Explore every episode of the podcast grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

Andy Monaghan is a wonderfully creative soul both in the garden and beyond it, sharing his talents as a professional dancer and spending his “off season” knee‑deep in tulips, zinnias and prairie perennials. 

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Andy, a florist, flower grower and dancer, to choose the finest tulips for a collection that will come back year after year. They talk perennial tulips, resilient planting for hot dry summers, and the quiet joy of designing gardens that can cope with a changing climate.

In this episode, discover:

• How Andy built a three‑tulip collection around perennial performers like ‘Artist’, ‘Don Pedro’ and the ‘Sarah Raven’ tulip
• Practical ways to choose tulips and perennials that cope better with heat, drought and changing weather
• The reality of juggling two creative careers across seasons of the year
• Which plants thrived in a hot summer, from zinnias and prairie perennials to dahlias and phlox
• Ideas for designing both larger flower plots and small town gardens

Products mentioned:

Tulip ‘Artist’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-artist

Tulip ‘Dom Pedro’ (Tulipa ‘Don Pedro’): 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro

Tulip ‘Sarah Raven’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-raven

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-arborescens-annabelle

Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/acanthus-mollis-rue-ledan

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

September is a turning point in the gardening calendar, a month in which we’re preparing our plants - as we are ourselves - for the colder months.

Sarah and Josie join forces this week to share the key jobs you should prioritise at this point in the year - from focusing on your edibles to deadheading 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.

Products mentioned:

Mustards (Hardy Mustard Mix): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hardy-mustard-mix

Salad Rocket (‘Serrata’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata

Mizuna: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna

Winter Purslane: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/winter-purslane

Coriander (‘Leisure’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisure

Flat-leaf Parsley ‘Giant of Napoli’ (Listed as ‘Gigante di Napoli’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli

Chard (‘Bright Lights’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-bright-lights

Spinach (‘Giant Winter’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-giant-winter

Ammi majus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Ammi visnaga: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga

Salvia viridis ‘Blue’ (‘Blue Monday’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue

Black Scabious – Scabiosa atropurpurea (‘Black Cat’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat

Honesty (Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua-chedglow

Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hesperis-matronalis-white

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

From the first November blooms to the last flowers in May, narcissus can quietly carry your garden through the whole of spring. 

In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Tom Stimpson joins Sarah as they unpack what they found on a whirlwind narcissus trip to the Netherlands – from finely bred, climate‑resilient varieties to pots that brim with scent on the coldest days. 

They share their favourite tried‑and‑tested daffodils for pots, borders and cutting, and the key characteristics they now look for.

In this episode, discover:

• How to plan a simple narcissus succession so you have daffodils in flower from November through to May
• The named varieties Sarah and Tom rate for pots, borders and cutting, such as ‘Avalanche’, ‘February Gold’ and ‘Starlight Sensation’
• Practical ideas for making your space work harder, including interplanting narcissus with dahlias for almost seamless colour

Products mentioned:

Narcissus ‘Actaea’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Narcissus ‘Avalanche’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus ‘February Gold’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-february-gold

Narcissus ‘Tête‑à‑tête’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-tete-a-tete

Narcissus ‘Rip Van Winkle’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-rip-van-winkle

Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-silver-chimes

Narcissus ‘Starlight Sensation’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensation

Narcissus ‘Pheasant’s Eye’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pheasants-eye

Narcissus ‘Snipe’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-snipe

Narcissus ‘Sailboat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-sailboat

Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter

Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead Fritillary): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris-plum-white-mixed

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

If grey squirrels have ever stripped your pots overnight or raided a carefully planted bulb lasagne, there are ways to protect your perfectly composed pots.

Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis this week to share what’s actually worked at Perch Hill after years of trials – from cleverly laid thorny rose prunings to beautiful pot toppers that protect bulbs and earn their keep. 

In this episode, discover:

• How Sarah and Josie protect freshly planted bulbs from grey squirrels and other pests without relying on ugly or ineffective solutions
• Exactly how to use thorny stems as a simple, physical barrier over pots through autumn and winter
• Which ornamental plants make the best pot toppers over bulbs, and where each works best
• How to use edible pot toppers such as hardy lettuces and salad leaves to both shield bulbs and provide generous harvests before tulips emerge

Products mentioned:

Ammi visnaga: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga

Ammi majus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-black-taffeta

Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/erysimum-bowless-mauve

Wallflower ‘Sugar Rush Purple’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-sugar-rush-purple-bicolour-f1

Cerinthe (Honeywort): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascens 

Cerinthe 'Kiwi Blue':  https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue

Mizuna ‘Red Knight’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna-red-knight-f1

Salad Rocket: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata

‘Red Frills’ Mustard: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills

Sea Holly (Eryngium): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-x-zabelii-big-blue

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

We’re stepping once more into Tom Stimpson’s tiny town garden to see how he coaxes months of colour from the smallest of spaces. 

In this episode, Tom shares the mini bulbs that have truly earned their keep in pots and window boxes – from long-flowering iris and species tulips to cheerful muscari and dwarf narcissus. 

Together we explore simple planting “recipes”, clever table‑top displays, and a low‑maintenance watering approach that lets the weather do most of the work. 

In this episode, discover:

• How Tom turns a tiny town garden into months of spring colour using mini bulbs in pots, tabletops and window boxes
• Which small bulbs really earn their keep in containers – from Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ and ‘Wisley Blue’ to favourite species tulips and dwarf narcissus
• Simple ways to plan a small-space bulb display, including easy paper layouts and colour planning
• A low-maintenance watering approach for bulbs in pots that relies on deep, occasional soaking rather than constant fussing
• Practical tricks for protecting bulbs from squirrels and how to give narcissi, muscari and Iris reticulata a second life in borders.

Products mentioned:

Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipheion-alberto-castillo

Tulipa sylvestris: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulipa-sylvestris

Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shades’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-blanda-blue-shades

Muscari ‘Blue Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-blue-magic

Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-armeniacum-valerie-finnis

Narcissus ‘Minnow’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-minnow

Narcissus ‘Sailboat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-sailboat

Scilla / Squills (Siberian Squill): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scilla-siberica

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

If you love the idea of beautiful pots that don’t need replanting every five minutes, perennials in a container can be the perfect solution, and just as stunning as a bed or a border.

Tom Stimpson returns to discuss trusted “banker” perennials for containers – from long-flowering hellebores and acers underplanted with geraniums, to hydrangeas, heucheras and beloved agapanthus. 

You’ll hear exactly which combinations have stood the test of time in Tom’s garden as well as at Perch Hill, and how to get colour from winter through to late autumn.

