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

Latest Episodes:

Gorgeous Garden Design Tips and the Charms of Chelsea Flower Show with Tricia Guild - Episode 118 May 04, 2023

Show notes

Tricia Guild is a name needing little introduction, her Designers Guild brand being an ensemble of aesthetic delights akin to that of the fast-approaching Chelsea Flower Show.

Sharing her love of the show, and design ethos both in her work and the garden, Tricia joins us for an episode of the podcast laden with tips to bring your space to life through a lens of selective beauty and impact.

In this episode, discover:

The joys of Tricia’s London garden, adorned as any room of the house would be, with care and coordination
Flowers fit to bring the richest blues and boldest greens to your garden
Which of the plants in Tricia’s Italian garden are perfect for heat resistance, ideal for our warmer summers
The delights of Chelsea Flower Show, and why selective choices often create the most striking of displays

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

Taking Artistic Inspiration from the Natural Beauty of the Garden with Molly Mahon - Episode 117 Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

The connection between art and the natural world is utterly entwined, and seldom is it seen more beautifully in the craft of block printing than through Molly Mahon’s eyes.

Her gorgeous designs draw upon the inherent beauty of flowers, particularly dazzling, bold Dahlias - an inspiration which Molly will soon bring to Perch Hill with an exciting course in June.

Until then, enjoy a heartwarming chat on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as she shares her passion for creative crafts and the true joy that it brings.

In this episode, discover:

Molly’s multidisciplinary creative upbringing, from her father in the garden and mother in table-based crafting
The sheer joy that the block printing process can bring
How Molly styles block prints with colour palettes akin to the bold, bright hues of a captivating garden
Favourite flowers to rouse the senses and bring inspiration to new creations

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

12 Tough Flowers to Thrive in Shade-Laden Gardens with Josie Lewis - Episode 116 Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Not every garden is bathed in sunlight at all hours of the day, so finding shade-loving flowers is a must for anyone looking to illuminate their shaded areas with a splash of colour.

Josie Lewis returns once again to the podcast, this week sharing her love of flowers and ferns that thrive with little light, from the cool, composed beauty of Frosted Ferns to the must-have Sarcococca.

In this episode, discover:

The likes of Nicotiana Sylvestris and Grandiflora, fragrant providers of joy throughout the day
Josie’s favourite ferns, like the Frosted Fern and the Shuttlecock Fern, structures bustling with beauty
Fiery flowers like Begonia Glowing Embers, a stunning variety which Sarah considers nearly indestructible

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

12 Top Regal Flowers for a Stunning Coronation Display with Gary Newell - Episode 115 Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

The King's coronation will soon be upon us, and given his love of nature, it seems apt to consider the flowers that might best commemorate the occasion.

Returning to the podcast with a spectacular selection of plants in regal colours aplenty is our Senior Horticultural Buyer, Gary Newell. Join us for our 12 best Flowers fit for a King's coronation.

In this episode, discover:

Glamourous golden flowers for instantly shimmering arrangements
The perfect plants to most graciously combine the Union Jack's red, white and blue
A number of easy mixes from our range to most simply bring together complementary flowers
Why the vigourous Rudbeckia Enchanted series are right at the top of Gary's list

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

Chicken Boy: Arthur Parkinson’s Life with Hens - Episode 114 Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

The utterly wonderful, incomparable Arthur Parkinson has been away writing his new book, so it's a delight to have him return to the podcast to tell us all about it!

The original ‘co-conspirator’ of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ joins Sarah once more to detail the heartfelt inspiration behind Chicken Boy, how he found the inspiration to form a bond with hens, the dangers to look out for if you’re starting out yourself, and so much more.

In this episode, discover:

How Arthur’s natural affinity for hens began and grew
The strong connection to Chatsworth, Deborah Devonshire and their poultry fancying
Guiding our thinking around designing plants and gardens with animals in mind
What to consider around the villains and vermin to keep your hens safe
The sometimes-harsh reality of hen keeping

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 12 Most Gorgeous and Prolific Perennials, Climbers & Shrubs with Rachel Siegfried - Episode 113 Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

One of the greatest treasures that a garden can bring us is the cut flower, and with a fine selection of perennials and woody plants, that treat returns to us year after year.

