Podcast appearances and mentions of noel kingsbury

Send us a textDee and Carol continue gardening through the alphabet with the letter G.For more info, check out our weekly newsletter. It's free!Links:Supertunia® Honey™ - Petunia hybrid | Proven WinnersDee's blog posts on pelargoniums: here and here. Geum triflorum, prairie smoke The Garlic Companion by Kristin Graves (Amazon link)On the bookshelf: Plants with Superpowers by David Domoney (Amazon link)Dirt: Italian terra-cotta and Vietnamese potsTo see Carol chat live with Noel Kingsbury on his Thursday Garden Chat on May 1st, at 1:00 pm Eastern, go to the Garden Masterclass Events pageOur Affiliates (Linking to them to make a purchase earns us a small commission):Botanical InterestsFarmers DefenseEtsyTerritorial SeedsTrue Leaf Market Eden BrosNature Hills Nursery  Book and Amazon links are also affiliate links.Email us anytime at TheGardenangelists@gmail.com  Our newsletter is on SubstackFor more info on Carol  visit her website.  Visit her blog May Dreams Gardens. For more info on Dee, visit her website.  Visit her blog Red Dirt Ramblings.Watch this episode on YouTubeSupport the showOn Instagram: Carol: Indygardener, Dee: RedDirtRamblings, Our podcast: TheGardenangelists.On Facebook: The Gardenangelists' Garden Club.On YouTube.

It's officially cozy season! This week, Monica and Jennifer are back with another roundup of biophilic holiday reads, perfect for gifting or curling up with by the fireplace. So, whether you're looking for a beautiful coffee table book, inspiring looks at the science of spirituality, or words of wisdom inspired by nature, keep on listening. Shownotes Biophilic Solutions on Bookshop.orgThe 2024 Biophilic Leadership Summit Wild: The Naturalistic Garden by Clare Takacs and Noel KingsburyDesign a healthy home by Oliver HeathHow to Be More Tree: Essential Life Lessons for Perennial Happiness by Potter Gift and Annie DavidsonThin Place Design: The Architecture of the Numinous by Dr. Phillip James TabbThe Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science by Alan Lightman The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick RubinThe Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holten Key Words: Biophilic, Biophilia, Nature, Nature Based Solutions, Reading, Holiday, Gifts, Book, Book List, Science, Spirituality, Trees, Garden, Gardening, Natural Garden, Thin Places, Creativity, Literature, Landscape, Clare Takacs, Noel Kingsbury, Oliver Heath, Potter Gift, Annie Davidson, Phil Tabb, Phillip James Tabb, Alan Ligthman, Rick Rubin, Katie Holten

