The wonderful floral artist Brigitte Girling of Moss and Stone Floral Design is back to share her botanical stars of the season with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis - from Ranunculus to Narcissi. Plus top tips if you're thinking of growing flowers for a wedding. PLANT LIST Edgeworthia chrysantha Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Red Dragon' Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' Lathyrus nervosus Dicksonia antarctica Sparrmannia africana Erysimum 'Lady Roborough' Erysimum bicolor 'Bowles's M...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 38
If you love exotic plants - or just plants in general - then chances are you follow the adventures of Mike Clifford on social media. This week the self-confessed plantaholic and seller of extraordinary seeds joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis for a foray into his collection, from the Impatiens which have been flowering all Winter, to the enormous plants he's grown from seed. Plus insight into how he keeps his plants so healthy and gets such propagation success. PLANT LIST Vas...
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 37
This week it is a true extravaganza of extraordinary plants on the podcast as the utterly inspiring Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones of Crug Farm Plants join us to talk through some of their favourites at the moment. Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are left astonished by their tales of plant hunting all over the world, from Vietnam to Colombia, and the amazing plants they've discovered - and saved - along the way. PLANT LIST Schefflera macrophylla Pachysandra axillaris Cardiandra Bego...
Mar 31, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Adrian Scamp of the Award-winning Scamp's Daffodils, joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old VIcarage) and Thordis to chat all things Daffodil, from exploring the thirteen divisions to sharing favourite varieties, plus tips for naturalising Narcissi in your lawn and the new varieties that might be heading to your garden soon. It's a riot of absolute stunners, which will leave you with a wishlist longer than you ever imagined! PLANT LIST Narcissus 'Saint Mary Immaculata' Narcissus 'Nickelodeon' Narcissu...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 35
She's the woman behind one of the most famous of British brands - this week Emma Bridgewater joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson, to talk about the botanical inspiration behind the pottery. Plus why Dandelions are front and centre of their latest collection, the people in her life who sparked a life-long love of plants, lockdown gardening endeavours with limited supplies, and a recent discovery she's very excited about. PLANT LIST Chimonanthus praecox Daphne odora ...
Mar 17, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 34
If you've ever wondered how some plants come into existence, then wonder no more as plant breeder Joe Sharman gives us a fascinating insight into the labour of love behind many of the plants that fill our gardens. Join Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson as they hear about Joe's dreams for Galanthus breeding, plus the work he's doing with Eranthis (Aconites) and Celandines (Ficaria). There are also dreamy, dinky Narcissi, and an elusive Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus)...
Mar 10, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Across the world Botanic Gardens are doing amazing work. And at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, there are wonders to behold in every corner of its 40 acres. But the glasshouses are perhaps the most memorable, packed with exotic plants which will stay in your memory forever. This week on the podcast, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson are joined by Alex Summers, Glasshouse Supervisor at the Botanic Garden, for a chat about everything from his love of parasitic plant...
Mar 03, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 32
The name Charles Dowding has become synonymous with 'No Dig' techniques, but what exactly does 'No Dig' involve? And why is it such a successful and popular method of gardening? This week on the podcast, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are joined by Charles to talk about the lattice of ideas that make up the method, plus loofa antics and some Show and Tell that looks good enough to eat! It's a podcast jam-packed with revelations about everything from soil to slugs, paths to weed...
Feb 24, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Calling all Galanthophiles, this week Alan Gray (a self-confessed Snowdrop addict) and Thordis (doing her best to resist!) are joined by two gardeners who long ago succumbed to Galanthamania. Award-winning Garden Writer, Val Bourne, shares her experiences of growing Snowdrops in the Cotswolds, while Brian Ellis, who sells many special varieties of Galanthus talks from the Norfolk perspective. The conversation winds from the extraordinary people who make the Snowdrop community so special, to the ...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Three months after his last appearance, Ben Preston is back with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson for another plant-filled appearance on the podcast. From the regimental precision of seed-sowing at York Gate Garden, to the sad demise of their favourite Galanthus, he brings us all up to date with what's been going on in his patch. Plus an impressive Lobelia grown from seed, grass inspiration, a diminutive darling of a Narcissus, and a show-stopping Prunus!...
Feb 10, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 29
If you've never been to Hunting Brook Gardens in Ireland, get ready to be transported by its owner Jimi Blake. He tours us through his favourite plants for structure and foliage, plus his newer forays into houseplants and the latest additions to his Snowdrop collection. As usual Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis share their FLOMO (the plants at the top of their wishlists) and it turns out Jimi has quite a few as well! PLANT LIST Lindera triloba Pseudopanax lessonii 'Moa's Toes' Ps...
Feb 03, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 28
This week Matthew Pottage - the man behind one of the UK's five gardens run by the Royal Horticultural Society - shares his love of conifers, variegated plants and houseplants. We get a tour of his collection of plants in his house plus a peek at his London garden at home. Get ready for FLOMO galore!
Jan 27, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Get ready for an avalanche of evergreens from variegated wonders to a cacophany of conifers ((Ilex and Cryptomeria to Griselinia and Astelia). The Plant Doctor brings some serious show and tell to the table for his latest appearance on the Podcast. And, not to be left out, Alan Gray shares some of the treasures found in his garden. Also including a fantastic tip to help with your forced Hyacinths, a must-have plant for scent and some exquisite Irises!
