The Renaissance Garden Guy Podcast Episode 2: Revitalizing a 1930s English Garden
Welcome to Numero Dos here in RGG Podcast Land. Here’s the second episode, and it’s a good one. Regular RGG guest and master gardener, Sam Preston, joins us from West Yorkshire in the UK to discuss the trials and tribulations, as well as the triumphs and breakthroughs, of returning a once magnificent Art Deco period garden (and the home that came with it) to its former glory, and beyond. In this episode, Sam discusses not only the actualities of her physical restoration efforts, but the collateral effects of those efforts on her own psyche, as well. It’s The Renaissance Garden Guy Podcast Episode 2, and, like I told you, it’s a goodie.
Here in The Renaissance Garden Guy Podcast Episode 2, newer RGG audience members may be meeting the amazing Sam Preston for the first time. I’ll get the niceties out of the way for you newbies and lay some links on you that you can follow to pre-familiarize yourselves, so to speak, with Ms. Preston before you check out this podcast episode (long-time RGG regulars and subscribers will know the content to which these links lead). In Garden Tours, in the Sights and Sounds section, you’ll be able to watch three of Sam’s amazing video tours of her award-winning West Yorkshire Garden: one shot in the fall, another in the spring, and the most recent, filmed this summer. You can click right here to read her fascinating interview, in which she discusses the importance of creating and maintaining a healthy overall garden ecosystem. Finally, to give you an idea of the full, protean capacity of Sam’s gestalt, you can click here and listen to her haunting reading of one of my own original works, my poem “Canopy”. (This gorgeous performance can also be found in Poetry Slams and Readings.)
What this episode of The RGG Podcast will give you, however, is not only the most comprehensive understanding to date of one of the UK’s most amazing gardens, but maybe the most comprehensive understanding to date of the amazing force behind that garden, as well. And that’s Sam Preston herself.
Click immediately below to watch The Renaissance Garden Guy Podcast Episode 2: Revitalizing a 1930s English Garden.
Well, gang, I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode. I wasn’t exaggerating when I told you that it was going to be good. I think Sam’s very personal discussion of her experiences underscores a miraculous fact: when a human being sincerely and lovingly tends a garden and all of its unique and glorious denizens, the garden and all of those unique and glorious garden residents reciprocate, and, in their own quiet and special way, tend that human being right back.
My special thanks go to Sam Preston for once again joining us here in The RGG and sharing her amazing garden’s amazing story. I’m hoping that it won’t be long before we see Sam here again (spoiler alert: Sam’s a hell of a writer and a gardening article or two of her own might just be forthcoming). And of course, my dear RGG audience, I thank you, as always, for your kind and gracious interest.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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Sam, you are simply delightful! I enjoyed hearing about your gardens and all of the “visitors” you have there. I’m anxious to hear more about your adventures with the shredder! 😉 My favorite power tool is the pressure washer…it’s so easy to get lost in the white noise as I spray away the dinge and dirt. 😁 Maybe it reminds me of my days as a dental hygienist! I believe John has a certain fondness for leaf blowers…you’ll have to ask him some time! 😉
Thank you for watching the episode, Tina, and thank you for your fabulous comments. It’s amazing how Sam’s labor of love – her garden and her home – has helped her navigate her incredibly difficult times. She’s really pulled out all the stops in her efforts to create her idyllic paradise there in West Yorkshire. (I think burning up a wood shredder’s motor qualifies as pulling out all the stops!) I’m amazed at the affinity you lady gardeners (gear heads?) have for your power tools – wood shredders, power washers… we’re talking some serious motorized power there. And as for leaf blowers, I know of one in particular I’d like to send to the scrap heap. In any case, Tina, I’m so glad you enjoyed Sam’s episode, she’s really amazing. Thanks once again for watching, and thanks again for leaving your thoughts here.
Hi Kristina
Thanks for your kind words. I’ve no doubt shredding will continue to be a fixture in my adventures, along with a new pole chain saw I’m currently obsessed with! I don’t have a pressure washer yet, yet being the operative word. Maybe on my Xmas list…
I thoroughly enjoyed watching your podcast. It was exciting to listen to the rebirth of a neglected art deco house and extensive garden. Would love to see pics of the interior and exterior of the house.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the episode, Rick. It really was an honor and pleasure to have Sam as my guest. Her work ethic and her commitment to her home and garden projects are beyond admirable, and the fruits of her creativity and of her efforts are very evident. Like you, I’m hoping she’ll return for further discussion. Thanks once again, Rick.
Hi Rick
I’m so glad you enjoyed the podcast. Restoring the house & garden is a labour of love. It might be nice to do a little feature on the house, well, at least the areas I’ve restored so far. There’s so much to do, and I get easily distracted by the garden.
What a wonderful journey you’re on, Sam. Thank you for sharing your story. The relationship you have with your garden and nature is heartwarming and inspirational to so many others. Please continue to share your garden tours too!
I agree with you, Kevin. Sam’s garden, and the lady herself, are remarkable. I think that there’s something of a miracle that’s taking place in Sam’s garden: she’s nourished and tended it, and brought it back from difficult times, and the garden has done something of the same for her. Remarkable story unfolding there. I’m so glad you enjoyed the episode, Kevin. Thanks for tuning in, and thank you for your lovely thoughts.
Thanks for your very kind words Kevin. I love seeing all the wonderful gardens on John’s site, so I feel very honoured to contribute.