Flowers have totally mesmerized people for ages with their awesome colors, shapes, and smells. We're totally obsessed with them, and they've been a huge part of our cultures, traditions, and personal bonds for as long as we can remember. In this episode, we're going to talk about the history of flowers with a celebrated garden writer, Noel Kingsbury. We'll explore the history and meanings behind flowers, how they've evolved alongside pollinators, and the special relationships we have with these amazing plants.In this episode, we learn:[05:22] When did Noel's passion for plants and flowers start?[07:41] Noel shares his earliest plant memory[08:47] The inspiration behind Noel's book “The Story of Flowers”?[11:19] What is cultivation and how has it changed throughout the centuries?[12:43] Similarities and differences observed in the various human civilizations[15:37] Difference between high and low culture in plant profiles[16:32] Why is dahlia considered a low-brow flower in old British history?[18:36] Where can you find handcrafted wind chimes perfect for wedding and housewarming gifts?[20:13] Where can you find all your potting mix, planting soil, and fertilizer needs for gardening?[22:18] Are orchids considered high-class flowers?[23:54] What is the significance of flowers' affordability and accessibility throughout history?[25:30] Symbolism of the Iris flower in different cultures and civilizations[28:16] How flowers create a sense of identification and long-term connections with people[31:08] Why flowers and pollinators are in a lockstep co-evolutionary relationship.[33:47] What fact surprised Noel the most in his research about flowers?[36:17] Interesting facts about common flowers found in your garden[39:15] What brought Noel to Portugal? [39:29] Opium poppies have a complicated history with varying legalities[40:48] What lotus flowers symbolize[42:06] What is Noel's favorite flower?[43:25] Where can you find Noel on social media?Mentioned in our conversation:Book by Noel Kingsbury The Story of Flowers: And How They Changed the Way We LiveThursday Garden Chat for Garden MasterclassBook by Jane Perrone Legends of the LeafFor a full list of flowers and their symbolism,check out the full show notes and blog here!Thank you to our episode sponsors:Wind River ChimesBring more peace, serenity, and magic into your home with chimes. Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a new way to grow joy in your life and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect addition for your home or garden. Plus, it's a perfect personalized gift for your loved ones!Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.Espoma OrganicGrow an abundance of flowers with the right products! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar powered plant, zero waste manufacturing and eco-friendly packaging.Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Noel:WebsiteGarden MasterclassInstagramTwitterFollow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmariaOur Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://www.quince.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dee and Carol talk about columbine flowers, perennial kale, a different kind of foraging book and more this week.Check out our Substack newsletter for more info about this week's episode and subscribe to get it directly in your email inbox!A few links:Carol's Easter eggs on InstagramMuck BootsFlowers:Select Seeds sells a packet of Columbine seeds called National Collection Mix.    Eden Bros. also has a mix of European columbine seeds . Nan Ondra at Hayefield has some seeds for interesting columbines. The Story of Flowers and how they change the way we live by Noel Kingsbury. (Amazon link)VegetablesHow to Grow Heritage Perennial kale - The GuardianOn the Bookshelf:   The Flowerpot Forager: An Easy Guide to Growing Wild Food at Home,  by Stuart Ovenden (Amazon link)Dirt: Dee's post on Dr. John Cho and his elephant ear breeding, And April is   Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month Our Affiliates:Botanical InterestsFarmers DefenseEtsyTerritorial SeedsTrue Leaf Market Eden BrosBook and Amazon links are also affiliate links.Email us anytime at TheGardenangelists@gmail.com  For more info on Carol  visit her website.  Visit her blog May Dreams Gardens. For more info on Dee, visit her website.  Visit her blog Red Dirt Ramblings.Support the showOn Instagram: Carol: Indygardener, Dee: RedDirtRamblings, Our podcast: TheGardenangelists.On Facebook: The Gardenangelists' Garden Club.On YouTube.

Dee and Carol talked about stock,  asparagus, sunflowers, a new flower book, and what's going on in  Dee's garden after the fires in Oklahoma.Check out our Substack newsletter for more info about this week's episode and subscribe to get it directly in your email inbox!A few links: Carol's latest blog post about weeding. Dee's article in Oklahoma Living about how it's hard to garden in Oklahoma.Dee's Instagram post with more info about the fires and her garden.Flowers: Info on stocks from  Missouri Botanical Garden. Veggies:  Info about growing asparagus on Renee's Gardens websiteMore asparagus history and growing info in The Seed Dectective, by Adam Alexander. (Amazon link) (last week's book) and The Chef's Garden, by Farmer Lee Jones (Amazon link)On the Bookshelf: The Story of Flowers and how they change the way we live by Noel Kingsbury. (Amazon link)Our Dirt:Sunflower Steve Rabbit holes:The Creative Cove  on YouTubeOur Affiliates:Botanical InterestsFarmers DefenseEtsyTerritorial SeedsTrue Leaf Market Eden BrosBook and Amazon links are also affiliate links.Email us anytime at TheGardenangelists@gmail.com  For more info on Carol  visit her website.  Visit her blog May Dreams Gardens. For more info on Dee, visit her website.  Visit her blog Red Dirt Ramblings.Support the showOn Instagram: Carol: Indygardener, Dee: RedDirtRamblings, Our podcast: TheGardenangelists.On Facebook: The Gardenangelists' Garden Club.On YouTube.

