Escape with a few Good Garden Movies
Gardens and their gardeners are beautiful, educational, awe-inspiring, and sometimes just a little wacky. We can’t think of a better time to escape with a few garden movies so here’s our list that highlights gardens around the globe. Some of these documentaries are free and some will require a fee or a subscription to a particular streaming service. If you have a favorite film that we’ve missed, let us know!
Canada
The Gardener is a lovely, relaxing escape. This documentary walks us through Frank Cabot’s famous creation, “Les Quatre Vents,” a magnificent private garden near Quebec City. Available on Amazon Prime. Watch the trailer here.
International
Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf introduces you to inspirational Dutch designer and plantsman, Piet Oudolf and highlights some of his international projects. This award-winning documentary is available for Individual online screenings for $15. Watch the trailer here.
The Netherlands
Portrait of a garden This film is in Dutch with English subtitles. Focused on the art of espalier (training a fruit tree to grow in an ornamental fashion) this documentary introduces us to a beautiful garden and its two dedicated gardeners. Available on iTunes. Watch the trailer here
The UK
The Secret History of the British Garden. A 4-part BBC miniseries highlighting the incredible gardens of the past four centuries. Available on Amazon Prime. Episode 1 is available on YouTube.
New Zealand
An Invitation for Wildness: Robert and Robyn Guyton have transformed two acres of neglected property into a thriving ecosystem – a food forest. Available on YouTube. Watch the trailer here.
USA
Back to Eden: Interested in organic and no-till garden techniques? This is the documentary for you! Available on YouTube.
Bill’s Big Pumpkins: “…a fun, inspiring look at an offbeat corner of American gardening and the dedicated, hard-working, and possibly slightly nutty people who inhabit it. Follow giant pumpkin grower Bill Foss as he attempts to grow the biggest pumpkin in Minnesota history.” Available on YouTube. Watch the trailer here.