In this episode, discover:

• How to design perennial pots that give you colour and structure from winter through to late autumn, without constant replanting
• Which plants Sarah and Tom rely on most strongly for containers 
• Practical planting combinations for small gardens, such as Pittosporum with hellebores and scabious, or an acer underplanted with Geranium ‘Rozanne’
• A realistic regime for watering, feeding and deadheading perennial pots so they stay sturdy rather than sappy

Products mentioned:

Helleborus niger: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-niger

Helleborus orientalis: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-orientalis-pretty-ellen-spotted

Helleborus ‘Ice n’ Roses Red’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensis-ice-n-roses-red

Pittosporum ‘Bannow Bay’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bay

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Cat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat

Scabiosa ‘Kudo Pink’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-incisa-kudo-pink

Geranium ‘Rozanne’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-rozanne

Geranium ‘Dreamland’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-dreamland

Hydrangea ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-macrophylla-madame-emile-mouillere

Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-lime

Hydrangea ‘Limelight’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Hydrangea ‘Little Fresco’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco

Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-black-taffeta

Gaura ‘The Bride’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gaura-lindheimeri-the-bride

Gaura ‘Flamingo’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gaura-collection-for-pots

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-nemorosa-caradonna

Salvia ‘Peach Melba’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melba

Verbena rigida: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-rigida

Linaria ‘Peachy’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/linaria-x-purpurea-peachy

Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’ / ‘Navy Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/agapanthus-navy-blue

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

We’re approaching the perfect moment for bulb planting, and if you’re looking to force bulbs for a lovely indoor winter, then look no further than the sage advice of Tom Stimpson.

In this episode, Sarah and Tom - our Head of Horticulture - share their favourite bulbs to force indoors, and how to pot and water them, plus a few simple tricks to keep them flowering for weeks on end. 

In this episode, discover:

• The best bulbs to force indoors, from dramatic amaryllis and classic paperwhites to scented narcissus, hyacinths and tiny muscari
• Simple methods for planting, positioning and watering indoor bulbs so they flower reliably
• The importance of “mean” watering to avoid rot and keep flowers lasting longer
• Easy ways to move forced bulbs from house to garden so they go on to provide colour and cut stems for seasons to come

Products mentioned:

Amaryllis ‘Papillio’ (Papilio): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-papillio

Amaryllis ‘Green Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-green-magic

Amaryllis ‘Nymph’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-nymph

Paperwhite Narcissus ‘Ziva’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-papyraceus-ziva-for-forcing

Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter

Hyacinth ‘China Pink’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinth-china-pink

Hyacinth ‘Delft Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthus-orientalis-delft-blue-forcing

Muscari ‘Blue Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-blue-magic

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

When cancer enters a life, it carries a profound impact on the places in which you seek comfort, which is why the human-centred gardens at Maggie’s centres are so unbelievably important.

In this powerful episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah talks to Dame Laura Lee from Maggie’s, about how beautifully designed, garden-centred spaces are changing the experience of cancer care for patients and their families. 

In this episode, discover:

• How one simple question sparked the creation of Maggie’s Centres and a new idea of cancer support
• Why the design of a space can change how it feels to live with cancer
• What actually happens when someone walks from the hospital into a Maggie’s Centre
• How Maggie’s supports not only patients but their families and friends through the process
• The role of gardens and seasons as a gentle way to talk about hope, uncertainty, treatment, and even end of life

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

If you’ve ever let your vegetable garden wind down after summer, there’s a whole season you’re missing out on. 

This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah breaks the year into two simple seasons and shows you exactly what to sow now so you can keep picking right through the grey months. 

From hardy salads and herbs to kales and chards, she shares 12 tried-and-tested crops that genuinely thrive in a UK winter. 

In this episode, discover:

• How to divide the gardening year into two simple seasons so you can plan for year-round harvests
• Which 12 tried-and-tested crops Sarah relies on for winter and early spring eating
• The exact sowing window for late-summer and early-autumn sowings, and why timing is crucial if you want strong plants going into winter
• Practical ways to cook and enjoy your winter veg, including Sarah’s wilted kale salad, and how to use herbs to brighten cold-season salads

Products mentioned:

Lettuce ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons’:

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lettuce-merveille-de-quatre-saisons

Mustard ‘Red Frills’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills

Flat-leaf Parsley ‘Giant of Napoli’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli

Spinach ‘Medania’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-medania

Chard: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-lucullus

Florence Fennel / Bulb Fennel (‘Romanesco’): 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/florence-fennel-romanesco

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Stepping out into the garden with a sketchbook in hand is a novel, powerful practice which, given time, can transform the way we look at plants we think that we know like the back of our hand.

In this week’s podcast episode, Sarah is joined by artist and gardener Matthew Rice to explore how drawing becomes a kind of “recorded looking” that deepens our relationship with flowers and gardens - from choosing the right subjects and materials to capturing the feeling of a border in full swing.

In this episode, discover:

• How drawing functions as “recorded looking”, helping deepen your relationship with your garden
• Which flowers and garden plants are most forgiving to draw as a beginner, and practical ways to get started with garden drawing
• Where Matthew Rice finds inspiration, from historic watercolourists to everyday details in his own greenhouse and garden

Products mentioned:

Snakeshead Fritillaries: sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris

Iris reticulata: sarahraven.com/products/iris-reticulata-blue-note

Courgettes: sarahraven.com/products/courgette-soleil-f1

Mint: sarahraven.com/products/mint-moroccan

Matthew Rice: https://www.instagram.com/matthewricewatercolours/

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The National Garden Scheme is a national treasure, raising millions for charities and giving access to gorgeous gardens for those who need them most.

It’s a joy this week to be joined by former GP and National Garden Scheme CEO Dr Richard Claxton to explore how 3,200 gardens – from stately homes to hospital rooftops and new-build backyards – are transforming health and access to green space across the UK. 

In this episode, discover:

• How the National Garden Scheme quietly turns open gardens, tea and cake into £3.9 million a year for nursing and healthcare charities
• Why Richard Claxton believes gardening is one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term wellbeing
• How the NGS has evolved from stately homes and rectories to include community gardens, and small, relatable plot
• The story behind transformative projects like the intensive care roof garden at King’s College Hospital
• How balconies, new-build gardens and shared plots can play a vital role in our health and connection to nature

Richard Claxton:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardclaxtongardens/
The National Garden Scheme: https://www.instagram.com/nationalgardenscheme/

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

We’ve learned from years of unpredictable weather patterns that the climate is demanding more of our plants than ever before, and while some struggle, others quietly thrive throughout it all.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to explore which plants are quietly thriving through late frosts, heatwaves and torrential rain with a practical, down-to-earth shortlist of resilient perennials, shrubs, grasses and ground covers to help your garden cope with an increasingly unpredictable climate.