As we look out over a new garden year this week, a conversation to help us meet our garden learning goals. Award-winning designers, writers, educators, and consummate plant-driven gardeners Annie Guillefoyle and Noel Kingsbury join us to share more about their year-round and globally accessible Garden Masterclass forum. Listen in! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Podcast, and Stitcher. To read more and for many more photos, please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.

If I say garden maintenance, you probably think of work—of getting out the pruners and hedge trimmers and such, and subduing any overenthusiastic plants, getting them back into bounds. But what if we thought of maintenance as an expression of creativity, instead of merely restraint—as part of the art of garden-making? What if we figured it into our design decisions right from the start? Particularly as our gardens shift in a more ecological direction and become more naturalistic, that adjustment and approach seems especially important. Ongoing creative maintenance is our topic today with Noel Kingsbury and Annie Guilfoyle, hosts of the popular Garden Masterclass series of workshops and webinars. Annie Guilfoyle is an award-winning garden designer and longtime teacher of design. Noel Kingsbury, with an astonishing 25 books to his credit, is a noted garden writer, teacher and consultant. Together, they have created gardenmasterclass.org, hosting both in-person workshops in the UK and online horticultural webinars for gardeners worldwide.

If I say garden maintenance, you probably think of work—of getting out the pruners and hedge trimmers and such, and subduing any overenthusiastic plants, getting them back into bounds. But what if we thought of maintenance as an expression of... Read More ›

I've never had a rock garden, I confess. But a new book about a modern and extreme form of the art caught my attention recently. It's called “The Crevice Garden: How to Make the Perfect Home for Plants from Rocky Places,” and its authors are here today to talk about why you might want to make room for one, and the plants it can support.   Colorado-based Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs from British Columbia are garden designers with a particular specialty in rock gardens, and also co-authors of the new book “The Crevice Garden.” When they appeared this spring on the popular Garden Masterclass webinar series, British host Noel Kingsbury said this in the way of introducing them: “Rock gardening will no longer elicit a yawn, because this is the future.” I'm glad they're here today to give us a peek into this brave new world.

