Jane Perrone, as a small child was given a very responsible job in the school library, involving Spider plants and look what it has led to - a houseplant podcast called On the Ledge and a book 'Legends of the Leaf'. I hope, if you have a forgotten Spider plant somewhere in your home, this episode will inspire you to repot it and show it a little more love! We learn where and how Chlorophytum comosum to give it the Latin name grows in the wild in South Africa and we hear from two people who hold National Plant collections of them. I have been learning about Variegatum, Vittatum, Ocean and Bonnie - there's a lot to learn.

You can find lots of photographs of these plants growing in the wild and more information about them on the website ourplantstories.com

If you have a plant story you want me to investigate you can email me: [email protected]

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

In Episode 3 we heard about Fig Tree cuttings carried by the Italian Immigrants to new homes in America. In this Fig tree Off-Shoot we hear about Fig tree cuttings that were a gift from the Pope in Rome to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 500 years ago! And the three Fig Trees are still growing in the Lambeth Palace courtyard in London. Nick Stewart Smith has just published a book called The 1000 Year Old Garden about Lambeth Palace garden and in this episode he describes what it is like to garden in a place with such a long history.

You can find all the information about this episode on the website www.ourplantstories.com

Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Over 30 years ago Emma Dogliani planted a Magnolia tree. The reason she planted the tree was a sad one, a miscarriage in her first pregnancy. But that tree over the years also became a great source of joy. Recently she moved house. She would really like to take a cutting from that tree for her new home. She's tried once but it didn't work, can we help her?

You can find all the advice and photos on the website www.ourplantstories.com

Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

It's 200 years since the first Camellia arrived at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia. This is truly a plant story that spans continents and history but it's not all about the past. A new Camellia garden is about to be planted and there's been a 'Camellia Ark' to find and collect plants from across Australia.

You can find photographs, information and bonus audio on the website www.ourplantstories.com

Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

As Summer approaches and we shed the sweaters, I am sure you will start to notice people's tattoos. Hannah is a florist, so if you met her, you might not be surprised by her plant tattoos. But the selection of each plant has a story and they are interwoven with her Mum.

This is an episode that touches on love, grief and memory.

You can see Hannah's plant tattoos and learn this week how to grow freesias, on the website.

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Presented and produced by Sally Flatman

"The individual trees take on their own character - it's like your garden is peopled and generations of humans have passed by, scurrying about at their feet". Two gardeners discuss slow gardening; topiary. Planting a yew bush that could live up to 1000 years.

Find lots of pictures and information on the website: www.ourplantstories.com

Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman

Hostas - discuss them with your friends and you inevitably end up talking about slugs and snails. Unless you are Alison, whose hostas grow unchallenged with not a snail in sight. For the rest of us, Vicky Meads of New Forest Hostas is a fount of knowledge. Who knew you could eat them and that a sacrificial lamb may save your hostas from snails.

There is lots of information in the show notes on the website www.ourplantstories.com

Presented and produced by Sally Flatman

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

A Willow tree on a beautiful English river bank. A big pillow of nature where you can sit surrounded by leaves. Known also to the artist Andrew Carter as 'the tree I fell out of' and the inspiration for a wonderful print. Can we recreate that special place in our own gardens?

Find pictures and information in the show notes at www.ourplantstories.com

Presented and Produced by Sally Flatman

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Andy Peasgood has a childhood memory of hopping around under a huge apple tree that had apples the size of small footballs. Is his memory playing tricks? Anna in BC says her Great Grandmother grew the tree from an apple pip but can we find Anna? The story of the Peasgood's nonsuch apple tree takes us on a journey and we learn that apples are like humans!

Find masses of information about this in the show notes on the website: www.ourplantstories.com

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Our Plant Stories is produced and presented by Sally Flatman

This week we share a story about mint, picked for a tea and a time to sit and talk. Except that is not so easy when you are now in London and your family are in Kyiv, but still Anya describes it as 'a plant which keeps us together.' We hear about a chain of gardening knowledge passed through 4 generations of Ukrainian women. We also talk about how people garden even in the midst of war with war journalist Lalage Snow. And Jean Levy the holder of a National Mint collection shares her passion for this plant.

You can find all the names of the plants mentioned in the show notes on the website: Ourplantstories.com

Music: Fade to Black by Howard Levy

Our Plant Stories is produced and presented by Sally Flatman