Nearly the end of June already, past the Summer solstice and plenty to talk about at East Ruston Old Vicarage, particularly Alan Gray's latest planty purchases from their summer plant fair! Get ready to have some FLOMO*! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out PLANT LIST Eucomis pole-evansii Eucomis pole-evansii 'Dark Desire' Rosa x beanii Verbascum roripifolium Iris tectorum Berkheya radula Berkheya purpurea Puya × berteroniana Beschorneria yuccoides Agave montana Phoenix canariensis Po...
Jun 25, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 134
No rain, but lots of other things to put smiles on our faces at East Ruston Old Vicarage, from the last of the Daffodils to punchy Pelargoniums and fab Foxglove trees! PLANT LIST Tulipa 'Yellow Crown' Narcissus 'Painted Desert' Narcissus 'Irish Linen' Tropaeolum smithii Piptanthus laburnifolius syn. Piptanthus nepalensis Bupleurum fruticosum Pelargonium 'Dark Secret' Malus hupehensis Paulownia tomentosa Paulownia fortunei 'Fast Blue' ('Minfast') Smyrnium perfoliatum Melanoselinum decipiens Echiu...
May 14, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 133
What weather we've had! As you can imagine there's plenty to talk about at East Ruston Old Vicarage, including an exciting new planting project for Alan Gray... PLANT LIST Magnolia 'Vulcan' Magnolia sieboldii Delosperma Cyrtanthus elatus syn. Vallota speciosa Watsonia Sparaxis tricolor Hippeastrum Tigridia pavonia Podranea ricasoliana Abutilon 'Fool's Gold' Clianthus puniceus Helichrysum petiolare Fremontodendron californicum Tithonia rotundifolia Coleus scutellarioides 'Burgundy Wedding Train' ...
Apr 16, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 132
After an impromptu lurgy-induced break, Talking Dirty returns to explore the wonders at East Ruston Old Vicarage this March. Alan Gray - owner of the 32-acre garden on the Norfolk coast - shares new purchases and old 'friends' which are heightening the joys of spring. Meanwhile Thordis has some very seasonal FLOMO*! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out PLANT LIST Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum Group Hedera helix f. poetarum Ilex 'East Ruston Gold' Magnolia 'Caerhays Belle' Pyrus commu...
Mar 12, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 131
It's been quite a brutal start to the year, but that hasn't stopped East Ruston Old Vicarage from turning out some showstoppers this winter! From bulbs in the garden to shrubs under glass, Alan Gray shares some of the plants bringing him joy in the garden. Plus updates from behind the scenes. And, of course, some FLOMO*! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out PLANT LIST Fuchsia 'Lottie Hobby' Narcissus cyclamineus 'Englander' Crocus sieberi 'Ronald Ginns' Solanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape' ...
Jan 29, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 130
Alan Gray and Thordis are feeling festive and they're celebrating with some seasonal Show and Tell from Alan's 32 acre garden on the Norfolk coast, from the plants you'd expect to be dazzling in December, to some unseasonal surprises. PLANT LIST Galanthus 'Santa Claus' Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' Galanthus elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse' Narcissus 'Cedric Morris' Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête' Jasminum nudiflorum Arum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Miss Janay Hall' Iris unguicularis Lonicera fragrantissima ...
Dec 21, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Alan Gray and Thordis take a look at the plants still packing a punch, even though East Ruston Old Vicarage closed to visitors last month...from fab foliage to seasonal blooms. PLANT LIST Iris unguicularis Iris unguicularis 'Mary Barnard' Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt' Cestrum fasciculatum 'Newellii' Viola 'Parme de Toulouse' Begonia luxurians Ilex verticillata Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion' Hosta 'Empress Wu' Galanthus reginae-olgae Galanthus 'James Backhouse' Griselinia littor...
Nov 27, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 128
Alan Gray and Thordis take a look at the plants stunning the visitors at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month, including some unusual foliage plants. PLANT LIST Lapageria rosea Passiflora semiciliosa Bougainvillea spectabilis Mandevilla Pleroma urvilleanum syn Tibouchina urvilleana Abutilon 'Fool's Gold' Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima' Strobilanthes dyeriana Plectranthus ciliatus 'Easy Gold 'Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush' Streptocarpus saxorum Camellia sasanqua Berberis gagnepainii var. lanceif...
Oct 30, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 127
Alan Gray and Thordis look back at East Ruston Old Vicarage's starring role on BBC show Gardeners' World, plus container planting, greenhouse overhauling and Hedychiums. PLANT LIST Manihot grahamii Ptilotus exaltatus Begonia fuchsioides Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush' Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii' Ageratum petiolatum Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars' Coleus argentatus syn Plectranthus argentatu Coleus argentatus 'Hill House' Helichrysum petiolare Osteospermum Ricinus communis 'Carmencita...
Sep 25, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 126
From the climbers impressing Alan Gray this summer to the ways he's updating container planting, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage. Talking Dirty is taking a little summer break, but we'll be back with an East Ruston Old Vicarage September Special. PLANT LIST Helichrysum petiolare Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars' Petunia exserta Begonia 'Erythrophylla' Geranium 'Rozanne' Streptocarpus saxorum Argyranthemum 'Jamaica Primrose' Brugmansia × candida 'Shred...