The Queen of Herbs – Jekka McVicarJekka McVicar talks with Dig It's Peter Brown and Chris Day about the popularity in growing herbs, tips on growing them, plus a fascinating insight into her RHS show work Jekka shares her passion for growing and propagating herbs, organic growing, meeting the Queen and Jekka spills the beans on her exciting new herb garden project which opens next year.Plant mentions: Numerous Basils including Basil ‘Red Rubin' for infusing to create pink gin, Coriander, Convallaria (Lily of the Valley), Cress, Digitalis (Foxglove, medicinal herb), Dill, French Tarragon, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Laurus nobilis (bay leaves), Mints including Peppermint and Spearmint, Murraya koenigii (Curry tree), Nasturtium, Oregano, Red Amaranth, Rosemary, Salvia lavandulifolia (lavender-leaved sage), Szechuan (Sichuan) Pepper, Turmeric, Thymes, including Jekka's Purple Haze, Tomatoes, Wild Rocket and Winter savory.A range of herb plants are available at the Garden Centre and onlineKew Gardens research into herbsProduct mentions: Jekka's Mr Fothergill's herb seeds, Maxicrop Seaweed Extract, available at the Garden Centre (feed on Friday).Medicinal herbs resources: Medical herbalist Anne McIntyre and herbal practitioner Simon Mills.Borage the gnome news storyJekka's Books see website, plus available at the Garden Centre, A Little Book of Herbs. An A-Z.Peat-free compost, Jekka has her own formula based on coir. If potting herbs always use a Peat-free ‘Potting' compost rather than a multi-purpose mix.2009 RHS Lawrence Award, for best floral display. The Medal was special as it was the first for herbs and a first for organics.Notable luminaries: Garden designer and writer Noel Kingsbury, RHS show organiser Mavis Sweetingham, horticultural legend Beth Chatto, national treasure Delia Smith, top TV chef Jamie Oliver, top fish chef Nathan Outlaw.Jekka's Desert Island plant: The entire Lamiaceae family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family and includes culinary herbs like Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Marjoram, Oregano, Hyssop, Thyme, Lavender, and Perilla.To find out more about Jekka's story, the specialist herb farm containing over 400 culinary and medicinal herbs from all around the world and online shop.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The modern strawberry has a surprisingly dramatic story, involving a French spy in Chile, a perilous ocean voyage, and the unlikely meeting of two botanical expatriates. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the improbable origin of one of the world's most popular fruits. We'll also discuss the answers to some of our queries and puzzle over a radioactive engineer. Intro: Williston Fish bequeathed everything. Philip Cohen invented an English contraction with seven apostrophes. Sources for our feature on Amédée-François Frézier: Amédée-François Frézier, A Voyage to the South-sea, and Along the Coasts of Chili and Peru, in the Years 1712, 1713, and 1714, 1717. George McMillan Darrow, The Strawberry: History, Breeding, and Physiology, 1966. James F. Hancock, Strawberries, 2020. R.M. Sharma, Rakesh Yamdagni, A.K. Dubey, and Vikramaditya Pandey, Strawberries: Production, Postharvest Management and Protection, 2019. Amjad M. Husaini and Davide Neri, Strawberry: Growth, Development and Diseases, 2016. Joel S. Denker, The Carrot Purple and Other Curious Stories of the Food We Eat, 2015. Adam Leith Gollner, The Fruit Hunters: A Story of Nature, Adventure, Commerce, and Obsession, 2013. Mary Ellen Snodgrass, World Food: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture and Social Influence From Hunter Gatherers to the Age of Globalization, 2012. Noel Kingsbury, Hybrid: The History and Science of Plant Breeding, 2011. Christopher Stocks, Forgotten Fruits: The Stories Behind Britain's Traditional Fruit and Vegetables, 2009. Stevenson Whitcomb Fletcher, The Strawberry in North America: History, Origin, Botany, and Breeding, 1917. Dominique D.A. Pincot et al., "Social Network Analysis of the Genealogy of Strawberry: Retracing the Wild Roots of Heirloom and Modern Cultivars," G3 11:3 (2021), jkab015. Marina Gambardella, S. Sanchez, and J. Grez, "Morphological Analysis of Fragaria chiloensis Accessions and Their Relationship as Parents of F.× ananassa Hybrid," Acta Horticulturae 1156, VIII International Strawberry Symposium, April 2017. Chad E. Finn et al., "The Chilean Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis): Over 1000 Years of Domestication," HortScience 48.4 (2013), 418-421. Jorge B. Retamales et al., "Current Status of the Chilean Native Strawberry and the Research Needs to Convert the Species Into a Commercial Crop," HortScience 40:6 (2005), 1633-1634. J.F. Hancock, A. Lavín, and J.B. Retamales, "Our Southern Strawberry Heritage: Fragaria chiloensis of Chile," HortScience 34:5 (1999), 814-816. James F. Hancock and James J. Luby, "Genetic Resources at Our Doorstep: The Wild Strawberries," BioScience 43:3 (March 1993), 141-147. Wilson Popenoe, "The Frutilla, or Chilean Strawberry," Journal of Heredity 12:10 (1921), 457-466. Liberty Hyde Bailey, "Whence Came the Cultivated Strawberry," American Naturalist 28:328 (1894), 293-306. Emily Tepe, "A Spy, a Botanist, and a Strawberry," Minnesota Fruit Research, University of Minnesota, June 11, 2019. "How Strawberries Grew Bigger: Plant History," Financial Times, Aug. 30, 2008. Steve Zalusky, "From 'Hayberry' to 'Strawberry': A Look at the History of the Delicious Fruit," [Arlington Heights, Ill.] Daily Herald, June 26, 2005. "The Modern Strawberry Owes Its Discovery to Ironic Incidents," Charleston [W.V] Daily Mail, March 30, 2005. Peter Eisenhauer, "The Berry With a Past," Milwaukee Journal, June 20, 1990. Eve Johnson, "Sweet Quest for Perfection: Juicy Story With Sexy Angle," Vancouver Sun, June 16, 1990. Listener mail: Thanks to listener Patrick McNeal for sending this 1888 proof of the Pythagorean theorem by Emma Coolidge ("Department of Mathematics," Journal of Education 28:1 [June 28, 1888], 17). The proof is explicated in Robert and Ellen Kaplan's 2011 book Hidden Harmonies: The Lives and Times of the Pythagorean Theorem (pages 103-107). Tony O'Neill, "Glenade Lake and the Legend of the Dobhar-chú," Underexposed, Dec. 4, 2017. Patrick Tohall, "The Dobhar-Chú Tombstones of Glenade, Co. Leitrim," Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 78:2 (December 1948), 127-129. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Brent Ulbert, who sent these corroborating links (warning -- these spoil the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

