Podcasts about bulbs

This Christmas might feel a while away, but if there's one way to prepare right now for a more stunning and sustainable tree, it's with alliums.Sarah's love of alliums is well-documented on the podcast, but this week she's recalling some of the most show-stopping varieties with which to decorate this Christmas, and the joys that they'll bring as ‘colour baton-carriers' in spring.In this episode, discover:Which alliums are perfect for bridging the gap between tulips going over and sweet peas emergingSome extravagant, statement-making varieties like the remarkably tall ‘Summer Drummer' or sculptural shapes of ‘Magic'Tips for preparing your alliums to sustainably decorate your tree this ChristmasProducts mentioned:Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationAllium cristophiihttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophiiAllium nigrumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-nigrumAllium stipitatum 'Summer Drummer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-stipitatum-summer-drummerAllium schubertii 'Magic'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magicAllium jesdianum 'Purple Rain'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rainSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Pippa Hudson speaks to Dr John Manning about his latest book, Bulbs of the Fynbos, co-authored by Dee Snijman and published by Struik Nature. The book features close to 350 of our fynbos plants with information on how to identify them and a fascinating background that might help you grow them at home. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read, and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10 pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Lunch with Pippa Hudson Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) to Lunch with Pippa Hudson broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/MdSlWEs or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/fDJWe69 Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Saul had an incredible experience at the #RHSChelseaFlowerShow, very different for his usual Monday Press Day jolly with Lucy, but instead a full on fortnight of Pavilion  , Garden promoting, media-hunting, volunteer wrangling while keeping his energy levels high (not always successful) and his brain ticking 9definitely not always successful). SO join him in this episode as he looks back at the the Flower show process and some of his highlights from the week in May where everyone talks about gardens and plants.Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

On Sunday 7 June, Chloe Foster - Horticulture educator and author, was joined by Karen Sutherland - Edible Eden Design; Julian Blackhirst - Head of Gardens at The Diggers Club; and Jane Tonkin - Tonkin's Bulbs.Text your gardening questions to 0488 809 855, or call 9419 0155 while we're on the air.Tune in 7:30 - 9:15am Sundays on 855 on the AM dial, 3CR Digital or stream at 3cr.org.au

Biennials – plants which flower in their second year – may often be overlooked by us gardeners, but between their value for money, wonderful scent, and versatility they're among the best plants to sow and grow in any garden.Sarah makes the case for brilliant biennials in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', exploring how she came to appreciate their beauty, and which varieties are best for all aspects of your space.In this episode, discover:How the right mix of biennials can fill the awkward May gap with prolific blooms, all for the price of a seed packetThe best early-flowering biennials, from fragrant wallflowers to the scented sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalisMoth-pollinated varieties with rich fragrance and velvety textures to create a pollinator paradiseProducts mentioned:Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricotDigitalis purpurea f. albiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-albaMalope trifida 'Vulcan'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/malope-trifida-vulcanLunaria annuahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annuaIceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-nudicaule-champagne-bubbles-mix-f1See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

On Thursday 21st May, we learnt of the passing of Matt Biggs - horticultural everyman, incredibly nice guy, and titan in both knowledge of our industry and hobby, but also fabulous communicator as well. Matt's career spanned all mediums from Tv, Book, Press and also Radio, where he spent 30 years delighting Garden Question Time audiences with his passion and wit for horticulture. Lucy and Saul count Matt as a true garden friend having spent a lot of time with him during the show season and elsewhere - where all we can say is he truly was Gardening's Nicest Guy. Matt was battling cancer till his death, and was very vocal about the support he wanted to make to the Mount Vernon Sanctuary Garden project that he was spearheading. If you have the chance to donate in his memory, please click hereSupport the show

Every garden space deserves a chance to be transformed into a beautiful space which breathes, rather than constricts, and Pollyanna Wilkinson is a master of such designs.Polly joins Sarah this week to share her no‑nonsense methods for transforming everything from boxy new‑build plots to tired, inherited gardens into layered, soulful spaces. In this episode, discover:How to think like a garden designer, surveying, shaping and structuring spaces before you plantPractical ways to transform new‑build and small gardens, or refresh an existing gardenGuidance on choosing materials and finishes that feel good underfoot, are easy to maintain, and will age beautifully over time.How to use colour and planting layers to create a soulful, wildlife‑friendly garden with interest through the seasonsProducts mentioned:Amelanchier lamarckii:sarahraven.com/products/amelanchier-lamarckiiLavender ‘Munstead': sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munsteadNepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat':sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-katSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Whilst the Chelsea Flower Show is keeping Mr Walker incredibly busy, Lucy has been kicking her literal heels whilst she waits for her body to heal. Luckily, there's plenty going on in the garden to keep her entertained, so join her in a 30-minute tour of Chateau Chamberlain to hear about teucriums, irises, aphids and tetrapanax. It's a horticultural smorgasbord of delights!Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Chelsea is upon us, and among the beauty of all the show gardens lies a very special offering from Arit Anderson and Parkinson's UK.She's planting with purpose in a garden which promises to reflect every Parkinson's journey in a beautifully poignant way, and on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', she walks us through the planting ethos and careful design behind one of Main Avenue's great sights for 2026.In this episode, discover:How Arit is reflecting her sister Julie's Parkinson's journey in a meaningful Chelsea Flower Show garden for Parkinson's UKWhat Parkinson's really is beyond the stereotypes, and why it's so often misunderstoodHow thoughtful garden design can respond to real medical challengesPractical ideas for making any garden more accessible, sensory and restorative, whether or not you're living with Parkinson'sThe garden's relocation to the John Radcliffe Hospital, and how it will serve the Parkinson's community long after ChelseaProducts mentioned:Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba' (White Foxglove): sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-albaSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

A listener asked for a deep dive on dahlias and I'm delivering, from the ground up (pun intended). But we're not stopping there. In this episode, I'm covering the full world of spring-planted bulbs: dahlias, gladiolus, cannas, calla lilies, and tuberous begonias. You'll learn when and how to plant them, how to grow them for maximum blooms, how to cut them for the vase (because that's half the fun), and, critically, how to handle end-of-season care based on where you live. If you're in a warmer zone, some of these can stay in the ground. If you're in a colder zone like me, we're digging them up, curing them, storing them, and doing it all again in the spring. Let's dig in! Quick-Reference: Zone-Based Overwintering Guide Zone 9-10+: Leave everything in the ground. Mulch lightly after frost. Let plants rest and re-emerge in spring. Zone 8: Cannas and callas can stay with heavy mulch. Dahlias and glads: consider digging, especially in colder parts of the zone. Zone 7: Mulching is a gamble. Reliable: dig dahlias and glads. Cannas may survive with very heavy mulch in milder Zone 7. Zone 6 and colder: Dig everything. Cure properly. Store in cool, dry, dark, frost-free conditions. Replant after soil warms to 60°F in spring. Bloom Timing and Vase Life at a Glance Dahlias — Bloom: midsummer to first hard frost | Vase life: 5–8 days | Zone to leave in ground: 9+ Gladiolus — Bloom: ~70–90 days after planting | Vase life: 7–10 days | Zone to leave in ground: 8+ (with mulch) Cannas — Bloom: midsummer to frost | Vase life: 4–7 days | Zone to leave in ground: 8+ (with mulch) Calla Lilies — Bloom: summer | Vase life: 10–14 days | Zone to leave in ground: 8–9+ depending on type Tuberous Begonias — Bloom: summer all season | Vase life: 3–5 days | Zone to leave in ground: 9+ References University of Minnesota Extension — Dahlias: From Garden to Vase. extension.umn.edu University of Missouri Extension — Growing Dahlias (G6600). extension.missouri.edu NC State Extension Gardener Toolbox — Dahlia pinnata. plants.ces.ncsu.edu Colorado State University Extension — Dahlias, Fact Sheet 7.418. extension.colostate.edu Iowa State University Extension — Gladiolus for the Home Garden (PM 874). extension.iastate.edu University of Florida IFAS Extension — Gladiolus Production. edis.ifas.ufl.edu University of Illinois Extension — Canna Lily in the Garden. web.extension.illinois.edu Michigan State University Extension — Digging and Storing Tender Bulbs. canr.msu.edu University of Vermont Extension — Storing Tender Bulbs Over Winter. uvm.edu USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023). planthardiness.ars.usda.gov Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', Sarah Raven welcomes renowned garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith to uncover his visionary new garden for Tate Britain and how he's reimagining it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. They explore his bold, foliage-rich planting, ingenious water features, and a remarkable new memorial garden at Badminton that promises to be one of the RHS's most ambitious show gardens yet.In this episode, discover:How Tom Stuart-Smith is transforming a neglected, concrete-dominated acre at Tate Britain into a biodiverse, exotic gardenThe creative and practical challenge of turning that large-scale design into a Chelsea Flower Show garden where every element is destined to be reused at TateThe bold, foliage-led planting palette Tom has chosen – from cycads and Persian lilac to euphorbias, aspidistras and shade-loving exoticsHow water, sculpture and planting come together, including a finely engineered water feature and a Barbara Hepworth sculpture from a national collectionEpisode Cover Photo Credit: Eva Nemeth.See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Watch the full video episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/_T97COq6blMThroughout Mary Berry's life, the garden has played a charming role, from her wartime childhood plot to a brand-new garden started in her 80s - it's an essential ingredient in her life.This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' Mary kindly joins us to explore a lifetime of gardening, how it's inspired her new book, and how gardening can bring joy, structure and wellbeing at every stage of life.In this episode, discover:How Mary's lifelong love of gardening began in her childhood and continues to shape her daily lifePractical, gentle tips for spring gardening and successional plantingHow Mary approaches designing and maintaining a garden later in life, using evergreens, hedges and topiary for structureEveryday good habits in the garden, such as watering, deadheading, and keeping lawns neatOrder Mary's Book:https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Gardening-Life-Mary-Berry/dp/0241726654Products mentioned: Narcissus ‘Rijnveld's Early Sensation': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-rijnvelds-early-sensationNarcissus ‘Silver Chimes': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-silver-chimesNarcissus ‘February Gold': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-february-goldPhlox drummondii ‘Blushing Bride': sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-brideSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!With Saul having a well deserved rest up in the Shetland Islands, Lucy focuses her attention on the BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair in Beaulieu, where she's putting together a Beautiful Border along with De-Graft Mensah to promote the Gardeners' World Make a Metre Matter campaign. This, along with her usual kitchen garden tours with the Beaulieu garden team, plus some appearances on the Gardeners' World magazine main stage, has kept her quite busy.... If you want to see her experience, watch her latest reels on her Instagram profile (link below) but if you fancy a half-hour episode describing this process, download away! Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with horticulturist Peggy Anne Montgomery of the Garden Media Group about Summer Bulbs. The plant profile is on Lamb's Ear and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "The Easiest Mushrooms to Grow" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribeWin $100 worth of bulbs from https://flowerbulb.eu/!To enter, go to: https://www.youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine and comment on this podcast episode there. You have until June 12 to enter. If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 104: Dahliashttps://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-104-dahlias.html~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 127: Unusual and Specialty Bulbshttps://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-127-unusual.html~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 233: Buttercupshttps://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-233-whats-up.htmlShow Notes will be posted after 4/7/2026.We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!Episode Credits:Host and Producer: Kathy JentzMusic: Let the Sunshine by James MulvanyRecorded on 5-2-2026.