Aug 28, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 125
Settle back and get ready for another plant extravaganza with Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants. In Part Two of his Talking Dirty appearance, he shares plants for the future, great foliage combos, beautiful bark and so much more! Your FLOMO* is sure to be off the scale! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out PLANT LIST Pinus engelmannii Firmiana simplex Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' Napaea dioica Phlomis bourgaei Phlomis fruticosa Lindera obtusiloba Lindera triloba Acystopteris taiwaniana He...
Aug 07, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 124
This week it's a much-looked forward to episode with none other than Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants. From the extraordinary plants which have turned up on his nursery, to the ways he's testing hardiness, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are enthralled. More fantastic plants next week in part two. PLANT LIST Philadelphus 'Casa Azul' Philadelphus maculatus Philadelphus mexicanus Magnolia obovata Magnolia × wieseneri Begonia 'Torsa' Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana ‘Bells and Whist...
Jul 31, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 124
From propagation successes to exciting new container combos, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage. PLANT LIST Mitraria coccinea Beschorneria yuccoides Agave montana Fuchsia 'Delta's Sara' Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana Begonia 'Torsa' Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange' Dahlia excelsa Campanula medium Melica uniflora f. albida Dahlia 'Hadrian's Midnight' Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Baron' Oxalis vulcanicola 'Sunset Velvet' Oxalis vulcanicola 'Plum Crazy' Phlox dr...
Jul 24, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Part Two of our latest podcast with Steve Edney of the No Name Nursery continues with tales of the Chelsea Flower Show. Plus Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis spy more special plants in the polytunnel! PLANT LIST Persicaria virginiana Variegated Group Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette' Tinantia pringlei Cuphea 'David Verity' Polyscias sambucifolia Chlorophytum saundersiae 'Starlight' Astelia nervosa 'Westland' Astelia chathamica Astelia 'Red Devil' Farfugium japonicum 'Wavy...
Jul 17, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Partially recovered from taking the No Name Nursery to the Chelsea Flower Show, Steve Edney shares some of his favourite jungle plants from their display with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis. PLANT LIST Abutilon 'Ashford Red' Aesculus wangii Aesculus californica Schefflera rhododendrifolia Schefflera taiwaniana syn Heptapleurum taiwanianum Brachychiton populneus Begonia scharffii Fuchsia 'Lechlade Marchioness' Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum' Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' B...
Jul 10, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 123
We're back for another East Ruston Old Vicarage special via a bit of belated Chelsea Flower Show chat, including some plants which caught our eye in the pavilion. PLANT LIST Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff' Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long' Anthyllis vulneraria 'Dark Red form' Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii 'Albiflorum' Bupleurum ranunculoides Geranium nodosum 'Fielding's Folly' Rhododendron ‘Daviesii’ Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillère' Astelia chathamica Myosotidium hortensia Melic...
Jun 19, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery returns for part two of his latest Talking Dirty appearance with Rose inspiration, lovely Lunarias and thoughts on botanical nomenclature! PLANT LIST Geranium 'Rozanne' Geranium 'Jolly Bee' Salvia rosmarinus 'Joe's Goldie' Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' Erysimum cheiri 'Harpur Crewe' Maianthemum racemosum syn Smilacina racemosa Sarcococca Lonicera caprifolium Omphalodes nitida Omphalodes verna Omphalodes luciliae Rosa x odorata 'Semperflorens' Syn. Miss Wilmot...
Jun 05, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery returns to Talking Dirty to wow Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis with a stunning selection of plants, from Rhodiola to Lamprocapnos to Geraniums and Erysimums. More next week in part two! PLANT LIST Uvularia grandiflora Chrysanthemum 'Esther' Chrysanthemum 'Dixter Orange' Pelargonium 'Mr Wren' Ribes sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet' Ribes sanguineum 'Little Pink Buttons' Cypripedium calceolus Buddleja crispa 'Stone House Cottage' Viburnum rhytidoph...
May 29, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 122
We're back for another East Ruston Old Vicarage special. From the plants Alan Gray is growing from seed this year to the secrets of his Brugmansia success, this is a quick look at what's going on in his wonderful garden this May. Ps It's possible our recording time was restricted by a tiny human ;) PLANT LIST Brugmansia × candida 'Grand Marnier' Ipomoea lobata syn Mina lobata Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Purple' Centaurea montana 'Bella' Catananche caerulea 'Alba' Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer' Stachys ...
May 22, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 122
Last week he wowed us with Anemones! Now Ben Preston shows us some of the other treasures he's stocking up at Cliff Bank Nursery, from Luzula to Euphorbia to Paris. PLANT LIST Delphinium requienii Luzula pilosa 'Igel' Primula vulgaris subsp. sibthorpii Hakonechloa macra Viola hederacea Viola 'Molly Sanderson' Euphorbia rigida 'Sardis' Euphorbia myrsinites Euphorbia epithymoides Crocus tommasinianus 'Yalta' Phlox subulata 'Fort Hill' Papaver rupifragum Lunaria annua 'Somerset Marble' Syneilesis a...