Autumn has come to Texas at long last! To celebrate, we watched the documentary Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf (2017) by Thomas Piper, and we're now officially card-carrying Piet stans sporting Dutch accents, asymmetrical haircuts, and scythes. We discuss Oudolf’s “mathematics” of design, seasonal ambience, and the art of garden editing. How might we translate Oudolf's temperate palate to the not-so-temperate climate of central Texas? Drop us a line at horticulturati.com or a leave a voicemail at 347-WAP-HORT. Here’s where you can rent the movie: https://shop.fiveseasonsmovie.com/product/single-viewer/ Mentioned in this episode: Oudolf designs at Hummelo; Hauser & Wirth; the Lurie Garden; the High Line; Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury;  Medicinal Plants of Texas by Nicole Telkes; and Coopers BBQ in Llano. 

Autumn has come to Texas at long last! To celebrate, we watched the documentary Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf (2017) by Thomas Piper, and we're now officially card-carrying Piet stans sporting Dutch accents, asymmetrical haircuts, and scythes. We discuss Oudolf’s “mathematics” of design, seasonal ambience, and the art of garden editing. How might we translate Oudolf's temperate palate to the not-so-temperate climate of central Texas?  Drop us a line at horticulturati.com or a leave a voicemail at 347-WAP-HORT. Here’s where you can rent the movie: https://shop.fiveseasonsmovie.com/product/single-viewer/ Mentioned in this episode: Oudolf designs at Hummelo; Hauser & Wirth; the Lurie Garden; the High Line; Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury;  Medicinal Plants of Texas by Nicole Telkes; and Coopers BBQ in Llano. 

This week's guest is the well-known garden writer and horticulturalist, Noel Kingsbury www.noelkingsbury.com talking about books, learning and the Garden Masterclasses that he founded with Annie Guilfoyle. Their free to view tea-time talks and small-group paid-for webinars are extraordinary in their variety and breadth of topic and region. Coming up this week in their small-group seminars is a session with Sarah Wain, on edible crops, perfect for beginners and one with Jimi Blake of the remarkable Hunting Brook garden, near Dublin. Have a look on line at www.gardenmasterclass.org and enjoy the huge range of teatime talks for free, or with a donation, or one of the webinars.