In this episode, discover:

• How long-observed changes in weather are reshaping which plants can thrive in the garden
• Which resilient perennials, shrubs and grasses are coping best with “swivelly” weather, and why traits like tap roots and silver, hairy foliage matter
• Which much-loved plants are starting to struggle with mildew, black spot and stress
• Practical, down-to-earth techniques for helping your garden weather extremes conditions

Products mentioned:

Bluebells (Native British): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthoides-non-scripta-bluebells

Eryngiums (Sea Hollies): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-alpinum?srsltid=AfmBOopO4Ifg4rzCW2YkMWRcqgDXIRlXUqsM8bCbvKl2l68rTKaBJU4l

Lavender: sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munstead

Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosemary-tuscan-blue?srsltid=AfmBOoqw1cACNvCEpOmZsANIbxqDCLnJbnUK2yiqwuVl2Cvfo8ZtYvMy

Origanum vulgare (Oregano): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-marjoram?srsltid=AfmBOopv0ainVpy6LtMUQZNXz7j2uk0S8_o0MhkfGzThC64AF9eaF1l-

Lychnis coronaria (Magenta): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronaria

Stipa gigantea: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea

Quaking Grasses (Briza species): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grass?srsltid=AfmBOorNYwPg5Ia0BbbQNr1nHeMdY4zpd_RelqlM_oWx8Ukfkg6qb-Yp

Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/leucanthemum-vulgaris?srsltid=AfmBOoqICKKwsHKsI_Az1IDEef6FTGyX2985v8xOzJWJz6vK2m39rH80

Salvia ‘Cerro Potosi’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-microphylla-cerro-potosi

Salvia ‘Jezebel’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebel?srsltid=AfmBOoo9zChqz4ORp4p1PjjxPn-FE0S9HtVs0nqaEzWg3SHc0sPNNdRE

Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-royal-bumble?srsltid=AfmBOorDeIIZi7sAEHWbPIlPsgg6Nvy-c1HUTkEyZNvgfHTKvBI0VLH5

Phlox ‘David’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david

Phlox ‘Blue Paradise’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradise

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

What Pam Corbin doesn’t know about preserves, isn’t worth knowing. She’s an oracle on all things jam - hence her apt nickname, ‘Pam the Jam’.

For the home cook, and for those with a kitchen garden worthy of capturing its fruity goodness, this week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ with Pam is a perfect entry point to creating your own jams.

She and Sarah share the secrets behind turning seasonal fruit and veg into beautiful jars of low‑sugar jams, compotes and chutneys that actually taste of the fruit, not just the sugar!

In this episode, discover:

• How Pam moved from a tiny jam business in a converted pig unit to writing modern classics on preserves
• Why traditional jam recipes were so heavy on sugar, and how to safely make lower‑sugar, soft‑set jams today
• Practical, step‑by‑step tips for tricky fruits like strawberries and raspberries – including staging your jam, managing foam, and avoiding overcooked, rock‑hard results
• Simple ways to make more than just jam from your harvest, from apricot compotes and bottled cherries to clever uses for rhubarb, courgettes and runner beans
• How to choose and use basic preserving kit so you can confidently turn garden gluts into jars on your shelf

Order ‘Pam the Jam: The Book of Preserves’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pam-Jam-Book-Preserves-Corbin/dp/1408884496

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

There are few flowers more quintessential than the rose, and it’s safe to say that there’s a perfect rose for everyone’s tastes. 

This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ delves into the world of roses, with someone whose love for a great rose knows no bounds: Josie Lewis.

Whether you’re looking for a rose with a particular colour to combine with the beauty of your existing garden, or you’re more pressed by scent and structure, we hear which are the absolute best roses to grow, and how best to tend to them for healthy, reliable growth.

In this episode, discover:

• Which varieties of Roses are the standout performers for each colour group
• The best ramblers, bloomers and climbers, from the huge, creamy white Wedding Day to the beautiful copper-brown Hot Chocolate
• How to make your roses last in water for maximum vase life

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

This Christmas might feel a while away, but if there’s one way to prepare right now for a more stunning and sustainable tree, it’s with alliums.

Sarah’s love of alliums is well-documented on the podcast, but this week she’s recalling some of the most show-stopping varieties with which to decorate this Christmas, and the joys that they’ll bring as ‘colour baton-carriers’ in spring.

In this episode, discover:

• Which alliums are perfect for bridging the gap between tulips going over and sweet peas emerging
• Some extravagant, statement-making varieties like the remarkably tall ‘Summer Drummer’ or sculptural shapes of ‘Magic’
• Tips for preparing your alliums to sustainably decorate your tree this Christmas

Products mentioned:

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation

Allium cristophii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii

Allium nigrum

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-nigrum

Allium stipitatum 'Summer Drummer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-stipitatum-summer-drummer

Allium schubertii 'Magic'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magic

Allium jesdianum 'Purple Rain'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rain

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Biennials – plants which flower in their second year – may often be overlooked by us gardeners, but between their value for money, wonderful scent, and versatility they’re among the best plants to sow and grow in any garden.

Sarah makes the case for brilliant biennials in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, exploring how she came to appreciate their beauty, and which varieties are best for all aspects of your space.

In this episode, discover:

• How the right mix of biennials can fill the awkward May gap with prolific blooms, all for the price of a seed packet
• The best early-flowering biennials, from fragrant wallflowers to the scented sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalis
• Moth-pollinated varieties with rich fragrance and velvety textures to create a pollinator paradise

Products mentioned:

Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot

Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-alba

Malope trifida 'Vulcan'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/malope-trifida-vulcan

Lunaria annua

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua

Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-nudicaule-champagne-bubbles-mix-f1

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Every garden space deserves a chance to be transformed into a beautiful space which breathes, rather than constricts, and Pollyanna Wilkinson is a master of such designs.

Polly joins Sarah this week to share her no‑nonsense methods for transforming everything from boxy new‑build plots to tired, inherited gardens into layered, soulful spaces. 

In this episode, discover:

• How to think like a garden designer, surveying, shaping and structuring spaces before you plant
• Practical ways to transform new‑build and small gardens, or refresh an existing garden
• Guidance on choosing materials and finishes that feel good underfoot, are easy to maintain, and will age beautifully over time.
• How to use colour and planting layers to create a soulful, wildlife‑friendly garden with interest through the seasons

Products mentioned:

Amelanchier lamarckii:

sarahraven.com/products/amelanchier-lamarckii

Lavender ‘Munstead’: 

sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munstead

Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat':

sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-kat

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Chelsea is upon us, and among the beauty of all the show gardens lies a very special offering from Arit Anderson and Parkinson’s UK.

She’s planting with purpose in a garden which promises to reflect every Parkinson’s journey in a beautifully poignant way, and on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, she walks us through the planting ethos and careful design behind one of Main Avenue’s great sights for 2026.

In this episode, discover:

• How Arit is reflecting her sister Julie’s Parkinson’s journey in a meaningful Chelsea Flower Show garden for Parkinson’s UK
• What Parkinson’s really is beyond the stereotypes, and why it’s so often misunderstood
• How thoughtful garden design can respond to real medical challenges
• Practical ideas for making any garden more accessible, sensory and restorative, whether or not you’re living with Parkinson’s
• The garden’s relocation to the John Radcliffe Hospital, and how it will serve the Parkinson’s community long after Chelsea

Products mentioned:

Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ (White Foxglove): sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-alba

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah Raven welcomes renowned garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith to uncover his visionary new garden for Tate Britain and how he’s reimagining it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. 

They explore his bold, foliage-rich planting, ingenious water features, and a remarkable new memorial garden at Badminton that promises to be one of the RHS’s most ambitious show gardens yet.

In this episode, discover:

• How Tom Stuart-Smith is transforming a neglected, concrete-dominated acre at Tate Britain into a biodiverse, exotic garden
• The creative and practical challenge of turning that large-scale design into a Chelsea Flower Show garden where every element is destined to be reused at Tate
• The bold, foliage-led planting palette Tom has chosen – from cycads and Persian lilac to euphorbias, aspidistras and shade-loving exotics
• How water, sculpture and planting come together, including a finely engineered water feature and a Barbara Hepworth sculpture from a national collection

Episode Cover Photo Credit: Eva Nemeth.

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Watch the full video episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/_T97COq6blM

Throughout Mary Berry's life, the garden has played a charming role, from her wartime childhood plot to a brand-new garden started in her 80s - it’s an essential ingredient in her life.

This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Mary kindly joins us to explore a lifetime of gardening, how it’s inspired her new book, and how gardening can bring joy, structure and wellbeing at every stage of life.

In this episode, discover:

• How Mary’s lifelong love of gardening began in her childhood and continues to shape her daily life
• Practical, gentle tips for spring gardening and successional planting
• How Mary approaches designing and maintaining a garden later in life, using evergreens, hedges and topiary for structure
• Everyday good habits in the garden, such as watering, deadheading, and keeping lawns neat

Order Mary’s Book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Gardening-Life-Mary-Berry/dp/0241726654

Products mentioned: 

Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-rijnvelds-early-sensation

Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-silver-chimes

Narcissus ‘February Gold’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-february-gold

Phlox drummondii ‘Blushing Bride’: sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-bride

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Sissinghurst is one of the country’s crowning gems of National Trust gardens, and a place in which Adam was brought up, around the beauty curated by his grandparents.

This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we’re delving into the centuries of legacy which led to a spot perfect for Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson to create the poetic space we know and adore today, and how their vision is being revived today for generations to come.

In this episode, discover:

• The remarkable story of how Vita Sackville-West turned a ruined Elizabethan courtyard house into one of the world’s most celebrated gardens
• How Sissinghurst evolved through centuries – from Renaissance palace to poetic family home and garden, and all in between
• The creative partnership between Vita and Harold Nicolson
• What makes the white garden so magical, from its glowing night-time palette to its scented, moth-pollinated plants
• How the newly reimagined Delos garden brings a Greek hillside to Kent, blending historical inspiration with modern design

Products mentioned:

Ammi majus: 

sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Ammi visnaga: 

sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga

Agrostemma githago 'Milas Snow Queen':

sarahraven.com/products/agrostemma-githago-milas-snow-queen

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The magic of growing your own food is hard to overstate, and while some lament the labour necessary, it takes far less time and space than many imagine.

This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ once again features the remarkable Huw Richards, fresh from the release of ‘How to Grow Food’ - his new book which dives into the detail of how anyone can grow a kitchen garden in real spaces, with a planting schedule that fits around busy lives.

In this episode, discover:

• How Huw plans and plants to grow enough veg for a family of four on a half allotment in just a few hours a week
• Simple permaculture-inspired tricks for better germination
• What causes common problems like courgette fruits rotting and dropping off, and how you can fix them
• How to choose between longer crops and cut-and-come-again with limited space
• Huw’s must-sow crops for April, including squash, runner beans, cucumbers, and courgettes

Episode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason Ingram

Products mentioned:

Runner Bean 'Black Knight'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-black-knight

Runner Bean 'White Lady'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-white-lady

Nasturtium 'Tip Top Mix' (Tropaeolum majus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-tip-top-mix

Nasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-rose

Borago officinalis (Borage)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/borago-officinalis

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The sunnier months in April present a fresh opportunity for gardeners to sow some of the fastest-germinating seedlings, bringing a productive garden closer than you might think.

We return to Josie Lewis this week for an episode all about what she’s sowing in mid-April, how to prick out and pot on seedlings, and the simple tricks they use to keep plants growing hard and healthy at this most promising time of year.

In this episode, discover:

• How to prick out seedlings confidently, and when to do it for promoting strong growth
• Practical ways to get more from your dahlias, such as turning pinched tips into new plants with simple cuttings
• Why mid‑April is the ideal time to sow cosmos and zinnias, and how to avoid the common mistake of starting them too early
• Step‑by‑step tips for taking cuttings of pelargoniums, salvias and other favourites
• Two slightly different but complementary approaches to hardening off plants, and how to choose a method that works for your own garden

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

There’s something uniquely calming about a garden washed in cool pastels – soft tones that feel like frosty mornings and freshly laundered linen. 

Moving us onto the 4th and final palette in Sarah’s colour system, we explore the washed palette in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’. She takes you through the colour combinations, productive plant families, and tips for crafting a soothing, contemplative feeling in your garden.

In this episode, discover:

• How to use Sarah’s washed colour palette of cool pastels to create a calm, clean and harmonious garden
• Which plant families and specific varieties reliably deliver this palette from late winter to autumn
• How to plan colour through the year in two‑month blocks, ensuring there’s always something in flower without breaking the palette
• Simple design techniques to avoid jarring colour clashes
• Why sticking to a coherent palette can make your garden feel both deeply restful and quietly bold

Products mentioned:

Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: 

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter

Narcissus ‘Avalanche’: 

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus ‘Thalia’: 

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-thalia

Narcissus ‘Actaea’: 

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Tulip ‘White Triumphator’: 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-triumphator

Tulip ‘Purissima’: 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purissima

Fritillaria acmopetala (likely "Green Eyes"): 

sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-acmopetala

Sweet Pea ‘Nimbus’: 

sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-nimbus

Nicotiana sylvestris: 

sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestris

Nicotiana alata ‘Grandiflora’: 

sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-alata-grandiflora

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

A comforting garden can feel as soft and familiar as your favourite cashmere jumper, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah shares a palette which achieves exactly this feeling.

In the latest of the Colour Guide Mini Series episodes, Sarah shares how to create a mood using the comforting palette, the key plant families and varieties, plus how to sequence them through the seasons, so your borders feel gentle and soothing from early spring to late autumn.

In this episode, discover:

• How to create a warm, comforting colour palette in your garden using soft pastels like café au lait, peach, putty pink and ivory
• Specific plant families and varieties that deliver these soothing tones
• A clear, season-by-season planting framework so your comforting palette runs from early spring right through to late autumn

Products mentioned:

Narcissus ‘Precocious’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-precocious

Antirrhinum ‘Appleblossom’: sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-appleblossom

Cosmos ‘Apricotta’: sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-apricotta

Calendula ‘Sunset Buff’: sarahraven.com/products/calendula-officinalis-sunset-buff

Phlox drummondii ‘Cherry Caramel’: sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-cherry-caramel

Zinnia ‘Queeny Lime Orange’: sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-elegans-queeny-lime-orange

Dahlia ‘Break Out’: sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-out

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

For many, the garden should be a peaceful place where its colours invite you in and envelop you in their earthy tones, and that’s the role of Sarah Raven’s velvet palette.

In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah moves us to her next, and perhaps favourite palette of the four. She talks through their calming colours, and the flower families that help keep that tranquility in your garden through a reliable planting succession.

