Sometimes when people get to know something and love it, it’s hard for them when it changes. I really enjoyed the Garden Log, and was surprised by the new form of Dear Gardener. It took a bit of getting used to the rhythm of this radio collage, the weaving of three gardeners voices into one. It makes for a longer technical learning curve and transitions from one voice to another are challenging. All of that will get honed in time, if he keeps developing this style of podcast, and I hope he does. It has artful qualities, which probably annoys some. For me, the melding, the piecing of the voices, is akin to garden design - a garden of gardeners. There are lots of possibilities with this format. Recently he has added some different reports, more akin to Garden Log, and an interview, all also good. But please acontinue to work on your interweavings as well. We all need to stretch a bit!

Really enjoy hearing Ben talk and go over his thoughts and experiences in the garden, I would even enjoy his interview episodes if he didn’t insist on cutting back and forth with multiple guests and making disjointed on purpose. It has potential for a winning format, just not quite there yet.

Treat yourself to Ben Dark’s newest podcast. This new format has him mixing interviews with gardeners around the world with his own gardening and garden explorations. Ben’s musings seem at the same time diligently and deliberately researched and delivered while also effortless and anecdotal. He blends horticulture, botany, history and the human experience. If you’ve read his newest book “The Grove” you know the quality and enjoyability of his work.