The daffodils have been in full swing for a few weeks now and as today’s guest, Adrian Scamp of Scamp’s Daffodils tells us, we can expect them to carry on gracing us with their cheery blooms into May. Each year, I’m newly amazed by the indomitable daffodil; its ability to cope in all weathers, to grow in seemingly unpromising situations and to flower successively from December to May if you choose the right varieties. This episode, we cover every question you had about daffodils but were afraid to ask! Adrian gives his expert advice on: - When to order and when to plant bulbs (hint: order now!) - The conditions favoured by daffodils including soil and aspect- When to feed and with what - How to propagate - Troubleshooting any problems About Adrian Scamp’s Daffodils was started by Ron Scamp. Ron’s passion for the daffodil developed as a child in the 1940’s and 50’s whilst spending his childhood on his uncle’s daffodil farm in the Tamar Valley. In 1990 after years of growing daffodil varieties in his garden and greenhouse, Ron produced his first catalogue offering select varieties to other daffodil enthusiasts. Over the years the collection has developed and now contains approximately 2500 varieties including modern, species and historical collected from all over the world. As a professional grower, Ron has achieved many awards including RHS gold, the E.H Trophy for best exhibit and the Lawrence Medal. Adrian joined the company in 2007 and continues to grow and develop the collection. During the spring, they display their flowers at many shows and find this aspect of their work particularly enjoyable, as they meet other enthusiasts and customers both old and new. Each year, a list of the shows they will be attending is published in the news section of their website. Adrian can be contacted by phone 07826 067175 or via email amscamp@qualitydaffodils.com Please leave a message on the mobile as Adrian is often on the fields with no phone signal. Links: Scamp’s Daffodils https://qualitydaffodils.com  The Scamp’s Daffodil Catalogue https://qualitydaffodils.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scamp-Booklet-2019.pdf  A.M. Scamp 49 Mongleath Road Falmouth Cornwall 07826 067175 amscamp@qualitydaffodils.com  Scamp’s on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/QualityDaffodils/  Scamp’s on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scampsbulbs/  The Daffodil Society https://thedaffodilsociety.com/wordpress/  Daffodil: the Remarkable Story of the World’s Most Popular Spring Flower by Noel Kingsbury https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daffodil-Remarkable-Worlds-Popular-Spring/dp/1604693185    Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod   Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall 

Peter Donegan talks to Juliet Roberts, the Editor of Gardens Illustrated Magazine. @sodshow on twitter. facebook, The Sodshow Formerly in the film industry, in 2012 Juliet was listed as one of the top 30 most influential gardeners and since the now Bristol based (formerly London) Gardens Illustrated magazine, that at present now boasts its highest ever subscription rate. Peter and Juliet talk gardens, garden shows, James Alexander Sinclair, former guest of the show Noel Kingsbury, life in London and a history of veg plots. We chat life in Bristol, a life not always in the garden industry, but were the love for that was always there and how that evolved. The next event on the horizon is of course the Gardens Illustrated Festival. Of that they note: Join Gardens Illustrated magazine for their second Gardens Festival, taking place at the magnificent Westonbirt School, Tetbury in the heart of the Cotswolds on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March. Visitors will enjoy a fascinating programme of talks from leading experts covering everything from discovering the allure of umbellifers with plantswoman Marina Christopher, to understanding the finer points of what makes a great garden with designer Annie Guilfoyle. Other speakers include Alys Fowler, Roy Lancaster and Sarah Raven. To keep you busy in between the talks you are invited to browse the beautiful Shopping Marquee within the grounds of the spectacular Westonbirt School. The Shopping Marquee is free to all visitors and you'll find over 40 of the top traders in the industry including nurseries, artists and garden accessory companies. There will also be FREE plant and design clinics offering 10 minute individual advice and self guided tours of the stunning Westonbirt School gardens. Tickets to the talks are limited and so be sure to book yours today by visiting www.gardensfestival.com or phoning 0871 230 7156. *calls cost 13p per minute plus standard network charges. Lines open 24 hours a day. This interview with much thanks to Marie Davies and Caroline Roper. Thank you ladies for all of your hard work. Show Links: Tickets: Gardens Illustrated Festival twitter: @GdnsIllustrated Magazine: www.gardensillustrated.com FB: gardensillustrated