Sissinghurst is one of the country's crowning gems of National Trust gardens, and a place in which Adam was brought up, around the beauty curated by his grandparents.This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', we're delving into the centuries of legacy which led to a spot perfect for Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson to create the poetic space we know and adore today, and how their vision is being revived today for generations to come.In this episode, discover:The remarkable story of how Vita Sackville-West turned a ruined Elizabethan courtyard house into one of the world's most celebrated gardensHow Sissinghurst evolved through centuries – from Renaissance palace to poetic family home and garden, and all in betweenThe creative partnership between Vita and Harold NicolsonWhat makes the white garden so magical, from its glowing night-time palette to its scented, moth-pollinated plantsHow the newly reimagined Delos garden brings a Greek hillside to Kent, blending historical inspiration with modern designProducts mentioned:Ammi majus: sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majusAmmi visnaga: sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnagaAgrostemma githago 'Milas Snow Queen':sarahraven.com/products/agrostemma-githago-milas-snow-queenSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Though much of what we do is gardening - the world of horticulture is full of other distractions - that's what makes it such a beautiful world to live in. And Lucy and Saul have certainly been getting distracted now Spring is well and truly shining upon us. Lucy has big ambitions in the form of a Beautiful Border that she is building at Gardeners World Spring Fair in Beaulieu and Saul has been travelling the country meeting some of the amazing and knowledgeable people and their gardens that make our world tick including the Chelsea Physic garden, White House Farm and Garden, and many National Collection Holders as Plant Heritage kick-off their BigGive #EarthRaise fundraising campaign...Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

The magic of growing your own food is hard to overstate, and while some lament the labour necessary, it takes far less time and space than many imagine.This week's ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' once again features the remarkable Huw Richards, fresh from the release of ‘How to Grow Food' - his new book which dives into the detail of how anyone can grow a kitchen garden in real spaces, with a planting schedule that fits around busy lives.In this episode, discover:How Huw plans and plants to grow enough veg for a family of four on a half allotment in just a few hours a weekSimple permaculture-inspired tricks for better germinationWhat causes common problems like courgette fruits rotting and dropping off, and how you can fix themHow to choose between longer crops and cut-and-come-again with limited spaceHuw's must-sow crops for April, including squash, runner beans, cucumbers, and courgettesEpisode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason IngramProducts mentioned:Runner Bean 'Black Knight'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-black-knightRunner Bean 'White Lady'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-white-ladyNasturtium 'Tip Top Mix' (Tropaeolum majus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-tip-top-mixNasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-roseBorago officinalis (Borage)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/borago-officinalisSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!After their traditional weather waffle and (jingle pending) a new regular shed slot, Lucy and Saul ramble verbally through their respective weeks. While Saul has been repotting houseplants and prepping himself for Expert Group and Plant Heritage commitments, Lucy has been redressing her flagging energy levels after shining up Kingsland Gardens like a brand new penny for a family birthday event. There's also timely chat about the recent news on feeding our garden birds, as the duo reflect on how some task adjustments are easier to embrace than others. Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

The sunnier months in April present a fresh opportunity for gardeners to sow some of the fastest-germinating seedlings, bringing a productive garden closer than you might think.We return to Josie Lewis this week for an episode all about what she's sowing in mid-April, how to prick out and pot on seedlings, and the simple tricks they use to keep plants growing hard and healthy at this most promising time of year.In this episode, discover:How to prick out seedlings confidently, and when to do it for promoting strong growthPractical ways to get more from your dahlias, such as turning pinched tips into new plants with simple cuttingsWhy mid‑April is the ideal time to sow cosmos and zinnias, and how to avoid the common mistake of starting them too earlyStep‑by‑step tips for taking cuttings of pelargoniums, salvias and other favouritesTwo slightly different but complementary approaches to hardening off plants, and how to choose a method that works for your own gardenSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Easter and gardens are a synonymous mix - who didn't visit a garden over last week to see all the spring flowers and enjoy a does of Vitamin D. Well Lucy and Saul definitely took advantage of the sunshine to see other peoples gardens waking up to the 2026 garden season. They've also been hard at work (well at least one of the m has) looking after their clients gardens, and seeing all that hard work come to fruition. Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

