Gardening shows are in full swing and gardens are coming to life (mostly despite the rain)! So we thought it would be nice to bring some joy in the wet weather by releasing an old episode about how gardening is filled with joy! And with BBC Gardeners World Live show on at this time of year, it is great timing to hear from BBC Gardeners World presenter Arit Anderson. Hear about Arit's route into horticulture, her passion for spreading the wellbeing benefits of gardening and what a 'holiday' is! H...
Jun 16, 2024•56 min
Ever wondered where the plants on film and TV sets come from? In this episode @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat with Justin and Gabor from Greens Team. Based in Pinewood Studios, they provide natural set dressing for many TV shows and films that you're probablty enjoying right now - from Star Wars to Barbie and many more. Hear how things come together on set, how accuracy is important but not always as much as you’d think plus what happens to the plants afterwards. Proud to announce Hyd...
Jun 09, 2024•39 min•Season 15Ep. 4
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a garden open to the public? Do visitors get caught taking cuttings? What other aspects of the business are there to consider other than the plants looking great? Gardener, author, lecturer Tamsin Westhorpe chats with @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening about behind the scenes at Stockton Bury Gardens. Afterwards, Michael and Ellen chat about pacing yourself, RHS Chelsea Flower show and anything else that springs to mind! Proud to announ...
Jun 02, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 15Ep. 3
In this weeks episode, Michael speaks to Riz Reyes of Heronswood Garden in the USA, and they find they have a lot in common. We think you’re really enjoy this conversation, as Michael is very honest about his upbringing, and insecurities. Michael and Riz compare notes on all aspects of growing up as a bit of a misfit, but with the comfort of a passion for plants! They both grew up hiding amongst the plants, as they didn’t enjoy their school years, but plants always had their back!! Proud to anno...
May 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Kate Turner is a skilled horticulturist who has been working on compost formulations and providing customer advice on all things compost for many years. Find out what exactly compost is, what the biggest changes are including peat free compost and what the future is for compost on the market for gardeners. Afterwards, @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat with @shegrowsveg Lucy and Kate about their new Heirloom seed company and their plans for RHS Chelsea 2024. Proud to announce Hydria as t...
May 19, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 15Ep. 2
In this weeks episode, Ellen and Michael are up the hill, looking down on the RHS Malvern Spring festival, as they review this excellent show. You can expect plenty of gossip, plant reveals, and the usual japes! Proud to announce Hydria as the series 15 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world’s first all-in-one water fountain kit that fits any planter or pot. Perfect for patios, balconies and even indoors as a water feature with a difference. Not only can the water sound soothe you and look wonderful in ...
May 12, 2024•27 min
The Garden Folk Magazine Takeover Episode A free gardening community magazine we hear?! Yes! The Garden Folk Magazine is a free online magazine for anyone looking for gardening inspiration, advice and encouragement. In this episode hear from the team plus some of the regular contributors as well with some snippets of wisdom! If you’d like to read the magazine head to www.gardenfolkmag.com To keep the magazine running small monthly donations of support are also so very welcome starting at only £1...
May 05, 2024•24 min•Season 15Ep. 1
Back in 2020, Ellen and Michael took a trip to South London to visit TV presenter and entrepreneur Liz Earle in her wellbeing studio. With over 25 years of experience in the beauty, health and wellbeing industry, Liz now heads up one of the most progressive and successful magazines on the subject, not to mention a popular podcast and YouTube channel. This is a listener favourite so it's a re release to get your wellness fix again! They discussed the whole concept of wellbeing and how it relates ...
Apr 28, 2024•52 min
In this weeks episode, Michael chooses one of his most memorable episodes, as he and Ellen spoke to the Caley Brothers, who are actually sisters… these wonderful ladies are mushroom farmers, and are really going places, fresh from their amazing display at Chelsea Flower Show, they are at the urban show this weekend, and causing quite a stir. We think you’ll love this episode, and hope it inspires you to grow a few fungi! Proud to announce Hydria as the series 15 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world’s ...
Apr 20, 2024•43 min
This episode is a listeners favourite! We picked from the top downloaded episodes to start series 15 of the podcast. We couldn't be happier to re-release @augusts_garden chatting about her huge career switch into gardening from high up in the sky. @mrplantgeek and @ellenmarygardening talk with the ever smiling, floral dressing, passionate gardener August - known as Augusts Garden to her over 100,000 instagram followers. Find out how August went from a long career as an air hostess to her work at...