In this episode, discover:

• How to create a velvet colour palette in your garden using deep crimsons, golds, bronzes and inky purples that feel cosy and enveloping
• Which reliable plant families and standout varieties deliver these rich, velvety tones
• How to plan succession planting so the velvet palette runs from late winter and early spring right through to autumn
• Practical ideas from Sarah’s own garden on combining colour and texture to create a sense of haven, enclosure and warmth outdoors

Products mentioned:

Tulip ‘Palmyra’: 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-palmyra

Tulip ‘Ridgedale’: 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ridgedale

Tulip ‘Hermitage’: 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-hermitage

Tulip ‘Cairo’ (Copex Cairo): 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairo

Tulip ‘Belleville’ (Bellville): 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-bellville

Tulip ‘Dom Pedro’: 

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro

Amaranthus ‘Coral Fountain’: sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-caudatus-coral-fountain

Dahlia ‘Verrone's Obsidian’ (Veronese Obsidian): sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidian

Dahlia ‘Rip City’: 

sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-rip-city

Dahlia ‘Sarah Raven’: 

sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-sarah-raven

Dahlia ‘Molly Raven’: 

sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-raven

Dahlia ‘Schipper's Bronze’: 

sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronze

Antirrhinum ‘Liberty Classic Crimson’: sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimson

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Seeds sown in March are the great givers of colour and fragrance in a cutting garden or container, from spring right through to autumn.

This week, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to walk through 12 of the most trusted plants to sow now, how to fill your beds, pots and vases, and feed the birds from a single month’s sowing.

In this episode, discover:

• Practical techniques for handling both big and dust-fine seeds, including when to sow in trays and when to direct sow
• Specific tips for making the most of tricky or easily-flopped favourites like cerinthe, amaranth and poppies, so they thrive both in the garden and in the vase
• How to get more from each plant – from cut-and-come-again grasses to edible flowers and home-made calendula remedies
• How to plan your March sowing so it supports wildlife, with seed heads that feed birds well into winter

Products mentioned:

Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue

Amaranthus ‘Hot Biscuits’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-hot-biscuits

Amaranthus ‘Coral Fountain’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-caudatus-coral-fountain

Moluccella / Bells of Ireland https://www.sarahraven.com/products/moluccella-laevis

Antirrhinum ‘Giant White’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-giant-white

Antirrhinum ‘Liberty Crimson’ (Liberty Classic Crimson F1) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimson

Antirrhinum ‘Apple Blossom’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-appleblossom

Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Burgundy' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-burgundy

Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Orange Scarlet' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-orange-scarlet

Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Carmine' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-carmine

Cobaea (Cup-and-saucer vine) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cobaea-scandens-purple

Poppy ‘Amazing Grey’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rhoeas-amazing-grey

Poppy ‘Mother of Pearl’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rhoeas-mother-of-pearl

Black Single Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-single

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The garden is a welcoming place for all, particularly for newcomers when guided by the gentle eye of Milli Proust, and under the instruction of her calming new book.

Milli joins us once again, this time to share the inspiring journey that’s led up to her most approachable book to date, and some of the easy-to-understand frameworks to create an effortlessly beautiful garden.

In this episode, discover:

• How Milli Proust found floristry, and began creating a deeply loved, biodiverse garden in West Sussex
• A gentle but practical way to think about why we garden focused around connection, memory, and belonging to nature
• Milli’s “plant pyramid” and other simple frameworks for beginner gardeners planning borders 
• Ideas for low-maintenance but beautiful gardens, including orchards underplanted with bulbs, and using local materials

Milli’s taster course at Perch Hill on Wednesday 6th May 2026:

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/milli-proust-taster-course-beginner-gardeners?srsltid=AfmBOopaQgpAKlaAx724RwtbLXGrmm_NkyOCTWu2N42YnAOUzRlu--wl

Order Milli’s Book, ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Does-Your-Garden-Grow/dp/1837832250

Products mentioned:

Aquilegia Vulgaris 'Hensol Harebell'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aquilegia-hensol-harebell

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/galanthus-nivalis

Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-marjoram

Syringa meyeri 'Flowerfesta Pink'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/syringa-meyeri-flowerfesta-pink

Viburnum tinus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viburnum-tinus

Daphne 'Perfume Princess'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/daphne-perfume-princess

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The luminous palette - a rich, stained glass collection of citrus, scarlet and pinky-purples - is the first of Sarah’s colour combinations that we’ll walk through in depth for this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series.

Sarah explains the six key colours, which ones to use together throughout the year, and the flower families which she considers the most prominent and productive as they pass the colour baton through the year.

In this episode, discover:

• How to use Sarah’s luminous palette without overwhelming your garden
• The key plant families and varieties that reliably deliver bold, stained‑glass colour
• Sarah’s favourite colour combinations and how to place ‘shouty’ colours so they look intentional
• A simple season‑by‑season planning method using two‑month blocks and the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gatecrasher’ idea to keep colour going from March to October

Products mentioned:

Euphorbia ceratocarpa

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-ceratocarpa

Tulip 'Ballerina'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ballerina

Tulip 'Black Parrot'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-black-parrot

Tulip 'Rococo'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-rococo

Tulip 'Go Go Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-go-go-red

Tulip 'Mariette'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-mariette

Tulip 'Purple Heart'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purple-heart

Lunaria annua

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua

Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/crocosmia-lucifer

Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradise

Dahlia 'Thomas A. Edison'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-thomas-a-edison

Sweet Pea 'Blue Velvet'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-blue-velvet

Sweet Pea 'King Edward VII'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-king-edward-vii

Sweet Pea 'Matucana'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucana

Salvia 'Jezebel'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebel

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Colour is best when it’s tangible, and if you’re planning a patch in your garden then this episode of the Mini Series is perfect to help you bring your plans to life.

In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah dives into the practical side of using colour as the backbone of your garden design - from using candles to visualise colour combinations, to the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher’ structure that’ll help guide you towards an ensemble that works in harmony.

In this episode, discover:

• How to choose a garden colour palette based on the feeling you want to create (washed, velvet, comforting or luminous)
• A simple “bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher” recipe for combining plants in harmonious yet lively colour schemes
• Practical ways to test and refine palettes using coloured candles, mood boards and real flowers in your hand or in a vase
• How to plan colour in succession by breaking the year into seasonal chunks and identifying plants that “carry the baton” across months
• Real planting examples and border ideas drawn from Sarah’s own garden, including her vase-to-border comforting palette scheme

Products mentioned:

Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-kat

Alchemilla mollis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollis

Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-viticella-etoile-violette

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Sonata Carmine'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-sonata-carmine

Salvia viridis 'Blue Monday'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue

Dahlia 'Peaches'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-peaches

Campsis x tagliabuana 'Indian Summer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/campsis-x-tagliabuana-indian-summer

Phlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-bride

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Stipa gigantea

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Each colour palette in the garden creates a unique atmosphere, and you don’t need intricate knowledge of the colour wheel to combine them cohesively in the garden.

In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah talks us through why her colour palette system works to create stunning arrangements which work with each other, rather than against each other, and how to transition between palettes within neighbouring spaces.

In this episode, discover:

• How Sarah’s four core colour palettes each create a distinct mood in the garden
• Where each palette works best at Perch Hill, and where they might be most suited in your own space
• How to avoid a cluttered, chaotic feeling by thinking of colour palettes in ‘visual fields’
• How to use bridge plants and universal colours to link different palettes seamlessly
• Ways to work with trickier colours so that they enhance your space, rather than overwhelm it

Products mentioned:

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

Tulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawa

Tulip 'Apricot Foxx': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-apricot-foxx

Phlox paniculata 'David': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david

Erysimum 'Winter Orchid': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/erysimum-winter-orchid

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Cherry Caramel': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-cherry-caramel

Tulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Welcome to the first in a brand new miniseries of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, as Sarah delves into the world of colour, and how to use each colour palette to its absolute maximum potential in the garden.