There's something uniquely calming about a garden washed in cool pastels – soft tones that feel like frosty mornings and freshly laundered linen. Moving us onto the 4th and final palette in Sarah's colour system, we explore the washed palette in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange'. She takes you through the colour combinations, productive plant families, and tips for crafting a soothing, contemplative feeling in your garden.In this episode, discover:How to use Sarah's washed colour palette of cool pastels to create a calm, clean and harmonious gardenWhich plant families and specific varieties reliably deliver this palette from late winter to autumnHow to plan colour through the year in two‑month blocks, ensuring there's always something in flower without breaking the paletteSimple design techniques to avoid jarring colour clashesWhy sticking to a coherent palette can make your garden feel both deeply restful and quietly boldProducts mentioned:Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunterNarcissus ‘Avalanche': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalancheNarcissus ‘Thalia': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-thaliaNarcissus ‘Actaea': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaeaTulip ‘White Triumphator': sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-triumphatorTulip ‘Purissima': sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purissimaFritillaria acmopetala (likely "Green Eyes"): sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-acmopetalaSweet Pea ‘Nimbus': sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-nimbusNicotiana sylvestris: sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestrisNicotiana alata ‘Grandiflora': sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-alata-grandifloraFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Our regular gardening expert Paul Zammit has some tips of what to do with those Spring potted plants you may have picked up in recent weeks. He's a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Get your thinking caps on - it's symposium time! Leaving their dibbers and desks behind for a day, Saul and Lucy trot off to London to attend the RHS symposium. Here, under one roof, many horticultural specialist's minds come together to ponder how the shift in climate is affecting our gardening mindset. Of course, there are concerns - but there are also opportunities - and both podcasters are pleasantly surprised by the new attitude towards biodiversity.Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

A comforting garden can feel as soft and familiar as your favourite cashmere jumper, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', Sarah shares a palette which achieves exactly this feeling.In the latest of the Colour Guide Mini Series episodes, Sarah shares how to create a mood using the comforting palette, the key plant families and varieties, plus how to sequence them through the seasons, so your borders feel gentle and soothing from early spring to late autumn.In this episode, discover:How to create a warm, comforting colour palette in your garden using soft pastels like café au lait, peach, putty pink and ivorySpecific plant families and varieties that deliver these soothing tonesA clear, season-by-season planting framework so your comforting palette runs from early spring right through to late autumnProducts mentioned:Narcissus ‘Precocious': sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-precociousAntirrhinum ‘Appleblossom': sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-appleblossomCosmos ‘Apricotta': sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-apricottaCalendula ‘Sunset Buff': sarahraven.com/products/calendula-officinalis-sunset-buffPhlox drummondii ‘Cherry Caramel': sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-cherry-caramelZinnia ‘Queeny Lime Orange': sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-elegans-queeny-lime-orangeDahlia ‘Break Out': sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-outSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-eventsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Are you ready to flex your brain muscles? Join us for a mind-bending challenge with 25 tricky riddles that will keep you on your toes! Whether you're a seasoned riddle-solver or just looking for a fun mental workout, this is the perfect opportunity to test your wit and creativity. Gather your friends, grab a snack, and get ready for a thrilling journey through these brain teasers. Let's see if you have what it takes to outsmart the brightest bulbs around! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Brandish those pressure washers, Saul is back in the garden cleaning up after winter and preparing the way for his Exotics, while Lucy squeezing through Berberis bushes to reach nettles - nothing like some jeopardy to fulfil your gardening day. Also Flower shows are starting to gather pace - Daffodils and Orchids, Plant fairs and  Village Spring shows fill our weekends as we marvel at the UK's appetite for excellent gardening. Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

For many, the garden should be a peaceful place where its colours invite you in and envelop you in their earthy tones, and that's the role of Sarah Raven's velvet palette.In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah moves us to her next, and perhaps favourite palette of the four. She talks through their calming colours, and the flower families that help keep that tranquility in your garden through a reliable planting succession.In this episode, discover:How to create a velvet colour palette in your garden using deep crimsons, golds, bronzes and inky purples that feel cosy and envelopingWhich reliable plant families and standout varieties deliver these rich, velvety tonesHow to plan succession planting so the velvet palette runs from late winter and early spring right through to autumnPractical ideas from Sarah's own garden on combining colour and texture to create a sense of haven, enclosure and warmth outdoorsProducts mentioned:Tulip ‘Palmyra': sarahraven.com/products/tulip-palmyraTulip ‘Ridgedale': sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ridgedaleTulip ‘Hermitage': sarahraven.com/products/tulip-hermitageTulip ‘Cairo' (Copex Cairo): sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairoTulip ‘Belleville' (Bellville): sarahraven.com/products/tulip-bellvilleTulip ‘Dom Pedro': sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedroAmaranthus ‘Coral Fountain': sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-caudatus-coral-fountainDahlia ‘Verrone's Obsidian' (Veronese Obsidian): sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidianDahlia ‘Rip City': sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-rip-cityDahlia ‘Sarah Raven': sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-sarah-ravenDahlia ‘Molly Raven': sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenDahlia ‘Schipper's Bronze': sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronzeAntirrhinum ‘Liberty Classic Crimson': sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimsonFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Winter is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!With Saul being busy with his Plant Heritage work this week, Lucy takes up the reins by guiding us, day by day, through her working week. She visits Georgina on Monday, speaks to Jon on Tuesday, works with Mick on Wednesday, has a scone with Elizabeth on Thursday, and visits Len on Friday - all in the name of horticulture, of course. The Essex weather this week has been lovely - blue skies, buzzing bees - and even the odd Brimstone butterfly - so no wonder she ends her days by flopping into or onto the nearest soft furnishing she can find, with a satisfying sigh (and biscuit...).Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the showSupport the show

