"If we're lucky", says botanist Phil Gates "we gardeners get to experience the seasonal rollercoaster of gardening emotions about 70 times. Just 70 spring, summer, autumn and winters in a lifetime... and with each passing cycle those that remain become even more precious". In this series, recorded over a year, the relationship between a gardener and his garden and the emotions evoked by each season, are explored. In a modern, high-tech consumer society cultivating a garden remains perhaps the most direct way in which we can maintain an emotional and sensual link with the natural world.

The series begins in early spring. Much of the soil is exposed at this time of year, and at first glance there seems little life, but look more closely, and green shoots of new life are visible. There's an air of expectancy and excitement. What will the new season bring? What has survived the sub-zero temperatures and heavy snows of winter? Hope and expectation is mixed with relief as survivors are discovered. But this is no time to relax, there are jobs to done; the greenhouse needs sweeping and cleaning out, the glass which cracked under the weight of the winter's snow needs replacing, the slugs need rounding up and then the arrival of new packets of seeds set in motion plans for the year's new plantings.

Presenter Phil Gates
Producer Sarah Blunt. Show less