In this week’s first episode, Sarah shares how the colour system used at Perch Hill came to be, the theories behind mixing certain palettes, and the difference between calm and chaos when combining colours.

In this episode, discover:

• How Sarah’s experiences as a florist, gardener and colour-obsessed child shaped her approach to garden colour
• How the colour palettes underpin every border at Perch Hill
• Why misuse of colour can make some gardens feel chaotic 
• The six key colours within each palette, from citrus brights and Venetian velvets to café-au-lait pastels and cool silvers
• Why no colour is truly “wrong” in a garden, and how the right combinations and contrasts can make even challenging shades sing

Products mentioned:

Tulip 'Mariette': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-mariette

Tulip 'Sarah Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-raven

Tulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawa

Tulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro

Tulip 'Copex Cairo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairo

Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-waltzing-mathilda

Dahlia 'Schipper’s Bronze’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronze

Dahlia 'Tom's Choice': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-toms-choice

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

Dahlia 'Perch Hill': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-perch-hill

Dahlia 'Lou Farman': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farman

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-rubenza

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzler

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-xanthos

Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

In this episode, Sarah is joined by YouTube phenomenon Huw Richards to talk about his journey from smallholding childhood to seven-acre experimental plot, and the ideas behind his hit book Veg in One Bed. 

They’ll also cover exactly what to sow in late winter, and what’ll perform best when sown later – from chillies and aubergines to peas, onions and tomatoes. 

In this episode, discover:

• How Huw Richards went from helping on his parents’ Welsh smallholding to building a seven-acre experimental food-growing site
• The story behind Huw’s first book, Veg in One Bed, and the sheer potential in a single 10x4ft bed
• How Huw blends creativity with just enough science to keep things productive
• Exactly what Huw is sowing in late winter, and why timing matters
• How Huw’s now using his land to grow for education, biodiversity and food

Episode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason Ingram

Products mentioned:

Pepper 'Padron'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pepper-padron

Courgette 'Black Beauty'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-black-beauty

Aubergine 'Slim Jim'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubergine-slim-jim

Spring Onion 'North Holland Blood Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spring-onion-north-holland-blood-red

Tomato 'Sungold'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungold

Tomato 'Tigerella'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-tigarella

Tomato 'Honeycomb' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-honeycomb-f1

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

From their resistance to deep snow and hard frosts, to long-flowering habits, hellebores are quietly spectacular plants that earn their keep in pots, borders and shady corners.

This week we’re diving into one of the true stars of the winter garden, focusing on the new varieties that bring a renewed perspective on one of the winter garden’s most generous providers, and how to keep them looking their best in the garden or in a vase.

In this episode, discover:

• How to choose hellebore varieties for pots, borders and different garden conditions, from shade to full sun with Corsican types
• The best new and classic hellebores for long winter colour, including Maestro, Merlin, Strawberry Moon, Bijou and the Pretty Ellen series
• How to cut, condition and arrange hellebores so they stand proud in a vase for two weeks
• Practical ways to prevent and deal with pests and diseases like aphids, mice damage, leaf miner and black spot
• Tips on soil, compost, potting and feeding so hellebores thrive as long-lived, reliable perennials

Products mentioned:

Helleborus niger

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-niger

Helleborus argutifolius

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifolius

Helleborus x ballardiae 'Merlin'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-ballardiae-merlin

Helleborus x 'Bijoux'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-bijoux

Helleborus x 'Guess'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-guess

Helleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-red

Helleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Spotted'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-orientalis-pretty-ellen-spotted

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

March 2026 marks the release of perhaps Sarah’s most personal book to date, drawing from childhood love, family influence, and the evolution of one’s own gardening tastes.

In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Milli Proust joins us to discuss Sarah's new book, ‘A Year of Cut Flowers’, blending the memoir and the method to trace her family’s historic love of flora, and how it drew Sarah into the world of cut flowers.

In this episode, discover:

• How childhood wildflower hunts with Sarah’s father and her life with Adam shaped her lifetime love of cut flowers
• How even a small, carefully planned patch of cut flowers can fill your home with abundant, seasonal blooms
• The surprisingly powerful impact of spacing and pinching on plant health, vase life and stem production
• Why gardening, and especially growing for the vase, can become such a life‑enhancing practice which evolves with you

Products mentioned:

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascens

Euphorbia oblongata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongata

Salvia viridis 'Blue Monday'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue

Helianthus annuus 'ProCut Plum' (Sunflower)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helianthus-annuus-procut-plum

Ammi majus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Phlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-bride

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The dream garden of low‑maintenance abundance is all about picking the plants that need hardly any input, just the lightest touch of editing, and they’ll give you months of shifting colour.

In the third episode in this theme with Arthur, we dive into the self-seeding annuals and biennials that bring abundant colour to the garden with very little effort. 

From forget-me-nots and violas to cerinthe, cosmos and quaking grasses, they share their favourite ‘volunteer’ plants, how to manage them, and simple ways to use them in borders and cut-flower arrangements for a truly low-maintenance, flower-filled garden.

In this episode, discover:

• How to use self-seeding annuals and biennials to create a low‑maintenance, flower‑filled garden that largely looks after itself
• Inspired plant recommendations, from forget‑me‑nots and violas, to grasses, nasturtiums and Californian poppies 
• Practical tips on managing self‑sowers - when to let them run, and when to thin them out
• Ways to weave self‑seeders into borders, pots and even cracks in paving for long‑season colour, movement and structure

Products mentioned:

Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue

Heart's Ease (Viola tricolor)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-heartsease

Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anthriscus-sylvestris-ravenswing

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzler

Ammi majus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Panicum miliaceum 'Violaceum'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/panicum-violaceum

Briza maxima (Greater Quaking Grass)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grass

Nicandra physalodes

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicandra-physalodes

Persicaria orientalis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/persicaria-orientalis

Nasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-rose

Nasturtium 'Bloody Mary' (Tropaeolum minus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-bloody-mary

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

For months of scent throughout the sunnier months, there are a whole host of nostalgic stalwarts and surprising new picks that are impossible to ignore.

Every garden deserves a perfume as captivating as the 12 plants at the top of Josie and Sarah’s list this week, as they laud the dozen best flowers to sow for unbeatable aroma from April through to October.

In this episode, discover:

• How to choose standout scented plants that really earn their place for perfume and looks alike
• Which specific varieties Sarah and Josie regularly rely on, and what makes each one special
• Practical when-and-how tips for sowing, planting, and positioning scented plants to get fragrance from spring right through to autumn
• Ways to use these plants as cut flowers, including vase-life tricks and how to make small bunches scent whole rooms
• How to layer scent through borders, climbers, containers, and shrubs so that every corner of the garden offers a different perfumed moment

Products mentioned:

Trachelospermum jasminoides

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/trachelospermum-jasminoides

Sweet Pea 'Matucana'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucana

Narcissus 'Actaea'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Matthiola incana 'Pillow Talk'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/matthiola-incana-pillow-talk

Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lonicera-periclymenum-graham-thomas

Acidanthera murielae (syn. Gladiolus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/acidanthera-murielae

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Every year, we venture out to the Netherlands in search of the most captivating dahlias, each worthy of a spot in your garden to liven up the late-summer months.

Tom Stimpson joins us again on the podcast to share their current ‘cream of the crop’, from reliable classics like ‘Molly Raven’ and ‘Adam’s Choice’, to gorgeous growers like ‘Strawberry Cream’ and ‘Princess Nadine’. 

Join us for an episode packed with garden inspiration for any colour palette, and a glimpse into how we choose our standout favourites from a field of hundreds and thousands.

In this episode, discover:

• How Sarah and Tom select stellar dahlias from Dutch trial fields, and the characteristics that make truly exceptional plants
• Varieties that are pollinator-friendly to bring a buzz of life into the garden
• How to condition your dahlias for mighty vase life

Products mentioned:

Dahlia 'Princess Nadine'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-princess-nadine

Dahlia 'Skyfall'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-skyfall

Dahlia 'Café au Lait'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-cafe-au-lait

Dahlia 'Adam's Choice'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-adams-choice

Dahlia 'Polka'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-polka

Dahlia 'Strawberry Cream'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-strawberry-cream

Dahlia 'Honka Pink'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-honka-pink

Dahlia 'Molly Raven'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-raven

Dahlia 'Labyrinth'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-labyrinth

Dahlia 'Lou Farman'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farman

Dahlia 'Break Out'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-out

Dahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidian

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Shane Connolly is a master of many arts, and one that he exhibits throughout the year is how to use sustainable floristry to create a sense of charm often reserved for the tiniest of tables.

That’s why he’s in such high demand - we talk through his exciting, varied year of arranging in this week’s podcast, with a look at the festive season, and a few tips to serve your own arranging in the festive season, taking inspiration from Shane’s wondrous wedding displays.

In this episode, discover:

• How Shane approaches weddings, intimate dinners, grand public events and royal occasions
• Why he favours seasonal, British-grown flowers and how he builds close relationships with growers and suppliers
• The behind-the-scenes logistics of big museum dinners and public events, from long tables to thousands of tiny vases and candles
• How Shane creates sustainable, glitter-free Christmas magic, including his Marie Antoinette-inspired V&A tree and reusable decorations

Products mentioned:

Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/convallaria-lily-of-the-valley

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Whether you're nurturing a bustling city plot or a country border, there’s a spot in everyone’s gardens, pots and borders for beautiful, productive perennials throughout the year.

Following on from last week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Arthur is with us again to focus this time on perennials that are light-touch and bountiful for those of us putting together a low-maintenance garden.

In this episode, discover:

• Perennials, shrubs, and self-seeding annuals that provide long-lasting beauty with minimal care
• Personal stories, hands-on tips, and garden-tested wisdom to help you with your plant selection and garden upkeep
• New and improved varieties bred for reduced invasiveness, greater disease resistance, and extended flowering seasons
• Plants that attract bees and other wildlife, showcasing how low-fuss gardens can support biodiversity too

Products mentioned:

Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aster-x-frikartii-monch

Salvia x jamensis 'Nachtvlinder'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-nachtvlinder

Phlox paniculata 'David'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david

Geranium 'Rozanne'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-rozanne

Geranium wallichianum 'Bloom Me Away'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-wallichianum-bloom-me-away

Pennisetum macrourum

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pennisetum-macrourum

Chasmanthium latifolium

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifolium

Stipa gigantea

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The ideal garden for our busy daily lives has a border bursting with colour, without the need for hours spent toiling to achieve it.

This week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is the perfect antidote to fussy flowers - Arthur Parkinson returns to laud the best self-seeding perennials for a low-maintenance garden brimming with lasting impact and scent.

You’ll hear inspiring ornamentals and edibles to sow, how best to maintain their beauty with minimal effort, and which varieties are most tolerant of tricky soil.

In this episode, discover:

• The beauty and resilience of self-seeding, low-maintenance perennials in creating effortless gardens
• How personal stories and childhood memories shape our gardening choices and appreciation for certain plants
• Practical tips for encouraging thriving gardens with minimal intervention, including soil, watering, and deadheading advice
• Enhancing gardens for wildlife by choosing plants that support pollinators through every stage of their life cycle

Order Arthur’s new book - Hen Party: 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459749/hen-party-by-parkinson-arthur/9780241674703

Products mentioned:

Alcea rosea 'Giant Single Mixed'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hollyhock-giant-single-mixed

Euphorbia oblongata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongata

Helleborus argutifolius

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifolius

Papaver rupifragum 'Orange Feathers'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rupifragum-orange-feathers

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/centranthus-ruber-coccinea

Alchemilla mollis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollis

Verbena bonariensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensis

Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-officinalis-var-grandiflora-bampton

Aubrieta deltoidea 'Cascade Mix'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubrieta-deltoidea-cascade-mix

Lychnis coronaria (Rose campion)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronaria

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Following on from last week’s wintry themed episode on containers, this week we’re setting our sights on the summer ahead, on what’ll bring colour to your pots at the season’s peak.

Josie’s absolute burning passion is containers, and this week she gives her plant picks for pots taking us through summer and autumn.

Join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as we delve into the ‘thriller, filler, pillar, spiller’ method for arranging containers, which combinations have stood out in their trials, and how to gently treat your flowers for maximum impact.

In this episode, discover:

• The “thriller, filler, pillar, spiller” secret to building showstopping containers that brim with colour and texture right through summer to autumn
• Sarah and Josie’s favourite plants that promise to lift your pots from simple to spectacular
• How to keep blooms coming with gentle, tried-and-true maintenance tips, from deadheading tricks to overwintering 
• Plant pairings and playful combinations, perfect for either grand displays or tiny terraces

Products mentioned:

Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-white

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Thunbergia alata 'African Sunset'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thunbergia-african-sunset

Ipomoea lobata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipomoea-lobata-mina-lobata

Salvia 'Peach Melba'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melba

Nemesia 'Lady Ruby'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nemesia-lady-ruby

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

The garden’s magic needn’t be seasonal - containers can be the heroes of hue in even the coldest months.

It’s time to assemble your winter containers ready to keep the scent and colour peaking, carrying us through till spring, with 12 inspiring varieties from Sarah and our Head Gardener, Josie Lewis.

Join them on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a plethora of plants perfect for containers of any size, and how to keep them all looking their very best.

In this episode, discover:

• Which container plants will keep your garden brimming with colour, texture, and even scent through the quiet months of winter and into spring
• How to outsmart common pests like vine weevil, and pick up clever, low-fuss tips for keeping containers healthy and happy
• Inspiration for staging and arranging winter pots, transforming even a small balcony or windowsill into a cheerful display

Products mentioned:

Helleborus x glandorfensis 'Ice N' Roses Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensis

Helleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-red

Viola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1

Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-white

Heuchera sanguinea 'Leuchtkafer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-sanguinea-leuchtkafer

Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarcococca-hookeriana-winter-gem

Narcissus 'Moonlight Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensation

Dutch Yard Narcissus Collection

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-yard-narcissus-collection

Wallflower 'Fire King'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-fire-king

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bay

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Whatever your garden’s size, picking plants with the right size and shape can be just as important for impact as their colour and scent.

