Gardens, weeds and words

A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing. With Andrew O'Brien.

S03.5 Episode 4: What your garden wants from you
Apr 15, 2025 – 35:05
S03.5 Episode 3: the picture perfect garden
Feb 13, 2025 – 18:11
S03.5 Episode 2: What we want from our gardens
Nov 6, 2024 – 20:40
S03.5 Episode 1: Wild About Weeds
Aug 30, 2024 – 21:34
S03.5 Episode 00: Trailer
Aug 13, 2024 – 05:56
S03 Episode 10: Rosemary for remembrance. With Maya Thomas
Feb 8, 2024 – 59:33
S03 Episode 09: Gardens for Good Causes. With Hattie Ghaui
Oct 10, 2023 – 56:58
S03 Episode 8: Designing with flowers. With Hazel Gardiner
Aug 8, 2023 – 01:01:13
S03 Episode 7: To Stand and Stare. With Andrew Timothy O'Brien
Feb 16, 2023 – 51:50
S03 Episode 6: Flower & Story. With Milli Proust
Dec 17, 2022 – 58:16
S03 Episode 5: Where the sun don't shine. With Susanna Grant
Oct 26, 2022 – 50:27
S03 Episode 4: Ready for the weather. With Hannah McDonald
Nov 29, 2021 – 52:23
S03 Episode 3: Writing with trees. With Jackee Holder
Jan 31, 2021 – 01:07:18
S03 Episode 2: a plant-inspired practice. With Katie Robbins
Dec 4, 2020 – 54:54
S03 Episode 01: Home. With Jennie Spears of Lemon Tree Trust
Oct 23, 2020 – 52:28
S02 Episode 11: Gratitude, privilege, responsibility. With Ann-Marie Powell
Jul 31, 2020 – 53:59
S02 Episode 10: The Five Minute Garden. With Laetitia Maklouf
May 21, 2020 – 42:11
S02 Episode 9: Practical, useful & pretty. With Katie Rushworth
Apr 23, 2020 – 45:31
S02 Episode 8: Unearthed. With Claire Ratinon
Mar 27, 2020 – 01:04:04
S02 Episode 7: How to Get Kids Gardening. With Lee Connelly
Feb 28, 2020 – 41:42
S02 Episode 6: Rootbound. With Alice Vincent
Jan 31, 2020 – 47:48
S02 Episode 5: healing nature. With Alys Fowler
Jan 3, 2020 – 01:05:22
S02 Episode 4: Nature in a virtual space. With Sara Tasker
Nov 30, 2019 – 53:43
S02 Episode 3: Garden outlaws and weedy rebels. With Jack Wallington
Nov 14, 2019 – 40:05
S02EP02: Unknown ground. With Grant Simon Rogers
Oct 24, 2019 – 33:36
S02 Episode 1: Nature all around. With Caro Langton
Sep 26, 2019 – 36:31
S01 Episode 15: Absolute beginners. With Lucy Lucraft
Aug 22, 2019 – 38:13
S01 Episode 14: Affirmations, arguments, and alstroemerias
Jul 28, 2019 – 08:12
S01 Episode 13: Joined-up gardens. With Jo Thompson
Jul 3, 2019 – 45:08
S01 Episode 12: Midsummer rain. A weedling
Jun 25, 2019 – 12:07
S01 Episode 11: Gardens and food. With Victoria Wade
May 30, 2019 – 31:20
S01 Episode 10: Someone else's garden. With Marian Boswall
May 10, 2019 – 36:52
S01 Episode 09: Who is gardening for? With Sara Venn
Apr 11, 2019 – 42:51
S01 Episode 08: Words and gardens. With Sean Swallow
Mar 15, 2019 – 41:02
S01 Episode 07: On the threshold. With Lia Leendertz
Feb 21, 2019 – 41:30
S01 Episode 06: To stand and stare. With Laura Ellen Bacon
Jan 24, 2019 – 47:10
S01 Episode 05: Gardening for wildlife. With Kate Bradbury
Dec 20, 2018 – 41:53
S01 Episode 04: Call yourself a gardener? Gardening without a garden, with Alice Vincent
Nov 22, 2018 – 25:01
S01 Episode 03: "More light", with Ros Atkinson of @her_dark_materials
Nov 1, 2018 – 25:01
S01 Episode 02: Gardening in the landscape with Celia Hart
Oct 12, 2018 – 25:02
S01 Episode 01: September. Wondering why we make gardens, and chatting with Jane Perrone.
Sep 16, 2018 – 24:59
Trailer for the new Gardens, Weeds & Words podcast
Jul 28, 2018 – 01:25

Recent Reviews

peace.vigil.auntie

Consistently delightful

As a Pacific Northwesterner returning more seriously to gardening, specifically with native plants to extend the adjacent semi-wild woodland park, this wonderful podcast brings a gentle and non-judgmental voice. Every episode I’ve heard so far is an inspiration to find our place in the wilder world of nature. Mr. O’Brian is a gifted interviewer, who seems to bond with each guest over their mutual love of plants and garden wildlife, with the sound and song of gardens often accompanying the words.
Chicago garden enthusiast

My all time favorite podcast

Garden, Weeds and Words is my all time favorite podcast. I eagerly await the new episodes and when I see one I pounce. Andrew, the host, has a way with words and asks the most insightful questions of his guests. It’s really fun to listen to their conversations and I always walk away new learnings and a list of plants or books or organizations to check out. And...I always find myself laughing along with Andrew. I highly recommend this podcast!
Agatha Fan!

Perfect podcast

Such an informative podcast on the people in horticulture. I especially loved the episode with Ann Marie Powell!
Misti L.

Love this podcast!

I enjoy hearing from folks across the pond and I really love the production aspect of this podcast. Always feel like I'm puttering about the garden at the same time (when I'm usually typing away on a computer!)
ahr804

Favorite Podcast!

Each episode is so interesting and informative. I’ll be sad when I’m all caught up and will have to wait for the next one. I especially like the Show Notes. I find myself looking up the books and Instagram accounts of his guests.
sydneysm01

So grateful for this podcast

I’m so happy to have stumbled on this delightful podcast. Andrew is a truly gifted interviewer, and he balances questions, answers, and chat so beautifully. The production of the podcast is beyond reproach, too. As an apartment gardener, this is exactly the kind of inspiration I wish for.
JayReau

Brilliant

I love the tone of this podcast. It’s like a story and full of information. Even even though it’s predominantly about England, the concepts translate across the ocean. Thank you.
Adrienne @easterade

A must listen!

I love this podcast so much. It is so cozy and wonderful. Not just for gardeners, it would be a great listen for those who enjoy nature or just good words. I love the sounds of the opening and closing, the interviews are so wonderful. I’ve discovered great garden books and wonderfully creative people through this podcast. And it is just so enjoyable to listen to...sit back and have a listen.
WMGardener

Like Gardeners World in podcast world

...Lovely sounds & thoughts from the garden. Enjoyed the first episode! Keep them coming!