That’s why this week’s podcast guest, the wonderful Rachel Siegfried, shares her penchant for perennials throughout her work, and in her new book - The Cut Flower Sourcebook.

Tune into this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a fabulous list of the 12 most inspiring perennial plants, and how to structure a showstopping arrangement.

In this episode, discover:

A brief history behind Rachel’s delightful flower farm, Green & Gorgeous
The simple, yet wonderfully effective four-part structure into which she divides arrangements
Reliable framework and filler plants like Rosa Glauca and Snowberry upon which to build your displays
Focal flowers, showstoppers and accents to breathe life and add movement, like the always stunning early Peony Buckeye Belle

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 12 Most Stunning Cut Flowers for Compact Gardens with Butter Wakefield - Episode 112 Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

The limit to your imagination extends far beyond the size of one’s garden, particularly with the cut flowers that award-winning garden designer Butter Wakefield adores most.

Butter returns to the podcast with more than a smorgasbord of stunning flowers compact enough to fit in the smallest of gardens, but captivating enough to make the most monumental impact as a cut flower.

In this episode, discover:

The bold bulbs of Daffodil Jetfire and subtle beauty of Avalanche
Why the Dahlias of Rosie Raven, Lou Farmen and Josie are among those which most wildly capture Butter’s adoration
David Austin’s majestic roses accompanied by the most delightful fragrance
A border must-have with flowing cascades of purple flowers - Salvia nemorosa Caradonna

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 12 Most Spectacularly Scented Flowers with Jo Fairley - Episode 111 Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Our olfactory system elicits some of the strongest emotions we can feel, so the scent of a garden should be at the forefront of your mind when planning your garden - as it is for the wonderful Jo Fairley.

Jo edits The Scented Letter, a quarterly magazine focused on fragrance, which makes her a perfect guest on the podcast to share the 12 most evocatively scented plants, from the strong fragrance of Trachelospermum to stalwart Sweet Peas.

In this episode, discover:

The personal history with Scented Geraniums that makes them one of Jo’s most beloved, aromatic plants
Which of the Roses are absolute essentials for smell, and why Jo would never plant a Rose without scent
Jo’s love of Sarcococca’s incredible growth, bold structure, and fragrant leaves
Plenty of book recommendations to inspire you with many more scented plants

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

12 Essential Tips for Terrific Tomatoes - Episode 110 Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Sowing tomatoes should be right at the top of your list for the month ahead, with the joy they bring to a garden and the remarkable variety in taste.

Whether it’s the small and mighty Noire de Crimee or the ever-reliable flavour of Sungold, this week’s episode of the podcast brings a wealth of advice for growing your own.

In this episode, discover:

The standout tomatoes that’ll bring joy to your garden and plate, from the stripy Tigerella to the unbeatable taste of Sungold
Charming combinations for companion planting to keep your tomatoes in good health
The remarkable results you can see by growing tomatoes in a ring culture pot
A whole raft of recipes to use your produce in such varied and utterly delicious ways

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 Sustainable Splendour of Using Local, Coppiced Wood with Adam Nicolson - Episode 109 Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Wood is wonderful in the garden, and can be both beautiful and useful to create fencing, arches and posts in such a way that cares for the environment around us.

If you’re still using the likes of imported bamboo in your space and need inspiration for alternatives, Adam Nicolson joins Sarah once again on the podcast to share how locally grown, coppiced wood can be so fantastic for you and for the world.

In this episode, discover:

The near-zero environmental cost of using the wonderfully pliable birch
Which trees are the most useful for absorbing more carbon, and how to best treat them
A fascinating history of why chestnut is so prevalent in this part of the world
How to coppice wood, and the true impact of coppicing on carbon absorption from our trees

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