Seeing as it's getting towards autumn, a number of bulbs need planting in the garden - I'll pick on a few of them. Tulip Fabulous early spring colour – remember the historical stuff with the Dutch making heaps of money out of often virus-ridden “varieties” (early 1600-s AD) – around Fl 3000.00 per bulb while the average yearly wage of a skilled craftsman was around Fl 300.00. The bubble burst in 1637 AD. These days they are a bit cheaper and more reliable. They grow well in the South Island with very cool winters – up north they need winter chilling (taking out of soil and put in fridge for 8 weeks). In mild climates it pays to plant later in the year, say May/June. But in the South Island, planting the bulbs can start in a few weeks; order them now! Some great bulb outlets: Bulbs direct, Garden Post, NZBulbs, Fiesta Bulbs, and Hadstock Farm in Springston. Work the soil to 20 cm deep in sunny to semi-shade position (generally bulbs prefer well-drained soils). Plant 15 cm spaced and 15 cm deep. In warmer climates, plant them a bit deeper (20 cm deep). A bit of mulch over the planting site will keep weeds down. Bulb fertiliser is recommended and after flowering some blood and bone will feed the green leaves. Do NOT cut those green leaves after flowering: they gather sunlight (photosynthesis) for re-stocking the food reserves inside the bulbs underground. Narcissus Daffodils Prep the soil to 40 cm or so – daffodil roots go way down! Plant them 10 cm deep and space 10 cm apart in well-drained soils (perhaps under deciduous trees). Hagley Park is a great example. Planting them in full sun is okay too. Mass planting works really well, and bulbs come up year after year and they'll multiply. Apart from the Far North, the whole of New Zealand can grow them. Leucojum Leucojum is also known as “snowflake”, and in the Netherlands it's known as the “Zomer Klokje” (summer clock). This wonderful plant has a special place in my heart: we used to have this rare and endangered native species in the wetlands where I used to roam as a nature nerd in the Netherlands. There are many different varieties now, flowering in spring, and planting is best done in early April. Must get some more! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seeds sown in March are the great givers of colour and fragrance in a cutting garden or container, from spring right through to autumn.This week, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to walk through 12 of the most trusted plants to sow now, how to fill your beds, pots and vases, and feed the birds from a single month's sowing.In this episode, discover:Practical techniques for handling both big and dust-fine seeds, including when to sow in trays and when to direct sowSpecific tips for making the most of tricky or easily-flopped favourites like cerinthe, amaranth and poppies, so they thrive both in the garden and in the vaseHow to get more from each plant – from cut-and-come-again grasses to edible flowers and home-made calendula remediesHow to plan your March sowing so it supports wildlife, with seed heads that feed birds well into winterProducts mentioned:Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blueAmaranthus ‘Hot Biscuits' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-hot-biscuitsAmaranthus ‘Coral Fountain' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-caudatus-coral-fountainMoluccella / Bells of Ireland https://www.sarahraven.com/products/moluccella-laevisAntirrhinum ‘Giant White' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-giant-whiteAntirrhinum ‘Liberty Crimson' (Liberty Classic Crimson F1) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimsonAntirrhinum ‘Apple Blossom' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-appleblossomAntirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Burgundy' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-burgundyAntirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Orange Scarlet' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-orange-scarletAntirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Carmine' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-carmineCobaea (Cup-and-saucer vine) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cobaea-scandens-purplePoppy ‘Amazing Grey' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rhoeas-amazing-greyPoppy ‘Mother of Pearl' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rhoeas-mother-of-pearlBlack Single Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-singleGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Winter is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well Winter is really starting to transform into Spring now, and so are our gardens. Lucy returns after her week away with tales of gardening shenanigans from pruning and training red currants, to clearing the final winter debris from emerging herbaceous borders, all while Saul does nothing, though it will soon be show season! The pair also start reflecting back on their life in horticulture, prompted by Frances' words last year, and realise a lot has changed in 25 years of being in the garden - what will the next 25 years hold, well one things for sure - more #HortiWaffle!Support the show

Jacob Burns of the Chicago Botanic Garden gives some tips on to give your summer bulbs a start during the Chicagoland springtime!

Two Good Gardeners is back with a new series, sponsored by Plant Fairs Roadshow. In this season opener, your hosts discuss daffodils with Neil Miller, Head Gardener at Hever Castle in Kent and find out how the Astors' legacy is being continued by planting thousands of new bulbs every autumn. Also in this episode, Dan highlights an innovative frost-protection fabric that's made from plants, and Julia explains how to start onion sets in modules. Your hosts round off with a list of jobs you can do in your garden over the next fortnight, with a reminder that the next Plant Fairs Roadshow event takes place at Hever Castle on Sunday, 22nd March, 2026.Narcissus 'Hever Castle' will be available from Taylor's Bulbs in autumn 2026Website links:Dan Cooper GardenBiofleece frost protection fabricParker's PatchHever CastleExpertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local.This episode was sponsored by the Plant Fairs Roadshow, which brings beautiful British-grown plants to stunning venues across the South East of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The garden is a welcoming place for all, particularly for newcomers when guided by the gentle eye of Milli Proust, and under the instruction of her calming new book.Milli joins us once again, this time to share the inspiring journey that's led up to her most approachable book to date, and some of the easy-to-understand frameworks to create an effortlessly beautiful garden.In this episode, discover:How Milli Proust found floristry, and began creating a deeply loved, biodiverse garden in West SussexA gentle but practical way to think about why we garden focused around connection, memory, and belonging to natureMilli's “plant pyramid” and other simple frameworks for beginner gardeners planning borders Ideas for low-maintenance but beautiful gardens, including orchards underplanted with bulbs, and using local materialsMilli's taster course at Perch Hill on Wednesday 6th May 2026:https://www.sarahraven.com/products/milli-proust-taster-course-beginner-gardeners?srsltid=AfmBOopaQgpAKlaAx724RwtbLXGrmm_NkyOCTWu2N42YnAOUzRlu--wlOrder Milli's Book, ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?':https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Does-Your-Garden-Grow/dp/1837832250Products mentioned:Aquilegia Vulgaris 'Hensol Harebell'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aquilegia-hensol-harebellGalanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/galanthus-nivalisWild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-marjoramSyringa meyeri 'Flowerfesta Pink'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/syringa-meyeri-flowerfesta-pinkViburnum tinushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/viburnum-tinusDaphne 'Perfume Princess'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/daphne-perfume-princessFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Winter is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well who would have thought that we'd reach episode 300 without Lucy and I killing each other (it's been close), but seriously what a journey over the last 6 years - and fear not we're only getting started. Having said that Lucy is obviously not too bothered as unfortunately she had to go off and talk about Vegetables (suprise, suprise) somewhere in Essex, so Saul picked up the phone and bought in the next best thing.. Frances Tophill...now a fellow Devonian and one of the most down to earth Gardeners World presenters your likely to meet!Instagram link:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensFrances francestophillIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

The luminous palette - a rich, stained glass collection of citrus, scarlet and pinky-purples - is the first of Sarah's colour combinations that we'll walk through in depth for this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series.Sarah explains the six key colours, which ones to use together throughout the year, and the flower families which she considers the most prominent and productive as they pass the colour baton through the year.In this episode, discover:How to use Sarah's luminous palette without overwhelming your gardenThe key plant families and varieties that reliably deliver bold, stained‑glass colourSarah's favourite colour combinations and how to place ‘shouty' colours so they look intentionalA simple season‑by‑season planning method using two‑month blocks and the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gatecrasher' idea to keep colour going from March to OctoberProducts mentioned:Euphorbia ceratocarpahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-ceratocarpaTulip 'Ballerina'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ballerinaTulip 'Black Parrot'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-black-parrotTulip 'Rococo'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-rococoTulip 'Go Go Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-go-go-redTulip 'Mariette'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-marietteTulip 'Purple Heart'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purple-heartLunaria annuahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annuaCrocosmia 'Lucifer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/crocosmia-luciferPhlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradiseDahlia 'Thomas A. Edison'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-thomas-a-edisonSweet Pea 'Blue Velvet'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-blue-velvetSweet Pea 'King Edward VII'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-king-edward-viiSweet Pea 'Matucana'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucanaSalvia 'Jezebel'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebelFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Colour is best when it's tangible, and if you're planning a patch in your garden then this episode of the Mini Series is perfect to help you bring your plans to life.In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah dives into the practical side of using colour as the backbone of your garden design - from using candles to visualise colour combinations, to the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher' structure that'll help guide you towards an ensemble that works in harmony.In this episode, discover:How to choose a garden colour palette based on the feeling you want to create (washed, velvet, comforting or luminous)A simple “bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher” recipe for combining plants in harmonious yet lively colour schemesPractical ways to test and refine palettes using coloured candles, mood boards and real flowers in your hand or in a vaseHow to plan colour in succession by breaking the year into seasonal chunks and identifying plants that “carry the baton” across monthsReal planting examples and border ideas drawn from Sarah's own garden, including her vase-to-border comforting palette schemeProducts mentioned:Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-katAlchemilla mollishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollisClematis viticella 'Etoile Violette'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-viticella-etoile-violetteCosmos bipinnatus 'Sonata Carmine'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-sonata-carmineSalvia viridis 'Blue Monday'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blueDahlia 'Peaches'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-peachesCampsis x tagliabuana 'Indian Summer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/campsis-x-tagliabuana-indian-summerPhlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-brideAbelia x grandiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandifloraHydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGMhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelightStipa giganteahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-giganteaFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Winter is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well well well - the weather has...…not improved! On what feels like one of the wettest years in recent memory Gardening (and all outdoor pursuits) has been a bit of a long slog. But the Talking Heads pair try to console each other with those gardening tasks they can get on with (or at least Saul is feeling smug about being in an office - little does he know Spring is on the horizon). So Wineberries, Pruning, Houseplants and jobs out of the rain are the order of the moment. Also as this comes out on Valentines Day, love is in the air for our rarer plants as Plant Heritage Launch the Wishlist, a matchmaking service for those who are looking for the lost and unloved. Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Welcome to the first in a brand new miniseries of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', as Sarah delves into the world of colour, and how to use each colour palette to its absolute maximum potential in the garden.In this week's first episode, Sarah shares how the colour system used at Perch Hill came to be, the theories behind mixing certain palettes, and the difference between calm and chaos when combining colours.In this episode, discover:How Sarah's experiences as a florist, gardener and colour-obsessed child shaped her approach to garden colourHow the colour palettes underpin every border at Perch HillWhy misuse of colour can make some gardens feel chaotic The six key colours within each palette, from citrus brights and Venetian velvets to café-au-lait pastels and cool silversWhy no colour is truly “wrong” in a garden, and how the right combinations and contrasts can make even challenging shades singProducts mentioned:Tulip 'Mariette': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-marietteTulip 'Sarah Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-ravenTulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawaTulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedroTulip 'Copex Cairo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairoDahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-waltzing-mathildaDahlia 'Schipper's Bronze': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronzeDahlia 'Tom's Choice': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-toms-choiceDahlia 'Molly Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenDahlia 'Perch Hill': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-perch-hillDahlia 'Lou Farman': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farmanCosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-rubenzaCosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzlerCosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-xanthosDigitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricotFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Winter is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well - it's still raining! So while Saul feels sure that he's made the right decision and re-located to an office, Lucy throws herself into wet wintry showers by choosing jobs to keep her warm. This week, a day full of composting is on her list, as she discovers the joy of the full composting cycle. A listener also asks the podcasting team for their views on encouraging birds into the garden during winter. Ponds, berries, diverse plantings - and compost heaps - all feature in the reply.Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

