Episode 164: By Any Other Name with Simon Morley
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Release Date: 11/08/2021
Episode 362: Growing Fruit
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
I’m joined by Chris Whitelock, author of Growing Fruit, to explore how modern varieties are reshaping the way we grow fruit at home. We discuss everything from choosing space-saving or container-friendly trees to tackling pests, diseases, and even the challenge of keeping birds off your harvest. Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn
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Restoring Nature, Rebuilding Lives
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
I’m speaking with Karen Hall, Program Director of Ecological Education at the Institute for Applied Ecology, about an inspiring initiative that connects conservation with social rehabilitation. We explore what ecological education involves, the features of the landscape and ecology of the region where Karen works and how changes to funding have affected these conservation in the efforts. Links Staff profile at IAE: — her bio, role description and contact information. Curriculum materials she oversaw: — downloadable education-units with her listed as Program Director. ...
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Beyond Big Food
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Nancy Matsumoto discusses her new book Reaping What She Sows, an exploration of the women transforming our broken food system from the ground up. We talk about what an alternative food system really looks like, why women are at the forefront of this movement, and how they’re reimagining the way we grow, distribute, and consume food could offer a more just, sustainable, and human-centric future. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: In this episode, Pete Russell discusses how the platform Ooooby links customers with small‑scale local growers, promoting a shift away from the...
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Episode 359: Hard Landscapes, Living Systems
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
This episode, Nicolas Salazar of Guardians Worldwide explores the often-overlooked role of rocks in our designed environments. We discuss their carbon storage potential, their deep relationship with plants, and why removing rocks from landscapes may have more impact than we think. It’s a conversation that challenges us to see rocks not as static objects, but as vital, living parts of ecological systems. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: In this episode, host Sarah Wilson speaks to Giles Heap of CED Stone about sourcing natural stone ethically, using materials appropriate to...
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Episode 358: Inside The New Beautiful
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Gardens Illustrated editor Stephanie Mahon has curated the magazine’s first ever book, The New Beautiful — a celebration of gardens that reflect today’s shifting ideas of beauty, sustainability, and design. We discuss what defines a ‘Gardens Illustrated’ garden, how the featured spaces in the book were chosen, about the evolving role of perennials to the challenges of capturing a garden’s true character in a photograph, Stephanie shares insights from her years at the forefront of garden publishing — and offers a glimpse into where garden design might be heading next. Links ...
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Designing for Wild Futures
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Luke Coleman is the founder of Luke Coleman Gardens, an Edinburgh-based studio known for bold, climate-resilient gardens rooted in story, ecology, and craft. Luke was named RHS Young Designer of the Year 2025, winning Gold, Best Construction, and People’s Choice at the Wentworth show. His work draws on landscapes from the Scottish Highlands to the Cape Floral Kingdom, exploring how gardens can tell stories of resilience and culture. We talk about his design principles, what resilience means in a garden, and how gardens might bring cultures together. Links Website: Instagram: Other episodes...
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Episode 356: Poetry for the Planet
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Environmental scientist and author Shannon Jade talks about her work and her book A Song for the Earth — a poetic, hopeful take on the climate crisis. We talk about the themes in the book, our connection to nature, and the importance of finding your voice, whatever form that takes. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: In this episode, Sarah talks with landscape designer and rewilding pioneer Mary Reynolds about her mission to turn gardens into wild sanctuaries. They explore how even small patches of land can play a part in restoring biodiversity. Author Nic Wilson joins...
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Episode 355: Turn Up The Wild
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Dr Linda Birkin is the dynamic entomologist and wildlife gardener who stole the show at the recent Talking Plants event with her energetic and informative talk on creating living gardens that welcome all creatures great and small. Find out how she came to champion bugs, and how you can join in with her mission to make gardens a haven for wildlife. Links Instagram Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 244: The Biodiversity Gardener Paul Sterry, ecologist, author and photographer, joins the podcast to discuss how even small gardens can play a huge role in reversing biodiversity...
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Episode 354: Modern Planting Design
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Acclaimed garden designer Andrew Fisher Tomlin discusses the craft of planting design, the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the profession, and the evolving role of planting designers today. He also shares insights from his new book, The Modern Professional Planting Designer, which is a novel and interesting look at the processes behind successful planting design. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 94: James Basson of Scape Design James Basson of Scape Design, working from southern France, talks naturalistic planting, use of native species, matrix/grid planting in...
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Episode 353: Tasmanian Roots and Flavours
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Paulette Whitney of Provenance Growers in Tasmania is a grower, cook, and the author of Broccoli and Other Love Stories. We explore the world of seeds, soil, and flavour—from the challenges of gardening in Tasmania’s unique climate, to Paulette’s favourite herbs, root veg, and go-to meals after a long day in the garden. Along the way, Paulette shares how chefs inspire her to try new varieties and how her twin loves of growing and cooking continue to nourish her life. Links - A thriving market garden and edible plant nursery in Lutruwita, Tasmania, run by Paulette Whitney. They grow...
info_outlineThis week’s guest in Simon Morley, a British artist and art historian. Simon is the author of several books on modern and contemporary art and is a keen rose gardener. Simon’s latest book was released a few weeks ago and is called ‘By Any Other Name: A Cultural History of the Rose’. During the interview I ask Simon about the cultural significance of roses throughout history, their symbolism, their origins and what how we use roses in gardens today says about us as a society.
Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Cluster flies
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What we cover
Why the rose is a meme
Why the rose has been so enduringly beloved by humans
The origins of Valentine’s Day and why roses are intrinsically linked to it
Why roses in religious symbology fell out of favour during protestantism
Of all the concepts or beliefs that the rose signifies, which most resonates with Simon
Which nations were the most important players in the development of the rose varieties we know today?
Simon writes "aesthetic horticultural considerations were often coupled with a theoretical component, and the selection and arrangement of plants were determined by the botanical theory of the period, which in its turn reflected the way the world was perceived to be ordered”. What does Simon think the way we use roses today tell us about how we perceive the world to be ordered?
The lack of a role for roses in movements such as rewilding and the new perennial movement
About Simon Morley
Simon Morley is a British artist and art historian. He is the author of several books on modern and contemporary art, and has contributed reviews and essays to a number of publications. His artworks have been exhibited internationally. He is currently writing a new history of modern painting, to be published in 2023. Simon lives in France and South Korea, where he teaches at Dankook University. He is also a keen rose gardener.
Links
By Any Other Name: A Cultural History of the Rose by Simon Morley - Oneworld Publications, 2021