Apr 14, 2024•38 min
We’ve decided to re release our first ever podcast episode. This episode has been one of the most popular episodes we’ve recorded and no wonder why! It’s all about bees. Find out all about the Cambridge botanic garden research into the fascinating life of bees. What colours do they prefer? What surfaces do they prefer? We found out with Director of the gardens Professor Glover. Proud to announce Hydria as the series 14 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world’s first all-in-one water fountain kit that fit...
Mar 24, 2024•30 min
Dr. Neil Buttery is the award winning author of The Dark History of Sugar'. He is also a podcaster and cook of British food from the past - and his specialist subject is PUDDINGS! @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening delve into the history of food including sugar - and it may surprise you! In the Horti Hangout this week meet @mike_thegardener who steps in for @mr_plantgeek this week and chats with @ellenmarygardening about useful shrubs, writing for magazines, The Garden Media Guild plus much m...
Mar 17, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 14Ep. 6
The ‘Muscular Dystrophy UK Forest Bathing Garden’ is being designed by Ula Maria. Ula is a renowned garden and landscape designer based in London who specialises in creating distinctive outdoor spaces for private and commercial clients in the UK and overseas. After winning RHS ‘Young Designer of the Year’ in 2017, Ula Maria set up her studio with a focus on creating emotive garden spaces and has previously designed garden spaces at other UK garden shows, but this is her first at the RHS Chelsea ...
Mar 10, 2024•31 min
From postman to worldwide known Terrarium expert, Ben Newell otherwise known as @WorcesterTerrariums started his journey only a few years ago as a content creator. Now his content has had millions of views, he has worked with Marvel, LadBible and some of the most well known faces on social media. Ben joins @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening on the podcast for this episode about content creation and making terrariums. Afterwards Michael and Ellen chat let lag, upcoming horticultural work, doin...
Mar 03, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 14Ep. 5
Michael is delivering a solo episode this week, as he chats to Ed Morrison about the unique Roots Allotment project - geared towards the modern allotmenteer, where equipment is shared, plots are smaller, and a no-dig method of growing is encouraged. Listen to Michael chat to Ed about the project in great detail! We think you’ll feel very inspired that we can all grow, wherever we live! Proud to announce Hydria as the series 14 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world’s first all-in-one water fountain kit ...
Feb 25, 2024•34 min
Manoj Malde joins @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening in this weeks episode to talk about the joys of gardening, designing for RHS Chelsea Flower Show and getting married there along with his brand new book called Your Outdoor Room: How to design a garden you can live in which is due to be released soon. Afterwards, Michael and Ellen gossip from opposite sides of the Atlantic, being sleepless in Seattle and Valentines Roses. Proud to announce Hydria as the new series 14 sponsors! Hydria™ is th...
Feb 18, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 14Ep. 4
In this episode @ellenmarygardening talks to RHS Chelsea newcomer Giulio Giorgi all about the design process and why this garden is so important. The World Child Cancer's Nurturing Garden is a sensory haven designed for children with cancer and their families to bring joy, hope and escapism through experiences with nature. After the show, it will be relocated permanently to one of the Young Lives vs Cancer ‘Homes from Home’, which allows families to stay together whilst a child is undergoing can...
Feb 11, 2024•28 min
In this weeks episode meet Joel Web from Hydria Life, who help to bring nature inside and tranquility outside with their clever water fountains. Biophilia is about loving nature and being immersed in the joy of the natural world and can bring great health benefits. In this episode Joel tells us more about it and how Hydria fountains can help bring an extra something special to any garden of any size. We also chat with Jenny Winnard @Jenny_ourfamilyallotment in this weeks 'horticulture hangout' c...
Feb 04, 2024•58 min•Season 14Ep. 3
This week, we have a very special treat, as Michael broadcasts from inside an actual greenhouse, in the centre of international trade event, IPM Essen!! Michael chats to Nat Porter from YPHA and Porters Nurseries about what they’ve spotted at the show, if trends actually exist, why some are snobby about what people grow, and tonnes more. A whole hour of two gardening minds chewing horti cud, what more could you want….? Proud to announce Hydria as the new series 14 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world’...
Jan 28, 2024•56 min
This weeks episode is with Sound Matters. The team who create sound and listening experiences that can help you change the world. Most recently, they recorded sounds around the Newt estate in Somerset, and the fabulous Great Dixter. The sound recordings are not always as you may expect, yes there's bird song- but they also document sounds in the border, amongst log piles, deep in the raised beds, and in the centre of the compost heap. Afterwards, @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat about ...
