenty of good people create amazing gardens but still manage to keep balance in their lives. I immerse myself in my passion for plants and gardens to the point where [...]
Bad Nature
You could be forgiven for thinking that gardening is primarily the study of entomology. Industrial agriculture, the expansion of urban areas and infrastructure, and changing climate patterns have caused a [...]
Cutting Back
There's something bad lurking in the undergrowth in a large number of gardens. Something worse than any disease, more destructive than any pest. It's a problem that is eating away [...]
Bad Influences
I've reached that time in my life. Police officers look remarkably young these days, and who are these new modern pop stars people keep talking about? In a world of [...]
What Makes A Great Garden?
I've spent the last couple of days visiting gardens. Five gardens in two days is quite impressive, but not quite my record. My record was six. Three of these gardens [...]
Visiting The Impossible Garden
The line between genius and madness can be incredibly fine. Much depends on a successful outcome. When Rowena Cade started building her outdoor theatre, The Minack, on an exposed cliff [...]
What Makes A Great Gardener?
I own rather too many gardening books. In excess of 800 to be precise. Most are books about plants and practical gardening, although I have a healthy number of books [...]
Lessons From A Lily
The 8th of May is a special day in the calendar for the residents of the Cornish town of Helston. This is Flora Day, a traditional celebration of the end [...]