Plant outlaws and weedy rebels
with Jack Wallington
This post contains affiliate links
There’s a particular dynamic, an almost tangible fizz in the air, when the landscape meets a garden fence. It’s all about intention – the purpose behind the planting, which plants are in, and which are out – on the one side nature, on the other, the gardener. Ok, that’s a simplification, but only just. What it leads to is a system of classification that seems innately understood but poorly defined, a separation of plants into desirables and undesirables. The latter, we call weeds, but often, when we meet them on the outside of the fence, we think of them as wildflowers unless, of course, they’re invasive non-natives. Which, confusingly, we also call weeds.
How much thought to we give to these plants we think we don’t want? Perhaps there’s sense in our reasoning – we don’t want fungal rusts hopping across from groundsel to our peas and beans, for example – but how many of us have given proper thought to why we don’t like the weeds? And how much could we learn from them?
I’ve always loved the book Weeds. The Story of Outlaw Plants for the way Richard Mabey unpicks out relationship with these plants. It seems that Jack Wallington has gone a step further with Wild about weeds. Garden design with rebel plants, by suggesting we actively encourage some of them into our planting. I welcomed the chance to have an in-depth discussion with Jack about his attitude to these unbiddable characters, and how issues of sustainability and sympathy with nature inform his garden design practice.
I hope you enjoy this episode – please continue to share the podcast on social media, and if you’d really like to brighten my day, leave a review on iTunes or your podcast app of choice. Or drop me a note in the comments section below, having listened on the embedded player on this page.
Gardens, weeds and words podcast, S02E03 show notes
A blend of slow radio, gardening advice and conversation, and readings from the best garden and wildlife writing.
These notes may contain affiliate links.
Garden soundtrack
Distracted by leaves
What happens when the landscape meets a garden fence?
The benefits of cultivated plants
Where weeds come in
Reading 04:48
from Weeds. The Story of Outlaw Plants by Richard Mabey
https://amzn.to/33Ni3Pv
Read by Milli Proust.
What do we mean by the word “weed”?
Native wildflowers and non-native invasive intruders
Stinking Bob and Squinterpip.
Interview with Jack Wallington 10:50
11:15 What Jack was doing before he became a garden designer.
The Royal Horticultural Society qualifications Levels 2 and 3
https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/qualifications-and-training/rhs-qualifications
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/qualifications-and-training/rhs-qualifications
15:41 Jack’s earliest experience of plants and gardens within the landscape
20:16 Is there a plant nearer to Jack’s heart that the dahlia he’s so often associated with?
21:46 Sustainability in Jack’s work
24:44 The tension between how nature behaves, and how we want her to behave in the garden
27:50 Jack’s new book, Wild about weeds. Garden design with rebel plants.
33:01 Responses to the idea of purposefully incorporating weeds into the garden.
Thanks so much to Jack for coming along to talk about his new book, Wild about weeds. Garden design with rebel plants, published by Laurence King. https://amzn.to/2CHHiH4. The best place to find out more about Jack, his garden design practice and his personal gardening journey, is on his website at www.jackwallington.com.
I’m also enormously indebted to Milli Proust for lending her wonderful voice skills to the podcast with the reading from Richard Mabey’s book. You really should check out Milli’s instagram page https://www.instagram.com/milliproust/ to see the amazing things she does with flowers – I don’t think there can be a grower who works harder. For a fully rounded picture of everything that she gets up to, check out Milli’s website at https://milliproust.com/.
With thanks to all my listeners for your continued support and reviews, I really do appreciate them. You can support the podcast by buying its producer a virtual cup of coffee for three quid, at https://ko-fi.com/andrewtimothyOB. Proceeds will go towards equipment, software and the monthly podcast hosting fees.
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Hello! I’m Andrew, gardener, writer, photographer, and owner of a too-loud laugh, and I’m so pleased you’ve found your way to Gardens, weeds & words. You can read a more in-depth profile of me on the About page, or by clicking this image.