In this episode, Sarah is joined by YouTube phenomenon Huw Richards to talk about his journey from smallholding childhood to seven-acre experimental plot, and the ideas behind his hit book Veg in One Bed. They'll also cover exactly what to sow in late winter, and what'll perform best when sown later – from chillies and aubergines to peas, onions and tomatoes. In this episode, discover:How Huw Richards went from helping on his parents' Welsh smallholding to building a seven-acre experimental food-growing siteThe story behind Huw's first book, Veg in One Bed, and the sheer potential in a single 10x4ft bedHow Huw blends creativity with just enough science to keep things productiveExactly what Huw is sowing in late winter, and why timing mattersHow Huw's now using his land to grow for education, biodiversity and foodEpisode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason IngramProducts mentioned:Pepper 'Padron'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pepper-padronCourgette 'Black Beauty'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-black-beautyAubergine 'Slim Jim'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubergine-slim-jimSpring Onion 'North Holland Blood Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spring-onion-north-holland-blood-redTomato 'Sungold'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungoldTomato 'Tigerella'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-tigarellaTomato 'Honeycomb' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-honeycomb-f1Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

From their resistance to deep snow and hard frosts, to long-flowering habits, hellebores are quietly spectacular plants that earn their keep in pots, borders and shady corners.This week we're diving into one of the true stars of the winter garden, focusing on the new varieties that bring a renewed perspective on one of the winter garden's most generous providers, and how to keep them looking their best in the garden or in a vase.In this episode, discover:How to choose hellebore varieties for pots, borders and different garden conditions, from shade to full sun with Corsican typesThe best new and classic hellebores for long winter colour, including Maestro, Merlin, Strawberry Moon, Bijou and the Pretty Ellen seriesHow to cut, condition and arrange hellebores so they stand proud in a vase for two weeksPractical ways to prevent and deal with pests and diseases like aphids, mice damage, leaf miner and black spotTips on soil, compost, potting and feeding so hellebores thrive as long-lived, reliable perennialsProducts mentioned:Helleborus nigerhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-nigerHelleborus argutifoliushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifoliusHelleborus x ballardiae 'Merlin'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-ballardiae-merlinHelleborus x 'Bijoux'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-bijouxHelleborus x 'Guess'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-guessHelleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-redHelleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Spotted'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-orientalis-pretty-ellen-spottedFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

March 2026 marks the release of perhaps Sarah's most personal book to date, drawing from childhood love, family influence, and the evolution of one's own gardening tastes.In this week's ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' Milli Proust joins us to discuss Sarah's new book, ‘A Year of Cut Flowers', blending the memoir and the method to trace her family's historic love of flora, and how it drew Sarah into the world of cut flowers.In this episode, discover:How childhood wildflower hunts with Sarah's father and her life with Adam shaped her lifetime love of cut flowersHow even a small, carefully planned patch of cut flowers can fill your home with abundant, seasonal bloomsThe surprisingly powerful impact of spacing and pinching on plant health, vase life and stem productionWhy gardening, and especially growing for the vase, can become such a life‑enhancing practice which evolves with youProducts mentioned:Abelia x grandiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandifloraCerinthe major 'Purpurascens'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascensEuphorbia oblongatahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongataSalvia viridis 'Blue Monday'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blueHelianthus annuus 'ProCut Plum' (Sunflower)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helianthus-annuus-procut-plumAmmi majushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majusPhlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-brideFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

In this episode of Trailer Park Theology, the Josh and Kristi reflect on returning to a rhythm after being away from the mics and how God uses light to bring clarity, healing, and deeper communion. As they step into the 2026 theme Let There Be Light, they explore what it means to co-create with God by blending Scripture, real-life conversation, and lived faith.Kristi and Josh break open the scriptures this week beginning with Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.” This conversation centers on God's design for relationship—how solitude reveals our capacity for love and how unity does not erase individuality but strengthens it.This episode explores:Why slowing down creates space for spiritual clarity and “aha” momentsHow Scripture and conversation together reveal God's presence in everyday lifeThe difference between exterior companionship and interior lonelinessWhy marriage, friendship, and Bible study cannot replace the place meant for GodHow unity in the Body of Christ reflects two bulbs, one lightThis episode reminds listeners that light often begins small—a spark, a pinhole of hope—but when we seek God through His Word and through authentic community, that light grows, illuminates, and draws us into deeper communion with Him and one another. Support the show

