grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends – Details, episodes & analysis

Andy Monaghan’s background as a dancer alongside his gorgeous work with flowers gives him such a unique, inspiring outlook on crafting a horticultural style.

Andy joins Arthur Parkinson this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as he shares the combined influence of the two creative careers, how they guide his gardening on his beautiful land in Hampshire, and the joys of bringing homegrown bouquets to the Royal Opera House.

In this episode, discover:

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

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

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Autumn is an exciting moment where your bulb planting now starts the colourful symphony that emerges the following spring, so it’s a perfect time to start getting creative.

Head Gardener Josie Lewis joins Sarah on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share her top list of bulbs to plant this autumn, how many bulbs fill out your space, and we run through the art of the bulb lasagne.

In this episode, discover:

• The irresistibly scented tulips like ‘Orca’ and ‘Hermitage’ which bring with them a splash of colour
• Josie’s favourite narcissi, including a brand new variety which is as reliable as anything else in the garden
• A recap on how to structure a bulb lasagne for a beautifully structured pot
• How many bulbs are ideal for filling out any size of borders or pots

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The UK’s bird population are dearly beloved for their song, as much as their service in keeping slugs and snails at bay, so how can we best provide safe havens for them in our gardens?

Adam Nicolson’s next book, Bird School, sees him immersed in what’s best for birds and their important role in our gardens, so joins us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share in his knowledge and journey so far.

In this episode, discover:

• How to cater to different bird species’ needs by picking the right range of food for them
• Absolute cardinal sins for helping birds, from unhygienic feeders to unprotected bird baths

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Arit Anderson is an award winning garden designer, TV presenter, and an unrelenting wave of joy who shares Sarah Raven’s love of Chelsea Flower Show.

With the show next week, who better to join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a Chelsea special than a woman whose history of design in fashion and gardening has drawn from the gorgeous annual displays of chromatic wonder.

In this episode, discover:

• Arit’s illustrious history in flowers, fashion, events management, and how they led into the gardening world
• Growing into television and garden design through Gardeners World and other wonderful media appearances
• The charming collaborative nature of Chelsea Flower Show and all who share their talents at the event
• Chelsea’s cultural impact on horticulture and world-leading sustainability initiatives

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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

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

In this episode, discover:

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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

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

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

In this episode, discover:

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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

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

In this episode, discover:

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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

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

In this episode, discover:

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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

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

In this episode, discover:

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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

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

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

In this episode, discover:

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

Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest