Explore every episode of the podcast The Sentimental Gardener
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Fleur Flanery on what the landscape says about us, The Australian Landscape Conference and a million trees. | 03 Nov 2025 | 00:51:04 | |
Landscape architect, horticulturist, and Director of Outlandish Ventures, Fleur Flanery joins Cass Dowding on The Sentimental Gardener to explore how the landscapes we shape — from backyards to public parks — reflect what we value. From childhood gardens brought to life by the imagination to managing Canberra's urban forest and curating the Australian Landscape Conference, Fleur has spent a lifetime asking: What is this place saying? What could it become? In this episode, they talk about:
A reflective conversation about tending both land and life with purpose. — Learn more about Fleur's work, garden tours and The Australian Landscape Conference at Outlandish Ventures. Follow @outlandishventures on Instagram for updates.
Music by Hayden Schueler @vereyagardening | |||
| Attila The Horticulturist on a life of observation, his plant zoo and being a part of nature | 20 Oct 2025 | 01:23:05 | |
Canberra-based gardener, horitculturist, educator, and advocate for sustainable horticulture Attila Horgosi joins Cass Dowding on The Sentimental Gardener to explore what it means to live a life of observation — one that moves in rhythm with nature, not against it. From his home garden in Bywong, New South Wales — affectionately known as his plant zoo — Attila has spent nearly thirty years cultivating more than plants. He's cultivated a way of being. In this conversation, they talk about:
A grounded, reflective conversation about time, attention, and what can happen when we stop rushing for answers and start listening to the world around us. // Show notes //
Credits: See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| Hayden Schueler on being a "closeted gardener", Japanese topiary and caring for other people's gardens | 08 May 2025 | 00:42:26 | |
In this premiere episode, Cass Dowding speaks with Hayden Schueler, who went from studying music composition at the Victorian College of Arts to running Vereya Gardening in the Dandenong Ranges. His story comes full circle, now living just over the fence from his childhood home, on land where he once played as a boy collecting chestnuts and climbing trees. In this conversation, Cass and Hayden discuss:
If you've ever found meaning in a particular plant, felt connected to a childhood garden, or simply believe that gardens are more than just collections of plants, this conversation is a perfect place to start. Follow Hayden on Instagram @vereyagardening Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by clicking here or visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts Follow Cass on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads — @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener.Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| The Sentimental Gardener (Trailer) | 31 Mar 2025 | 00:03:13 | |
Join Cass Dowding, an enthusiastic everyday gardener, as she has conversations with fellow plant lovers about the gardens and plants that shape our stories and connect us to what matters most. The show launches end of April 2025. Click subscribe now so you never miss an episode! | |||
| Jane Edmanson on gardens as teachers of joy and scent as triggers of memories | 21 Sep 2025 | 01:00:43 | |
Gardening Australia presenter, horticulturist, author, and broadcaster Jane Edmanson OAM joins Cass Dowding on The Sentimental Gardener podcast to explore how joy, memory, and responsibility intertwine in our gardens. They talk about Jane's unexpected path from country school teacher to one of Australia's most loved gardening voices, her pioneering role as one of the original Gardening Australia presenters, and the moments of wonder that shaped her love of plants. Along the way, they reflect on the power of scent to unlock memory, why joy itself can be a form of quiet resistance, and how caring for nature doesn't have to feel overwhelming — it can begin with something as simple as crushing a mint leaf. An uplifting, thoughtful conversation with one of Australia's gardening icons, offering hope and inspiration for anyone who's ever found solace in a plant. // Show notes // Credits: See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| Chloe Foster on her book The Rookie Gardener, prickly grevilleas and growing gardeners | 31 Aug 2025 | 01:16:27 | |
Horticulturist and author Chloe Foster joins Cass Dowding on The Sentimental Gardener podcast to talk about what it really takes to become a gardener — and why starting without a clue might be the best way in. They chat about Chloe's new book The Rookie Gardener, her early days pulling carrots straight from the ground, and her love of Australian natives (even the prickly ones). Along the way, they explore why gardens have become intimidating, how failure is part of the joy, and why humans need to get their hands back in the dirt. A warm, funny, and quietly motivating conversation for anyone who's ever looked at a plant and thought: "I have no idea what I'm doing." // Show notes // Read more about Chloe's work on her website Credits: Music: Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening Audio Engineering: Tom Dowding Production and editing: Cass Dowding See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information.
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| Deb Collett on dahlias, the sport of flower competitions and designing a garden with memories | 15 Aug 2025 | 01:03:46 | |
Deb Collette is a dahlia grower, exhibitor, floral art judge, and dahlia show judge based in Victoria. She grew up in rural New Zealand, where she gained early experience in gardening and exhibiting flowers. An active member of the Dahlia Society of Victoria and regular contributor to its magazine, Deb focuses on breeding new dahlia varieties, maintaining heritage lines, and supporting competitive exhibiting. She has won multiple championships and mentors new growers.
Follow Deb on Instagram @debsdahlias Follow Cass on Instagram - @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener. Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts
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| Jocelyn Bennett on Australian native garden design, paying attention and dreaming of French gardens | 24 Jul 2025 | 00:51:21 | |
In this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with landscape designer Jocelyn Bennett from Earthcore Landscapes about designing award-winning Australian native gardens, why she lasted only six weeks in engineering, and how her "Re-Set" garden proved that texture-first design can make even Australian native plant sceptics fall in love. Though Jocelyn grew up collecting flower cuttings with her mum and playing the tulip tree spotting game with her arborist father, she never expected to become a landscape designer. Her winding path from horticulture diplomas to winning first place at Melbourne International Flower Show shows what happens when you trust what your body tells you it needs … even when that means needing green spaces to feel grounded. If you've ever felt called to follow an unconventional path, believe that Australian natives can be both beautiful and calming, or want to understand how childhood experiences shape the spaces we create, this conversation is for you. Follow Jocelyn Bennett and Earthcore Landscapes on Instagram @earthcorelandscapes Follow Cass on Instagram - @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener. Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening. Podcast produced and edited by Cass and Tom Dowding See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| Linda Pottage on making beautiful pictures, building a new 'old' house and intuitive design | 03 Jul 2025 | 00:36:08 | |
In this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with photographer and creator Linda Pottage about building an "old house" that looks like it's always been there, and creating gardens as extensions of interior design, inspired by a childhood of reading fairy and woodland tales. Though Linda grew up in 1950s suburban Bentley surrounded by neat rows of orange marigolds, her soul longed for something "more flowing and messy and organic." A pivotal trip to England at age 11 made her feel she'd found where she belonged, thinking, "this environment is right. This is where I belong." If you've ever felt called to create beautiful spaces, trusted your instincts over conventional wisdom, or believe that home is something you build rather than find, this conversation will inspire you. Follow Linda Pottage and find out more about hiring The Potterage on Instagram and Facebook Follow Cass on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads — @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener. Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by clicking here or visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening. Podcast produced and edited by Cass and Tom Dowding See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information.
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| Emma Cutting on street gardening, the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor and a bag of Maltesers | 23 Jun 2025 | 01:18:32 | |
In this inspiring episode of The Sentimental Gardener, host Cass Dowding speaks with Emma Cutting, founder and CEO of Heartscapes. This Melbourne organisation connects, strengthens, and deepens urban communities of humans, flora, fauna, and fungi through regeneration and conservation. Emma shares her story of overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome and developing Australia's (possibly the world's) first urban wildlife corridor, the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor. Cass and Emma discuss Emma's early memories of gardening on her family's farm, her journey through chronic fatigue syndrome, and how street gardening became a transformative force in her life. They also delve into the challenges and successes of managing public realm gardens, the importance of community involvement, and Emma's vision for connecting urban spaces through nature. This episode highlights the power of small acts of care, the resilience of both people and plants, and the potential for urban spaces to foster human and ecological connections. You can donate to Heartscapes at https://theheartgardeningproject.org.au/donate and follow them on Instagram @theheartgardeningproject. Follow Cass on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads — @the_sentimental_gardener. Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening Podcast produced and edited by Cass and Tom Dowding See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| Sandra Schwarz on the study of green spaces, her book titled Restore and silver birches | 13 Jun 2025 | 01:28:38 | |
In this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with landscape architect and author Sandra Schwarz about her journey from teaching teenagers to researching how green spaces heal us. Though Sandra grew up in German apartments with railway allotment gardens, her relationship with plants began quietly until a career-changing moment in her classroom. Watching her students' eyes light up when she suggested rooftop gardens, then hearing a designer talk about turning concrete channels back into rivers, Sandra knew she had to change careers. In this conversation, Cass and Sandra talk about:
If you've ever felt that shoulder-dropping moment in a green space, wondered why gardens make you feel better, or believe we need more nature in our concrete world, this comprehensive conversation will fascinate you. You can find Sandra's book Restore at humanaturescapes.net and follow her on Instagram @human_nature_scapes. Follow Cass on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads — @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener. Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by clicking here or visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| Rhiannon Dowding on her father the chemist, painting gum leaves and not being much of a gardener | 25 May 2025 | 00:33:29 | |
In this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with writer and artist Rhiannon Dowding (also her mother-in-law) about a lifetime of garden stories from Wales to Victoria. Though Rhiannon says she's "not much of a gardener," her life has been shaped by the plant lovers around her, from grandparents with berry patches to her chemistry professor father who filled their first Australian garden with native trees. In this conversation, Cass and Rhiannon talk about:
If you've ever been influenced by someone else's love of plants, felt moved by a particular smell, or believe that the most important gardens live in our memories, you'll love this conversation. Follow Cass on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads — @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener. Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by clicking here or visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information. | |||
| Rodger Elliot on cultivating Australian native plants, growing passionate plant people and the interconnectedness of everything | 23 Nov 2025 | 01:32:39 | |
Horticulturist, author, and advocate for Australian native plants, Roger Elliot AM joins Cass Dowding on The Sentimental Gardener to explore how a lifetime of noticing — from childhood bushland to decades of fieldwork — can shape the way we understand the natural world. From early days learning under mentors like Edna Walling, Jack McLeod, and Glen Wilson, to co-authoring alongside David Jones the landmark Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation, Roger has spent more than sixty years asking: How do plants, people, and place shape one another? And what grows when we care with curiosity? In this episode, they talk about:
A gentle, generous conversation about legacy, relationship, and the slow work of cultivating a life with meaning. — SHOW NOTES: See extensive show notes over at The Sentimental Gardner - Rodger Elliot Visit the Australian Garden at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Cranbourne to see one of the landscapes Roger helped shape. Music by Hayden Schueler @vereyagardening | |||
| Christmas Special with Annie Winter - on friendship, the first season and floppy Phlomis | 17 Dec 2025 | 01:41:48 | |
Annie Winter, gardener, and Cass share laughs, tangents, and heartfelt reflections in this Christmas Special recorded in The Winter Garden. Can they cover everything they want to talk about? Most likely not! But along the way, you'll hear:
Stay until the end for a hilarious outtake! About Annie's garden: Annie's garden opens in January 2026 for Global Gardens of Peace fundraising event. Read more in Garden's Illustrated, Galah magazine, The Design Files and Studio Home Unearthed. Follow The Sentimental Gardener on Instagram and Substack: @the_sentimental_gardener And go to the website www.thesentimentalgardener.com for show notes and other stories. The Sentimental Gardener is a gardening podcast (that's not really a gardening podcast) hosted by Cass Dowding. Produced, recorded and edited by Cass Dowding. Mixed by Tom Dowding Hosted on Libsyn Five. See https://libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy/ for more information. | |||
| Ralph Bristow on The Barwitian Garden, designing through listening and his love of Yuccas | 03 Dec 2025 | 01:04:49 | |
Ralph Bristow, expressionist painter and garden designer, joins Cass for a gentle, searching conversation about what happens when we design not from certainty, but from listening. They explore Ralph's experience of synaesthesia — hearing gardens as music — how embracing entropy and creative dissonance shapes living landscapes, and why beginning without a finished picture can lead to the most alive work of all. From colour inversion to jazz-fusion rhythms in planting, Ralph shares how his gardens emerge through risk, instinct, and deep attention to the land. Along the way, they reflect on the emotional safety beautiful spaces create — how gardens can help us feel open without feeling overwhelmed — and how his mother's words, "Do it while you can," became quiet permission to keep creating even when outcomes remain unknown. This is an invitation into uncertainty as a creative companion — into tending not just gardens, but our capacity to begin, listen, and feel fully alive. SHOW NOTESSee extensive show notes at The Sentimental Gardener — Ralph Bristow Buy tickets to visit The Barwitian Garden with Open Gardens Victoria — January 2026 Music: Hayden Schueler @vereyagardening Privacy policy: libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy | |||
| Cass Dowding on starting a podcast, the plants that held grief and what grew after | 25 Feb 2026 | 01:14:51 | |
The story of The Sentimental Gardener. Cass Dowding swaps roles and takes the guest seat as is asked all the questions she asks her guests. Guided by brilliant host Chloe Foster, author of The Rookie Gardener, host of 3CR Gardening Show and Horticulture educator, Cass opens up about starting a podcast, how gardens contained and plants helped her process her grief and what grew after.