Jan 21, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 14Ep. 2
Ever wondered what it’s like to pull together an RHS show? In this weeks episode Ellen Mary chats with Show Lead Kate Dufton about the behind the scenes work to make sure everything comes together and what’s coming up for the 2024 show. Find out more about the show and get your tickets including a new type of ticket which Kate tells us all about on the podcast. https://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk Proud to announce Hydria as the new series 14 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world’s first all-in-one water fount...
Jan 14, 2024•33 min
Series 14 kicks off with an incredible guest! We always ask guests on the podcast where their gardening journey started, the majority will say from their parents or grandparents who are of course all legends! But imagine if your gardening inspiration was non other than the late Geoff Hamilton! Yes on todays show we have the owner of Barnsdale Gardens, horticulturalist, writer, radio and television broadcaster Nick Hamilton. Hear all about Nick's childhood, gardening gems from his father and the ...
Jan 07, 2024•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 1
In our final episode before the festivities, Michael talks to Andrea Lazzeri - connoisseur of poinsettia - about this amazing Christmas star. We have all the tips you need!!
Dec 17, 2023•8 min
The final episode in this series falls just before Christmas so we've put together a compilation of interviews all about Christmas plants! @mr_plantgeek brings tips for keeping your Poinsettia happy in your home from the Italian breeder of some of Europes leading varieties plus the story behind the Cyclamen and ho wit can be used indoors and outside over the festive period. @ellenmarygardening brings the Christmas tree care tips along with @theplantrescuer helping you to keep your Christmas Cact...
Dec 10, 2023•1 hr 22 min
In this weeks episode we chat with writer and author Jean Vernon. Jean is a champion for bees, pollinators and all wildlife and is on a mission to educate everyone about the intricate balance of nature in gardens from birds to bees and everything in-between. @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening find out about Jeans love of gardens, her books and get some wildlife friendly gardening take home tips. As a bonus Jean has provided her top 10 plants for pollinators below: Vipers Bugloss Hellebores Fl...
Dec 03, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 13Ep. 6
In this weeks episode, Michael is hopping across Europe, as he talks to Guy at Morel Cyclamen about this fantastic, very colourful cool season plant! Find out what’s coming next in the breeding too! Then, he finds himself in the Netherlands as part of the Eat This In Residency program, which is designed to help connect society to what happens in horticulture and agriculture. Michael just runs through his diary of where he’s been and who he’s talked to, but lots more content will follow from that...
Nov 26, 2023•37 min
If you have ever wondered why you should grow Roses, let Daniel Myhill tell you why, how and what to grow! Daniel is the National Collection holder for Rosa persica hybrids and knows a thing or two about Roses. This informative and fun chat with Daniel will get you growing the best Roses. Afterwards Ellen and Michael are joined by a gardening internet sensation for this weeks horti hangout! It's Michael Griffiths, known as @the_mediterranean_gardener chatting social media planning, gardening and...
Nov 19, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Season 13Ep. 5
If you haven't heard of horticulturalist Barbara Segall then where have you been hiding?! Barbara is well known for her books about gardening, herbs and travel, an established editor for magazines, Assistant County Organiser for the National Gardens Scheme in Suffolk and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture. In this episode @ellenmarygardening chats with Barbara about the changing face of horticulture, herbs and book writing. Also hear some exciting news from Amateur Gardening Magaz...
Nov 12, 2023•55 min
Part II - Following on from yesterdays podcast release, hear the remainder of our interview with Clare Matterson from the Royal Horticultural Society. Listen to Part I first in the podcast library. Sponsors of series 13 are Lava-Lite - Naturally The Best Effortlessly nourish and protect your plants with a collection of totally non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable, pH neutral, lightweight and 100% natural products. Derived from volcanic deposits, LAVA-LITE was formed by nature over 10...
Nov 06, 2023•33 min
Part I: This episode is with the Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society Clare Matterson CBE. Clare took on this big role over a year ago bringing a wealth of experience having been the Director of Engagement at the Natural History Museum, spent 18 years at the Wellcome Trust and has led many initiatives linking planet and health. @ellenmarygardening and @mr_plantgeek chat with Clare not only about the RHS plans for the future but the future of horticulture altogether. Perhaps it nee...
Nov 05, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 13Ep. 4
