The Grove

A Nature Odyssey in 19 ½ Front Gardens

By: Ben Dark

Narrated by: Ben Dark

Any walk is an odyssey when we connect with the plants around us. Each tree or flower tells a tale. Mundane 'suburban' shrubs speak of war and poetry, of money, fashion, love and failure. Every species in this book was seen from one pavement over 12 months, and there is little here that could not be found on any road in any town, but they reveal stories of such weirdness, drama, passion and humour that, once discovered, familiar neighbourhoods will be changed forever.

There is a renewed interest in the nature on our doorsteps, as can be seen in the work of amateur botanists identifying wildflowers and chalking the names on the pavements.

But beyond the garden wall lies a wealth of cultivated plants, each with a unique tale to tell. In The Grove, award-winning writer and head gardener Ben Dark reveals the remarkable secrets of 20 commonly found species—including the rose, wisteria, buddleja, box and the tulip—encountered in the front gardens of one London street over the course of year.

As Ben writes, in those small front gardens 'are stories of ambition, envy, hope and failure' and The Grove is about so much more than a single street, or indeed the plants found in its 19 ½ front gardens. It's a beguiling blend of horticultural history and personal narrative and a lyrical exploration of why gardens and gardening matter.

©2022 Ben Dark (P)2022 Octopus Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Ben Dark is such a wonderful writer—The Grove drew me in from the first line." (Lia Leendertz)

"The Grove is overflowing with delicious nuggets of cultural, social and garden history—and I adore Ben Dark's humour and humility in equal measure." (Advolly Richmond)

"A heartfelt romp through the wisteria and wilderness of London's horticulturally remarkable front gardens." (Jack Wallington)

A lovely book

I can think of no more enjoyable way to spend a spring (or summer or fall) morning than puttering around in my garden while listening to the charming Ben Dark. His writing is witty and erudite, and his voice is so soothing I could happily listen to him read the phone book (if phone books still existed). With every podcast episode, and now with The Grove, Ben Dark has helped me become a better-educated, and more knowledgeable, gardener.

Not your everyday gardening book…

Intelligent, interesting, engaging, and fun.
It’s a deep dive where you come out refreshed and inspired. I want to walk this block as many times as it takes to notice all the details included in these wonderful chapters.
Go Ben, write another please!