I was waiting for Little Mosque on the Prairie to come on when I happened upon this Knowledge Network gardening program called Recreating Eden. I instantly recognized it as a gardening program when I saw Des Kennedy, an award-winning author and environmental activist, buck naked on my screen. With his shock of red hair, he’s hard to miss – naked or otherwise.
A second later, thankfully, he was fully clothed, walking viewers through his vibrant, luscious 11-acre garden on Denman Island, just a hop, skip and a jump away from me here in Vancouver.
Recreating Eden seems like a great show: part biography, part garden tour, it features intimate portraits of gardeners from Canada and around the world. Based on the belief that “to plant a garden is to change the world,” Recreating Eden has become a Gemini Award-winning series now in its third season. Where have I been? Oh yeah, I’ve never had cable TV before. I’m particularly sorry I missed last week’s episode featuring Patrick Lane and Lorna Crozier’s garden.
But back to Des. A former monk “who left his order for an even greater calling,” Des has made a career of “combining his passion for the earth and love of the spoken and written word,” and the show made this abundantly clear. I didn’t realize, for instance, that like me, Des has a strong connection with Clayoquot Sound (he got arrested for blockading a logging road; I built a trail and cooked veggie chili for Bobby Jr.).
Des also writes a column for GardenWise, and has written a number of books, too. Maclean’s magazine featured his latest book saying it showed “Kennedy at his contemplative best.” In his syndicated column, Allan Fotheringham described Kennedy as “the Dennis Rodman of gardening” who “writes like a dream.”
His garden is nothing to sneeze at either. It is not open to the public other than during the annual Denman Home & Garden Show. (Held June 17 & 18 this year). The tour serves as a fund-raiser for the Denman Conservancy Association, a community land trust.
All quotes from Des Kennedy’s bio. Photos are from the Recreating Eden website.
melissa says
Hey Andrea,
I caught a few of the Recreating Eden shows and especially loved the one that showcased Nori and Sandra Pope’s garden in England. I too have recently gotten the basic cable package and am thanking my lucky stars for the Knowledge network.
Andrea says
Hi Melissa! Oh, I wish I saw that one too. I was lucky enough to have Sandra and Nori Pope (formerly of Hadspen Garden, Somerset, England) speak to my Garden Design class this summer. They were fascinating, and seem like amazing people.
melissa says
Speaking of your garden class I just dropped off my application this week and am desperately hoping to get accepted. I did the MG program at Van Dusen last year but am very keen to enhance my garden design skills. Was the program a lot of work? Do you now feel confident in your design skills? So many questions.
Melissa
Carol says
Recreating Eden sounds like the kind of gardening show I would like. I’ve never heard of it before… perhaps it hasn’t made its way to the US?
Andrea says
Carol: It’s definitely a Canadian-produced show. Maybe PBS will air it?
Maryam in Marrakesh says
Oh my, I took one look at that garden and just about fell off my chair. What paradise!
Kim says
Gorgeous pictures–this is the first time in a long time that I find myself wishing that I had cable. I have to agree with your husband on the Julia Child thing, btw.
John says
I just seen this episode last night and loved his story as much as his garden.