Jan 20, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Hear the nitty gritty of what's in our soil, from the minerals to the earthworms and everything in between, all in the company of Soil Scientist, Professor Jane Rickson. She joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about how we can best look after our soils and what's in them. Plus some FLOMO and Show and Tell.
Jan 13, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Top Garden Designer and Radio 4 'Gardeners Question Time' panellist Matthew Wilson joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to talk about his busy year designing gardens, the joys of Wildflower mixes, a houseplant he holds very dear and other plants he holds less so (get ready for Anti-Flomo!)
Jan 06, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Alan Gray and Thordis wish everyone a Happy New Year and look back on some great gardening gifts received this Christmas. Plus of course, a spot of FLOMO because there's always FLOMO (Fear of Missing Out on a Fabulous Plant!)
Jan 06, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 23
The super-talented Tamsin Westhorpe joins Alan Gray and Thordis to Talk Dirty! RHS judge, Co-Chair of the Garden Media Guild, writer of new book 'Diary of a Modern Country Gardener' and much more besides, Tamsin shares stories from the historic family garden at Stockton Bury. Plus air kisses under the Mistletoe, thermal underwear and the double-flowered Nasturtium that got away!
Dec 16, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Organic gardener and recent award winner Val Bourne joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to share some of her favourite plants...from her top picks for easy Galanthus to an unusual umbellifer, cracking Clematis for Winter, Sassy grass and a rose that's caught Val's eye.
Dec 09, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Get ready for loads of laughter and planty inspiration! Rosy and Rob Hardy are greats of the gardening world, the brains behind Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants. In this podcast, they tell Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson about their final Chelsea Flower Show next year, plus share their own FLOMO (Fear of Missing Out on a Fabulous Plant), why you mustn't buy Rosy an Orchid, and why you must say yes to yellow!
Dec 02, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Alongside serious seasonal Show & Tell, Ian Roofe returns to the podcast to help Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson come up with some great gardening gift ideas, particularly if you're looking for something different, or on a budget. There's Miscanthus, Cornus and Sorbus appreciation; vintage tools; plus tree-tastic FLOMO and a LOT of laughter!
Nov 25, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Garden designer Tamara Bridge joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis Fridriksson to chat about the increasing demand for designers, plus her go-to plants for instant impact and how aquascaping has captured her imagination this year. If you've got a question for the team, don't forget you can email it to hello@getgardeningnow.co.uk.
Nov 18, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson catch up with another of their horticultural pals, this time focussing on trees and hedges with Master Arborist Alexander Laver. From his go to book for choosing and managing trees in his garden, to a tiny FLOMO, via mixed hedges, topiary and cloud-pruning.
Nov 11, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Purveyor of particularly Special Plants, Derry Watkins, joins Alan Gray & Thordis to share a whole host of wonders, from prairie plants as you've never seen them before, to a portable Isoplexis, serious Salvia envy, fabulous FLOMO, and Nerines on steroids! Don't forget if you've got a gardening question you can email hello@getgardeningnow.co.uk and the team will try to answer on a future podcast.
Nov 03, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 17
If you've ever fallen under the spell of a magical Auricula, then this is the podcast for you. Jane Ann Walton grows hundreds at her home in Norfolk, where she also has Snowdrops flowering for months a year and a whole host of unusual plants. She joins Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson to chat Auricula care, beautiful berries, Tassel Hyacinths, and share a top tip for Delphinium staking! There's FLOMO galore so get your wishlist ready for an update!
Oct 28, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Wow, where to start! There's so much in this podcast - as Ben Preston, Head Gardener at York Gate Garden, tells Alan and Thordis about the Perennial garden there. Plus has a real love-in with Alan Gray as they share plants they've grown from each other. Get set for everything from amazing and unusual Salvias, to exotic Echiums, self-supporting Delphiniums and an elusive Abutilon. We've also got a question about Clematis cuttings and growing bulbs in Finland! Don't forget if you've got a question...
Oct 21, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson are joined by their Get Gardening co-conspirator Ian Roofe for a whole host of inspiring Autumn plants - from Red Hot Pokers, to Michaelmas Daisies, Fastigiate trees, and foliage plants for Autumn colour. Plus some top tips for taking hardwood cuttings.
Oct 14, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Culinary Goddess Vanessa Scott joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis to chat about gardening projects during lockdown, home remedies for mildew, and terrific tomatoes. Plus a flamboyant FLOMO, tips for meadow planting in a moist area of the garden, Caladiums, Hebes and much more!
Oct 07, 2020•50 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson catch up with one of their favourite gardening chums, Joe Whitehead, to chat about his job as Head Gardener at Burghley House. From their exciting plans for the walled garden to his desire to track down an elusive peach, it's a brilliant insight into a Head Gardener's life. Plus apple appreciation, scented plants, Dahlia lifting and FLOMO!
Sep 30, 2020•50 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Plantswoman, garden writer and Organic gardener Val Bourne is the latest guest on Talking Dirty. She shares with Alan Gray and Thordis how she caught the gardening bug in childhood, plus a passion for Dahlias, Roses, Anemones (and everything between!) Plus FLOMO and the relevance of undersized underwear to a good garden!
Sep 23, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Alan Gray and Thordis catch up with Norfolk-based gardener and artist Margaret Hope. A former fashion designer, she learned to garden by colour first of all. And has a love of texture in her planting. A jubilant chat about planting combinations, FLOMO and Joy in a Box!
Sep 16, 2020•30 min•Ep. 10