May 08, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 121
He's back! The last time we caught up with Ben Preston he was departing York Gate Garden (where he was Head Gardener) and heading for his own nursery. Now Cliff Bank is up and running and selling a crop of exquisite plants! This week we take a look at the Anemones he's been building a collection of. Next week more planty treats in part two! PLANT LIST Agrostemma githago Anemone ranunculoides 'Kai' Anemone ranuculoides 'Prinz Eugen' Anemone flaccida Anemone ranuculoides 'Golden Dream' Anemone nem...
May 01, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 121
This week one of the nicest men in horticulture is back on The Talking Dirty Podcast. Joe Whitehead is Head Gardener at Burghley House on the Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire border. He talks Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis through some of the changes which have been going on in the garden, and shares his favourite shade plants of the moment. PLANT LIST Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' Paulownia tomentosa Cornus kousa 'Milky Way' Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii Dodecatheon meadia syn P...
Apr 24, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Time to return to one of our happy places. The garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage on the Norfolk coast is bursting with plants at every time of year, but in April seed-sowing is underway in earnest and there are treasures to behold everywhere you look! In this week's episode the garden's owner Alan Gray shares just some of what's going on with Thordis. PLANT LIST Tulipa 'Yellow Crown' Tulipa sprengeri Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits' Amaranthus cruentus 'Velvet Curtains' Anemone coronaria 'Bor...
Apr 17, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 119
Our gardens are full of them at this time of year, but the Tulip actually originates in Central Asia. These species Tulips are varied in height, colour, foliage and the ease with which we can grow them at home and so this week on Talking Dirty, Cambridge University Botanic Garden - who hold the National Collection of Species Tulips - are along to share some of their favourites and recommendations for which to grow, and how. Plus stories of their latest adventures in Kyrgyzstan where they've been...
Apr 10, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 119
With a spring in our step we bring you the March Special of our Talking Dirty series on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage. From the Magnolias Alan Gray wakes to see out of his bedroom window, to the Tulips he's been spending a pretty penny on, here are some of the highlights from the garden this month. PLANT LIST Magnolia 'Caerhays Belle' Magnolia 'Genie' Magnolia × soulangeana Rosa 'Rambling Rector' Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate' Rosa 'Mme. Alfred Carrière' Rosa 'A Shropshire Lad' Dahlia 'Hollyh...
Mar 27, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Time for Part Two of our latest episode with Talking Dirty favourite Val Bourne. The award-winning garden writer has alredy shared some of her favourite Prunus varieties. This week it's all about spring plants like Pulmonarias and Violets, plus a bit of rose inspiration...and Trillium chat to boot! PLANT LIST Pulmonaria 'Shrimps on the Barbie' Pulmonaria saccharata 'Leopard' Pulmonaria rubra Pulmonaria 'Diana Clare' Viola odorata 'Christie's Wedding' Viola odorata 'Baroness Alice de Rothschild' ...
Mar 20, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 118
This week one of our Talking Dirty favourites is back! Val Bourne is an award-winning garden writer and grows all manner of treasures in her 1/3 acre Cotswolds plot. This week - in part one of her latest appearance - she shares some of her favourites Prunus and the Scilla you must grow, plus those to avoid! And as usual her coversation with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis meanders via a host of plants from Geums to Ferns. Next week Roses, Trilliums and Violets...plus FLOMO* *FLO...
Mar 13, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 118
This week Alan and Thordis are excited to bring you a joyful special focussing on Hepaticas with their chief cheerleader, John Massey of Ashwood Nurseries. His book, 'My World of Hepaticas' (with Tomoo Mabuchi), is a veritable treasure trove of information (and downright divine photographs!) In this episode of Talking Dirty, we meander through the different species (including which should tolerate a garden situation) and discuss everything from botany to John's anecdotes from years tracking them...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 117
In the latest of our series looking at Alan's garden - East Ruston Old Vicarage - month-by-month, we're focussing on some fab February plants. From the Edgeworthia hardly any one can grow to Alan's latest purchases and plans for the shade planting around his north-facing front door. This is an episode packed with plants and plans! PLANT LIST Edgeworthia chrysantha Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Red Dragon' Galanthus 'Alan Gray' Polystichum setiferum ‘Green Lace’ Eranthis hyemalis 'Dooze' Galanthus elwe...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 116
Tim Fuller of Norfolk nursery The Plantsman's Preference returns with beautiful flowers, fab foliage and serious FLOMO*! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out PLANT LIST Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima' Cornus sanguinea 'Winter Beauty' Buxus sempervirens 'Aurea Pendula' Gaultheria mucronata syn. Pernettya mucronata Ilex aquifolium 'East Ruston Gold' Vinca minor Vinca minor 'Azurea Flore Pleno' Vinca minor 'Multiplex' Vinca minor 'Blue and Gold' Vinca minor 'Aureovariegata' Vinca diff...
Feb 21, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 116
