grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

Latest Episodes:

Floristry inspiration through a fashion designer’s lens with Hazel Gardiner - Episode 191 Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

Garden design is certainly a creative affair, and while Hazel Gardiner’s background was once in fashion, her floristry studio exudes inspiration from which we can all learn.
This episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ explores Hazel’s journey from fashion to floristry, the thought process behind her own garden, and her absolute favourite plants for the garden and as cut flowers.
In this episode, discover:

How Hazel’s background in fashion and events gives her such a wonderful eye in the garden
The inspiration behind Hazel’s zoned, structured garden in Stoke Newington
Evergreen plants perfect for those wanting gorgeous impact all year round
Hazel’s must-have plants in the garden and for cut flowers, from grasses like Hakonechloa to dinner plate dahlias like ‘Cafe au Lait’

Products mentioned:
Stipa gigantea
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea
Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-tenuissima
Cynara cardunculus (Cardoon)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cynara-cardunculus
Rhubarb 'Livingstone' (Everbearing)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rhubarb-livingstone
Hakonechloa macra
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hakonechloa-macra
Rosa 'Rambling Rector'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rose-rambling-rector
Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Chocolate'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-atrosanguineus-chocolate

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Be Your Own Florist Mini-Series: Home-grown, garden flowers - the best present you can give? Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the next episode in our floristry mini-series, and in episode 3 we’ll be sharing the best way to create a gorgeous, flowing hand-tied bunch.
Join Sarah as she shows the process from the stable scaffold-like base of foliage, to the simple, delicate addition of your most eye-catching flowers, and how to use the bride-bridesmaid-gatecrasher approach to balancing them perfectly...

Products mentioned:
Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' (Scented)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-attar-of-roses
Garden Mint (Spearmint)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spearmint
Dahlia 'Night Silence'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-night-silence
Zinnia elegans 'Queeny Lime Red'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-elegans-queen-red-lime
Hydrangea paniculata 'Wim's Red'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-wims-red

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Vibrant flowers for pot planting in town gardens with Tom Stimpson - Episode 190 Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Town gardening often demands that we as gardeners use our spaces wisely, and Tom Stimpson’s use of pots can teach us so much about creating a vibrant ensemble in the most modest of spaces.
This episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ takes us on a tour of Tom’s garden, brimming with inspiration for us all to plant more in pots to breathe life into compact gardens.
In this episode, discover:

Which flowers have best transformed Tom’s space over the 20 years he’s been there into a vibrant, aromatic haven
Tom’s use of topiary and architectural elements to create structure in his stunning garden
The flowers with unbeatable fragrance for picking and bringing into the house

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Be Your Own Florist Mini-Series: A tableful of flowers Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the latest episode in our floristry mini-series, this time bringing the best of your garden to life in a gorgeous tabletop ensemble.

Join Sarah as she demonstrates how she arranges sweet peas, erigeron, phlox and more, talking through the perfect approach to structuring them for their eye-catching moment in the limelight at any gathering.

Products mentioned:

Sweet Pea 'Erewhon'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-erewhon

Sweet Pea 'Nimbus'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-nimbus

Erigeron karvinskianus 'Profusion'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/erigeron-karvinskianus

Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestris

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Purity'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-purity

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The joys of tending to stunning dahlias and rare hen breeds with Arthur Parkinson - Episode 189 Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Arthur Parkinson may be a wonderful champion for the portable nature of the potted urban garden, but it’s an exciting prospect that he has the opportunity to grow on some new land in Gloucestershire.
Between the rare breeds of hen and the lovely collection of dahlias that he’s built up, this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ should inspire anyone looking to keep either some delightful poultry or radiant flowers alike.
In this episode, discover:

Arthur’s experience in Gloucester, and how he came to find the land he’s on
The lovely, rare breeds of hen that he’s rearing to keep the poultry gene pool thriving
How Arthur’s got some gorgeous dahlias blooming in spite of such wet ground, with inspiring ideas for standout varieties

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Products mentioned:
Dahlia 'Rip City': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-rip-city
Dahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidian
Dahlia 'Tartan': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-tartan
Dahlia 'Irish Pinwheel':https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-irish-pinwheel

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Be Your Own Florist Mini-Series: Conditioning cut flowers for ultimate vase life Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to our latest mini-series: Be your own florist - pick and arrange your own garden flowers, with Sarah Raven.
Focused on the joys of floristry, Sarah will take you through the essential steps to bring the best of your garden to life in a vase.

This first episode is a fantastic crash course in conditioning your cut flowers, following Sarah’s 5 S’s for giving plants the most impressive vase life possible, with guidance on the vital steps like searing stem ends, sterilising bulbs, and where to pick your flowers from.
To get the most out of this episode, you watch Sarah in action over on the Sarah Raven YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahraven
Products mentioned:

Dahlia ‘Penhill Watermelon’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-penhill-watermelon

Dahlia ‘Molly Raven’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-raven

Dahlia ‘Night Silence’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-night-silence

Lilium speciosum var. rubrum 'Uchida': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lilium-speciosum-var-rubrum-uchida

Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball' (Strong Annabelle): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-incrediball

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Q&A: When should I mulch dahlias? What should I cut back into autumn? When should I start forcing scented bulbs? Is it too soon for bulb planting? Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the September Q&A episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, where Sarah & Josie answer questions sent in by our lovely listeners each month.
In this episode, Sarah shares the ideal time to mulch your dahlias and how best to tackle the task, and when to start working on forced, scented bulbs ready for Christmas.
Meanwhile, Josie picks up questions on deciding what to cut back and what to leave on the way into autumn, plus how to spot the ideal time to start planting out your bulbs.

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Stunning highlights from our Autumn range with Arthur Parkinson - Episode 188 Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

With the changing of seasons brings an exciting new catalogue from which to draw inspiration for the year ahead.
In this episode full of possibilities, Arthur joins Sarah to peruse the latest and greatest from the Sarah Raven Autumn catalogue, shining a spotlight on the great performers and showstoppers to sow now, ready to breathe life into the garden next spring.
In this episode, discover:

Bold and perennial tulips like the almost-fluorescent ‘Queensday’
What makes narcissi the sustainable bulb of the future, and standout varieties like ‘My Story’
Tips for growing ranunculus, with a spotlight on bold varieties like the burgundy ‘Elegance Viola’
Why we keep coming back to beloved favourite evergreen climbers like Trachelospermum jasminoides

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

This month in your garden: September Sep 01, 2024

Show notes

September signals a time where we’re preparing our plants for the colder months, which makes this episode rounding up the essential monthly jobs such an important one.
Sarah and Josie direct you towards the edibles you should concentrate on - namely the hardy annuals - and remind us of the need to deadhead your dahlias. September is also the time to plant out your biennials before the cold sets in, start forcing bulbs, and take cuttings of your tender perennials.

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Combining creative arts to inspire your garden with Andy Monaghan - Episode 187 Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

Andy Monaghan’s background as a dancer alongside his gorgeous work with flowers gives him such a unique, inspiring outlook on crafting a horticultural style.
Andy joins Arthur Parkinson this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as he shares the combined influence of the two creative careers, how they guide his gardening on his beautiful land in Hampshire, and the joys of bringing homegrown bouquets to the Royal Opera House.
In this episode, discover:

The creative nature of both Andy’s careers, and how they guide and influence each other
How Andy came to have such a gorgeous Hampshire space and his huge experimentation with dozens of different varieties of roses
Floral design techniques, and the value in having an open mind in gardening

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Products mentioned:
Allium schubertii: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii
Allium cristophii: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest