Talking Heads - a Gardening Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Autumn is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.

Wow - who on earth would have thought that from that first episode six years ago we'd now be celebrating our 500,000th download - but here we are! An almighty "thank you!" from Saul and Lucy - we are blown away and have an extra spring in our gardening steps this week. We celebrate in the only way we know how - by talking in depth about leaf mould, of course! Lignin, cellulose, fungi and the passage of time all get placed under the TH spotlight. And are you pruning your clematis earlier and earlier? Lucy and Saul have both observed this phenomenon - a sign of the shifting times.

LinkedIn link:
Saul Walker

Instagram link:
Lucy lucychamberlaingardens

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Support the show

Autumn is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.

The Autumn peak has been and gone, and leaves are dominating the ground especially with the squally winds and rain - it's still quite mild though! The big news in the industry at the moment though is the RHS State of Gardening Report, a deep dive into everything gardening especially what our indistry contributes to the economy, health, the environment and to society in general, an interesting and often eye opening look at why Horticulture is great! Also launched recently is the RHS Horticultural Hub, for those gardeners who know their onions and want to get into a more in depth look of their favourite hobby or job.

Instagram link:
Lucy lucychamberlaingardens

LinkedIn link:
Saul Walker

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Support the show

Summer in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.

How has the years warm and dry weather effected the productivity of our plots - well Lucy went to find out when she visited the Fothergills Trial Ground open day where they grow 1500 varieties of flowers, veg and fruit to show case their seed varieties. The picture is obviously mixed with some crops enjoying the temperatures while others struggling to get going, a similar picture back home at our gardens. We also look into some more 'Horticultural News' both sad and positive - including the new Adam Greathead Award for aspiring gardeners to gain valuable experience at John Massey Gardens, Ashwood Nursery and Great Dixter.

Instagram link:
Lucy lucychamberlaingardens

LinkedIn link:
Saul Walker

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Support the show

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Gardening is a wonderful occupation and hobby (sometimes both) for the mind, soul and body. Saul and Lucy discuss their representative loves through a Summer where the weather has proved to be anything but loved. But the gardens don't care, in fact they are revelling in it! So the head Gardening pair compare tomatoes, talk gingers, discuss whether stress good for flowering and how a little time away from there garden makes all the difference. 

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

Support the show

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Cats and Dogs - and the whole farm yard too - its pretty wet out there even in the deserts of Essex. Though a complete opposite to last years dry weather, the rain has meant lush gardens, an explosion of weeds, but also soggy gardeners! However, Lucy has had more on her mind (and body) than the constant precipitation, as her shoulder pain continues to prevent her doing what she loves most in the garden, so the Head Gardening pair take a look at how to manage your body during this most physical of jobs and why its important to think about your health as an important factor for a long and fruitful career.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

Support the show

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Ommmpphhh. Lucy and Saul are showing the wear and tear for the garden season, it is important to look after your body to keep you gardening all year long, so sometimes taking it a little easier is a good thing. But do plants have that luxury or is it GO GO GO during their brief season to get the maximum out of their gardening time. Feeding is an important part of keeping your precious plants healthy and hearty but do we really know what were doing when we 'slosh' on our chosen food, and is feeding really needed at all, or is it all about looking after that precious topsoil!

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

Support the show

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Is your grass looking lush compared to this time last year, are the weeds growing at a rate of knots, is your cordyline looking like "A hedgehog after drinking three cans of Red Bull", do you fancy getting your nose into a good horticultural text book?  You can rely on Lucy and Saul to answer all these questions and more, in this week's Talking Heads podcast episode. And while Lucy may feel somber that the Hall's kitchen garden is taking a year out, she's by no means resting on her laurels when it comes to growing her own food. 

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

Support the show

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #19 we are joined by Horticultural Polymath David Hurrion - a very familiar figure in the Horticulture press, at Flower Shows and those who are lucky enough to join him on his adventures across the world of gardening and plants. David has 50 years experience in gardening from his start as Head Gardener of his home plot at the tender age of 8 years old, through training at Writtle College, through Garden Journalism, Teaching,  Nursery Work and regularly hosting stage's at some of the countries biggest flower shows.

Website:
www.davidhurrion.com

YouTube:
David Hurrion

Twitter links:
David @DavidHurrion
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Instagram links:
David davidhurrion
Lucy headgardenerlc

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Support the show

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

We've all been there with are gardens - not enough time in the day to do all those tasks you want to, not enough resources to get the garden looking 100% and not enough space for all those idealist plans. Well gardening, especially professionally in very large spaces, is as much about compromise as it is about getting everything looking perfect. Saul and Lucy chat about how they 'cut their coats to their clothe' and make sure they are working as smart as they can to achieve as much as possible in their gardens.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

Support the show

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

It's go, go, go! The Head Gardening duo are holding on tight as their weeks have brought them new potatoes, basil, garlic, raspberries, strawberries - and a whole lot more! Saul mops his brow after a busy but thoroughly enjoyable stint of NGS tours, while Lucy has been busy transporting, potting up and preening the show garden plants for Audley End's September fair. But, of course, we also ensure we take time to enjoy the garden! Observations on weather (it's a given), roses and apples also get air time, and we thank our wonderful Buymeacoffee supporters - you are all marvellous folk!

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

Support the show