00:00 Introduction 02:16 Childhood Garden Memories 08:29 Career Path: Ballet to Nursing 12:42 Covid, Motherhood and Change 18:44 Grief and Becoming a Sentimental Gardener 22:27 Cancer, Anxiety and the Garden 24:02 Writing and Discovering Garden Stories 27:39 How the Podcast Began 33:51 Finding Confidence and Voice 44:29 What Surprised Me About Gardeners 46:53 Three Sentimental Plants 55:37 What Gardens Teach Us About Life 1:00:29 Why Gardening Brings Belonging
Join other garden and plants lovers getting podcast updates in their inbox and Substack writing in regular newsletters - join here To become a financial supporter of the show and help us spread more stories of the joy of a life in gardens - join here Credits: Music: Hayden Schueler from Vereya Gardening See https://libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy/ for privacy information | |||
| A little update from The Sentimental Gardener | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:01:30 | |
Cass shares what's coming in Season 2 ... returning March 2026 | |||
| Fiona Crombie on designing gardens for Hamnet, paw paw and her love of roses | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:52:43 | |
Award-winning production designer Fiona Crombie joins Cass Dowding for a conversation about memory, storytelling and the gardens that stay with us. Best known for her work on films including The Favourite, The King, Cruella, Mickey 17 and Hamnet, Fiona reflects on the gardens of her childhood, from Sydney bushland to her grandmother's garden in Brisbane, and the plants that still carry a deep sense of home. Together, Cass and Fiona explore how gardens helped shape the emotional world of Hamnet — from wild, useful planting to hidden foraging spaces, orchards and one unforgettable tree. It's a gentle conversation about beauty, atmosphere, creativity and the way nature helps us tell stories. Fiona also shares her three sentimental plants: wattle, gardenia and pawpaw. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:55 Earliest Garden Memories 07:33 What a Production Designer Does 10:34 Discovering the Gardens of Hamnet 14:27 Designing Through Collaboration and Discovery 16:24 Finding the Tree 21:44 Creating the Gardens of Hamnet 28:51 Building the Henley Street Garden 30:57 The Knot Garden and the New House 35:03 The Hidden Foraging Garden 35:58 Designing the Globe to Feel Like the Inside of a Tree 40:10 What Stayed With Fiona After Hamnet 42:51 Three Sentimental Plants 45:52 Quick Fire Questions 49:39 Cass' Reflection 51:43 Credits and What's Next Join other garden and plant lovers getting podcast updates in their inbox and Substack writing in regular newsletters — join here To become a financial supporter of the show and help us spread more stories of the joy of a life in gardens — join here Credits: Music: Hayden Schueler from Vereya Gardening Audio support: Tom Dowding Produced and edited by Cass Dowding See https://libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy/ for privacy information | |||
| Tim Pilgrim on Wild by Design, learning through doing and daisies | 04 May 2026 | 01:26:17 | |
Tim Pilgrim, garden designer and author of Wild by Design, joins Cass Dowding for a conversation about naturalistic gardening, learning through doing, and what it means to work with a place rather than trying to control it. Based in Central Victoria, Tim shares how his approach to garden design has evolved over time — shaped by observation, trial and error, and a deep connection to landscape. From early memories of planting and time spent in significant Australian gardens, to designing spaces that feel full, layered, and alive, this is a conversation about letting gardens find their own rhythm. Together, Cass and Tim explore how naturalistic gardens respond to climate, seasonality, and change — and how shifting away from control can open up something more meaningful, both in gardens and beyond. Tim also shares his three sentimental plants: osteospermum (daisy), paper daisy, and Nepeta 'Walker's Low'. Join other garden and plant lovers getting podcast updates in their inbox — join here To support the podcast and access ad-free and subscriber-only episodes via Patreon — join here Credits: See https://libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy/ for privacy information | |||
| Hannah Moloney on her book 'Why We Garden', activism and a good life for everybody | 20 May 2026 | 01:03:27 | |
Hannah Moloney was born for this! 'This' is creating what she calls "a good life for everybody": people, animals, ecosystems and communities alike. From climate-justice cabaret to gardening, activism, writing and community projects, Hannah's work is all about connection, resilience and finding better ways to live together. She's also a presenter on ABC TV's Gardening Australia and the bestselling author of the newly released Why We Garden — Even When We Don't Have To. In this episode, Cass and Hannah talk about early memories, sentimental plant stories, permaculture, activism and what Hannah discovered after interviewing thousands of gardeners about why we still feel drawn to plonk things in the ground and help them grow. Host: Cass Dowding Episode show notes at The Sentimental Gardener Original Music: Hayden Schueler from Vereya Gardening | |||