Tom Stimpson returns to ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ this week as we uncover the plants that form the backbone of beauty, function and vibrance all year round.

You’ll hear hardy varieties, plants for both the garden and the kitchen, and inspiration as to where you should sow each flower for maximum impact.

In this episode, discover:

• How to choose and incorporate shrubs and trees that provide essential structure and year-round appeal to your garden
• Practical tips for caring for favorites like hydrangea, abelia, acer, olive, and more, even in small spaces and pots
• Inspiring stories and ideas to turn plant selection and garden challenges into creative opportunities
• How to tackle common issues like box blight, and expert alternatives to keep your garden thriving and beautiful

Products mentioned:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Fresco'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Cornus kousa 'Norman Hadden

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cornus-kousa-norman-hadden

Fig 'Little Miss Figgy' (Ficus carica)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-little-miss-figgy

Fig 'Brown Turkey' (Ficus carica)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-brown-turkey

Mahonia 'Volcano'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mahonia-volcano

Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Star'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pyracantha-coccinea-red-star

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

It’s the run-in to Christmas, so if you’re thin on decorations and want to think more sustainably about dazzling your guests this year, turn to the garden and start drying flowers now.

In the first of many ‘12 Best’ episodes over the coming months, Tom Stimpson joins us as he and Sarah talk through the best flowers for stunning dried arrangements, and top tips to maintain their unique texture and colour throughout the season.

In this episode, discover:

• Creative, sustainable ways to use dried flowers and foliage for beautiful homegrown Christmas decorations
• Tried-and-tested techniques for drying and preserving everything from hydrangeas and dahlias to autumn leaves and poppy seed heads
• Expert tips for maintaining colour, texture, and longevity in your dried arrangements
• Inspiring ideas for DIY festive crafts that bring your garden’s magic indoors

Products mentioned:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Fresco'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Lunaria annua

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation

Allium schubertii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii

Allium cristophii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii

Climbing French Bean 'Monte Gusto'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/french-bean-monte-gusto

Runner Bean 'Black Knight'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-black-knight

Fig 'Little Miss Figgy' (Ficus carica)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-little-miss-figgy

Chasmanthium latifolium

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifolium

Papaver somniferum 'Black Beauty'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-beauty

Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Pygmy Torch'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-hypochondriacus-pygmy-torch

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Violas and pansies are among the more overlooked flower families, an outlook that Brenna Estrada’s new book hopes to change for the better.

She’s embraced their beauty as cut flowers throughout her gardening journey with Three Brothers Blooms, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ she shares her tips for newcomers to bring their violas and pansies to life, whether in the garden or as part of stunning arrangements.

In this episode, discover:

• The enchanting world of pansies and violas, and how they can transform from humble bedding plants into show-stopping cut flowers 
• Brenna’s top tips for growing, harvesting, and pressing pansies, plus how to get the longest, most fragrant stems 
• Behind the scenes of Brenna’s one-of-a-kind flower book, sharing these overlooked floral treasures with the world

Order Brenna’s book - ‘Pansies’:

https://threebrothersblooms.com/pansies-book/

Products mentioned:

Viola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1

Black Beauty

Black Prince

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

As anyone in an area surrounded by larger animals might know, we’re entering a season where it’s harder to keep them at bay, and protect your handiwork from hungry mammals.

Sarah and Josie have been hard at work finding what’s most effective for keeping deer away, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, share their best advice on how you can fend off any unwanted visits from large mammals.

In this episode, discover:

• Creative and practical ways to deter deer from your garden
• Which plants deer love to munch on, and the ones they tend to leave alone
• How drought, changing seasons, and garden design can influence deer behaviour

Products mentioned:

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Creme Brulee'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-creme-brulee

Chard 'Bright Lights'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-bright-lights

Kale 'Redbor' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/kale-redbor-f1

Chicory 'Variegato di Castelfranco'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chicory-variegato-di-castelfranco

Verbena bonariensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensis

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

Sarah once overlooked the beauty of the brown tulip, but over time has only grown to love them more and more.

There’s a shade for every space, and so if you’re seeking inspiration on how to bring the beauty of Dom Pedro and La Belle Epoque into your garden, then brown tulips take centre stage on this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’.

In this episode, discover:

• The fascinating history and allure of rare brown tulip varieties
• How to “reflex” tulip petals for a show-stopping floral display
• Inspiring stories from Sarah’s own garden and travels, and why brown tulips are becoming the must-have blooms for modern gardeners

Products mentioned:

Tulip 'La Belle Epoque'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-la-belle-epoque

Tulip 'Apricot Copex'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-apricot

Tulip 'Copex Cairo'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairo

Tulip 'Dom Pedro'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro

Tulip 'Sarah Raven'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-raven

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

As the days grow shorter and the garden’s colours fade for winter, it’s easy to feel a little wistful for spring’s vibrant cheer, and it’s not always as far away as one might think…. 

In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah shares her favourite ways to bring a burst of early colour into your home and garden, from clever bulb planting, to creative and natural flower arranging. 

In this episode, discover:

• How to choose and plant the best bulbs for a burst of early spring colour in your garden
• Simple, creative ways to arrange delicate winter flowers using homemade grids and vintage bottles for beautiful indoor displays
• Tips for lifting, storing, and replanting bulbs so you can enjoy their blooms year after year
• Heartfelt inspiration to find joy and beauty in your garden, even during the greyest winter days

Products mentioned:

Iris 'Pauline' (Reticulata)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/iris-pauline

Iris 'Alida' (Reticulata)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/iris-alida

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/galanthus-nivalis

Aconitum napellus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aconitum-napellus

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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

One of the joys of year-round gardening is the succession that comes from a bulb lasagne, and for those with a greenhouse, the possibilities are stunning.

This episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is full of inspiration for early narcissi, late tulips, and dahlias fit for each layer of a bulb lasagne, with a quick recap on how to layer them for maximum impact.

We’ll also hear Sarah’s homemade remedy for mildew, a pesky problem that greenhouse gardeners will need to watch out for as they grow their delightful arrangements.

In this episode, discover:

• How to master the art of the ‘bulb lasagne’ for layers of beautiful blooms from winter right through to late spring
• The best bulb varieties and combinations to guarantee a continuous parade of colour, scent, and picking opportunities all year round
• Simple, effective ways to use your greenhouse for early flowers and delicious winter edibles
• Tips for keeping your plants healthy and thriving, with a homemade solution for mildew

Products mentioned:

Narcissus 'Avalanche'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus 'Erlicheer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-erlicheer

Narcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcing

Iris x hollandica 'Red Ember'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-iris-red-ember

Allium jesdianum 'Purple Rain'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rain

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation

Allium cristophii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii

Dahlia 'Strawberry Cream'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-strawberry-cream

Tulip 'White Valley' syn 'Exotic Emperor'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-valley

Anemone coronaria 'Mistral Bordeaux'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-coronaria-mistral-bordeaux

Ranunculus Butterfly 'Ariadne'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ranunculus-butterfly-ariadne

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

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 us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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

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