Peter Donegan chats with Noel Kingsbury, author of Garden Flora, published by Timber Press. Noel Kingsbury has been described as “the voice of authority with renegade undertones”. A gardener since childhood, he has run a nursery, designed gardens and public spaces and done doctoral research at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape on competition amongst ornamental perennials. He is best known for his promotion of naturalistic planting design, but is passionate about any kind of innovation in the garden or the wider landscape. He is particularly interested in improving teaching in horticulture. Noel has also written more than 20 books on garden matters, including four with leading designer Piet Oudolf, as well as the only history of plant breeding. He lives and gardens in the Welsh Borders near Hay-on-Wye. Together we chat landscaping trends, what Noel actually does outside of writing 24 books, sitting still or not and just why write a book that (as I desscribe it) is a reference book but not with a very beautiful difference. A note of very special thanks to Besse and Rebecca and the team at Timber Press US and UK. Thoughts or comments ? @sodshow on twitter or on facebook as The Sodshow

Sheran James of The Sharin' Hour on KX 93.5 discusses the differences between the U.K. and the U.S…with British friends Tina Jenkins and Therese Robinson; plus input from British gardeners Noel Kingsbury, "Raj"-er John Carter and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Noel Kingsbury returns on this week’s installment of We Dig Plants! Noel is a horticulturist, garden designer, and contributor to publications such as House & Garden, The Financial Times, and Acta Horticulturae. Tune in to hear Carmen Devito and Alice Marcus Krieg talk with Noel about the importance and difficulty of gathering plant knowledge. Noel also talks about his upcoming trip to South America, where he plans to assist a young gardener in using native Uruguayan plants in garden design. Also, Noel expounds upon the importance of community in spreading plant information. Hear about Noel’s upcoming gardening soap opera Dig, Plant and Bitch! Noel also speaks to the prevalence of social class in British comedy, and how that has made its way into his writing. Later, Noel, Alice, and Carmen talk about the role of The Highline in Manhattan in educating the public about different varieties of plants and planting. This episode has been brought to you by Fairway Market. “There’s a number of people who perhaps do a little bit of garden design and are rather good at the spatial sort of things but don’t have a lot of plant knowledge. If you can give people shortcuts to learning how to read the plant, then they’ll be good.” — Noel Kingsbury on We Dig Plants

This week on We Dig Plants, Alice & Carmen are joined by garden writer, designer, blogger & revered plantsman Noel Kingsbury. Noel and the girls discuss what separates the good from the great in terms of garden design and what influences lie behind some of today’s horticultural masterpieces. Tune in and learn why Germany has, and is, leading the way into great new design! This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch – the nations largest single source supplier of grassfed and grass finished beef. For more information visit www.hearstranch.com

Recorded in autumn 2009, garden journalist and broadcaster Peter Seabrook talks to Tim Richardson and Noel Kingsbury about his enduring passion for horticulture and plants in particular.

Recorded in autumn 2009, garden journalist and broadcaster Peter Seabrook talks to Tim Richardson and Noel Kingsbury about his enduring passion for horticulture and plants in particular.

Acclaimed garden designer, garden historian and writer Penelope Hobhouse talks to VISTA hosts Tim Richardson and Noel Kingsbury about her life as one of our most respected gardening figures. She discusses her travels in Italy and Iran and their effect on her approach to garden design, a sense of spirituality and whether one feels a sense of virtue when creating a garden.

Writer and psychotherapist Rozsika Parker joins hosts Noel Kingsbury and Tim Richardson to consider if men and women garden differently. This is a lively discussion with lots of contributions from the floor bringing up aspects of history, culture, genetics and economics both in terms of the amateur and professional gardener alike.

Highlights of the January issue plus tales from daring plant hunters. There's also an interview with author Tim Richardson, flagging up the series of discussions he is hosting together with Noel Kingsbury at the Museum of Garden History. He talks about the recent event with landscape designer Kim Wilkie.