The dream garden of low‑maintenance abundance is all about picking the plants that need hardly any input, just the lightest touch of editing, and they'll give you months of shifting colour.In the third episode in this theme with Arthur, we dive into the self-seeding annuals and biennials that bring abundant colour to the garden with very little effort. From forget-me-nots and violas to cerinthe, cosmos and quaking grasses, they share their favourite ‘volunteer' plants, how to manage them, and simple ways to use them in borders and cut-flower arrangements for a truly low-maintenance, flower-filled garden.In this episode, discover:How to use self-seeding annuals and biennials to create a low‑maintenance, flower‑filled garden that largely looks after itselfInspired plant recommendations, from forget‑me‑nots and violas, to grasses, nasturtiums and Californian poppies Practical tips on managing self‑sowers - when to let them run, and when to thin them outWays to weave self‑seeders into borders, pots and even cracks in paving for long‑season colour, movement and structureProducts mentioned:Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blueHeart's Ease (Viola tricolor)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-heartseaseAnthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anthriscus-sylvestris-ravenswingCosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzlerAmmi majushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majusPanicum miliaceum 'Violaceum'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/panicum-violaceumBriza maxima (Greater Quaking Grass)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grassNicandra physalodeshttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicandra-physalodesPersicaria orientalishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/persicaria-orientalisNasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-roseNasturtium 'Bloody Mary' (Tropaeolum minus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-bloody-maryFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

For months of scent throughout the sunnier months, there are a whole host of nostalgic stalwarts and surprising new picks that are impossible to ignore.Every garden deserves a perfume as captivating as the 12 plants at the top of Josie and Sarah's list this week, as they laud the dozen best flowers to sow for unbeatable aroma from April through to October.In this episode, discover:How to choose standout scented plants that really earn their place for perfume and looks alikeWhich specific varieties Sarah and Josie regularly rely on, and what makes each one specialPractical when-and-how tips for sowing, planting, and positioning scented plants to get fragrance from spring right through to autumnWays to use these plants as cut flowers, including vase-life tricks and how to make small bunches scent whole roomsHow to layer scent through borders, climbers, containers, and shrubs so that every corner of the garden offers a different perfumed momentProducts mentioned:Trachelospermum jasminoideshttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/trachelospermum-jasminoidesSweet Pea 'Matucana'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucanaNarcissus 'Actaea'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaeaMatthiola incana 'Pillow Talk'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/matthiola-incana-pillow-talkLonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lonicera-periclymenum-graham-thomasAcidanthera murielae (syn. Gladiolus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/acidanthera-murielaeFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Send us a textDee and Carol talk about crocuses, hot peppers (Capsicum), a new book: The Continuous Vegetable Garden, and celery vases.For more info, check out their weekly newsletter.To watch this episode on YouTube, click here.Insect of the Week:Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live by Rob Dunn (Amazon link)Flowers:2026 is the Year of the Crocus per the National Garden Bureau.Great places to order bulbs from include Van Engelen for large orders and our friends Brent and Becky's Bulbs.Vegetables:The National Garden Bureau has proclaimed 2026 is the year of the hot pepper! Capsicum sp.On the Bookshelf:The Continuous Vegetable Garden: Create a Perpetual Food Garden that Sows and Grows Itself by Charlie Nardozzi (Amazon link)Dirt:Celery vases are making a big comeback!  Article in House Beautiful. Question for listeners… Do you have a celery vase?Rabbit Holes:  A new Lost Lady of Garden Writing, Peggie Schulz. Elizabeth Coatsworth's children's book, The Cat Who Went to Heaven (Amazon link)Check out our affiliate links here. Support the showOn Instagram: Carol: Indygardener, Dee: RedDirtRamblings, Our podcast: TheGardenangelists.On Facebook: The Gardenangelists' Garden Club.On YouTube.

Every year, we venture out to the Netherlands in search of the most captivating dahlias, each worthy of a spot in your garden to liven up the late-summer months.Tom Stimpson joins us again on the podcast to share their current ‘cream of the crop', from reliable classics like ‘Molly Raven' and ‘Adam's Choice', to gorgeous growers like ‘Strawberry Cream' and ‘Princess Nadine'. Join us for an episode packed with garden inspiration for any colour palette, and a glimpse into how we choose our standout favourites from a field of hundreds and thousands.In this episode, discover:How Sarah and Tom select stellar dahlias from Dutch trial fields, and the characteristics that make truly exceptional plantsVarieties that are pollinator-friendly to bring a buzz of life into the gardenHow to condition your dahlias for mighty vase lifeProducts mentioned:Dahlia 'Princess Nadine'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-princess-nadineDahlia 'Skyfall'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-skyfallDahlia 'Café au Lait'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-cafe-au-laitDahlia 'Adam's Choice'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-adams-choiceDahlia 'Polka'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-polkaDahlia 'Strawberry Cream'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-strawberry-creamDahlia 'Honka Pink'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-honka-pinkDahlia 'Molly Raven'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenDahlia 'Labyrinth'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-labyrinthDahlia 'Lou Farman'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farmanDahlia 'Break Out'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-outDahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidianFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest