Talking Dirty

This week on Talking Dirty Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis delve back into the world of Exotic plants with Conrad McCormick AKA That Botanic Guy. But if you think big-leaved, tropical-looking plants are for big, expansive spaces then think again, because Conrad manages to fit all his large-leaved loves into his small garden in Northern Ireland.

From fantastic foliage to love-at-first-sight Lilies, we've got an array of plants you're going to want to add to your garden! I mean, check out that plant list...

PLANT LIST

Schefflera taiwaniana

Schefflera rhododendrifolia

Trachycarpus fortunei

Strobilanthes dyerianus

Neopanax laetus

Pseudopanax 'Chainsaw'

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Pseudopanax 'Chainsaw'

Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'

Crocosmia 'Hellfire'

Crocosmia 'Firebird'

Crocosmia paniculata 'Cally Sword'

Hedychium yunnanense

Hedychium densiflorum 'Stephen'

Hedychium 'Tara'

Hedychium spicatum P. Bon 57188

Hedychium 'Devon Cream'

Beschorneria yuccoides

Beschorneria yuccoides 'Flamingo Glow'

Beschorneria septentrionalis 'Bob Brown'

Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano'

Lilium 'Robina'

Lilium 'Terrasol'

Lilium 'Mister Pistache'

Lilium 'Easter Morn'

Lilium 'Yin'

Lilium 'Kushi Maya'

Lilium 'Pink Giant'

Lilium auratum

Schefflera macrophylla

Canna liliiflora

Manihot grahamii

Bupleurum fruticosum

If you think Floral Design is all about extravagance and cutting garden favourites, then allow Brigitte Girling - the genius behind Moss & Stone Floral Design - to show you her wilder way of arranging. Using the wildflowers from her garden and some she's grown from seed, she brings a celebration of nature to her designs which is in keeping with her love of the wildlife in her plot.

As Brigitte, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis explore her favourite plants of the moment to add informal magic to designs, we also contemplate how formal lines in a garden can be softed by the planting around them.

PLANT LIST

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Double Click Bicolor Rose'

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Cupcakes'

Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Beaujolais Bonnets'

Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Orange'

Tithonia rotundifolia

Lysimachia Nummularia

Salvia 'Royal Bumble'

Smyrnium perfoliatum

Impatiens balfourii

Tropaeolum smithii

Tropaeolum speciosum

Echium pininana

Eupatorium maculatum

Melilotus altissimus

Knautia arvensis

Viola tricolor

Viola hederacea

Cichorium intybus

Clematis 'Princess Diana'

Echinacea pallida

Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty'

Hedera helix 'Erecta'

Hedera helix 'Buttercup'

Hedera helix 'Pink 'n' Curly'

Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo'

Val Bourne returns to The Talking Dirty Podcast to share some of her top plants of the moment with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis , plus bumper Butterfly chat and cracking Crocosmia care tips!

PLANT LIST

Origanum vulgare

Clematis 'Elsa Späth'

Buddleja x weyeriana 'Pink Pagoda'

Bupleurum fruticosum

Daucus carota 'Dara'

Clematis tibetana subsp. vernayi 'Glasnevin Dusk'

Clematis 'Little Bas' Crocosmia 'Hellfire'

Crocosmia 'Paul's Best Yellow'

Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

Crocosmia 'Scorchio' (Firestars Series)

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'George Davison'

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Columbus'

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Norwich Canary'

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Star of the East'

Crocosmia 'Walberton's® Bright Eyes'

Agapanthus 'Northern Star'

Agapanthus 'Alan Street'

Agapanthus 'Poppin' Purple'

Tulbaghia 'John May's Special'

Gladiolus cardinalis

Gladiolus dalenii

Gladiolus 'Ruby' (papilio hybrid)

Gladiolus 'Evergreen'

Gladiolus 'Green Star'

Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer'

Alstroemeria psittacina

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Summer Nights'

Kniphofia thomsonii 'Kichocheo'

Kniphofia rooperi 

Kniphofia 'Prince Igor'

Kniphofia 'Little Maid' 

Kniphofia 'Penny Rockets'

Kniphofia 'Percy's Pride'

Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum' 

Geranium (Cinereum Group) 'Laurence Flatman' 

Dianthus carthusianorum

Dianthus cruentus

Cephalaria gigantea

Cephalaria tatarica

This week Joe Whitehead takes a break from Burghley's exciting walled garden project to join Alan Gray (East Ruston Old VIcarage) and Thordis Fridriksson on this week's Talking Dirty podcast. Their conversation weaves from planting up Summer containers, to why 'common' plants deserve a place in your garden, and how water conservation and planting for the future are at the heart of Joe's plans for Burghley's Walled Garden.

PLANT LIST

Nicotiana sylvestris

Streptocarpus saxorum

Oxalis spiralis subsp. vulcanicola 'Sunset Velvet'

Albizia julibrissin f. rosea

Erigeron karvinskianus 'Lavender Lady'

Ipomoea lobata/Mina lobata

Ipomoea indicaBomarea caldesii

Ceanothus × pallidus 'Marie Simon'

Francoa sonchifolia

Sedum aizoon 'Euphorbioides'

Rosa 'Polar Star'

Erigeron annuus

Pleione formosana

Lathyrus odoratus Grandiflora 'Henry Eckford'

Crepis rubra

Taraxacum pseudoroseum

Baptisia australis

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

Baptisia 'Solar Flare'

Baptisia 'Cherries Jubilee'

Sonchus fruticosus

Dierama pulcherrimum 'Blackbird'

Geum 'Prinses Juliana'

Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

He's back and he's brought ALL the plants to talk about! Ian Roofe - one of our original Get Gardening team - returns to regale us with his favourite plants of the moment, which leads into an exciting conversation about planting in the Exotic Garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage and some climber inspiration from Ian's own garden.

With thanks, as ever, to the brilliant online plant community who've supplied copious pictures to help illustrate the plants. From the Frustrated Gardener to Cotswold Garden Plants to Wanderlust Plants in Seattle (https://www.wanderlustnursery.com).

PLANT LIST

Meconopsis betonicifolia

Althaea cannabina

Nicotiana alata 'Tinkerbell'

Nicotiana langsdorffii

Dahlia excelsa

Dahlia imperialis

Dahlia campanulata

Sorbaria kirilowii var. arborea

Cotinus coggygria

Catalpa bignonioides

Ailanthus altissima

Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'

Magnolia delavayi

Ailanthus altissima

Decaisnea fargesii

Hosta 'Empress Wu'

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen'

Paulownia tomentosa

Primula 'Francisca'

Tanacetum parthenium

Erigeron annuus

Salvia 'Penny's Smile'

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xsenia'

Catalpa x erubescens 'Purpurea'

Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana'

Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'

Acer platanoides 'Drummondii'

Acer negundo 'Aureovariegatum'

Acer negundo 'Flamingo'

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel'

Salvia bullulata

Helichrysum italicum

Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton'

Diascia personata 'Coral Spires'

Sphaeralcea 'Childerley'

Sphaeralcea ‘Newleaze Coral’

Clematis x durandii

Cionura oreophila

Clematis urophylla

Stachyurus praecox

Abeliophyllum distichum

Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Golden Memories'

Hardenbergia violacea

Geranium maderense

Geranium pratense 'Summer Skies'

Geranium 'Blue Cloud'

Ballota pseudodictamnus

Stipa/Nassella tenuissima

Sternbergia lutea

Philadelphus 'Belle Étoile'

Philadelphus 'Starbright'

Ligustrum quihoui

Elaeagnus angustifolia 'Quicksilver'

Toona sinensis 'Flamingo'

Lonicera hildebrandiana

Lonicera etrusca 'Superba'

Aeonium 'Mardi Gras'

What better way to celebrate both our first Birthday and our 50th episode than with a podcast devoted to a beloved plant, the Rose. Most of us have at least one in our garden, they feature in bouquets, in perfume...but how do you possibly choose which one to grow? And what are the tricks to getting the best out of them?

This week Alan Gray and Thordis are joined by someone who knows his Roses inside out - Rosarian Michael Marriott. From his favourite varieties for fragrance, form and flower to tips for avoiding Blackspot and life-changing pruning advice, we've got as many bases covered as we could fit into the hour (and you'll notice we went over a little!) If you're looking to add Roses to your garden, you need look no further than this podcast and its plant list...

PLANT LIST

Rosa rugosa

Rosa 'Kew Gardens'

Rosa 'Mortimer Sackler'

Rosa 'Graham Thomas'

Rosa 'Rambling Rector'

Rosa 'The Lady of the Lake'

Rosa 'The Albrighton Rambler'

Rosa 'Open Arms'

Rosa 'Warm Welcome'

Rosa 'Francis E. Lester'

Rosa 'Wickwar'

Rosa 'Vanessa Bell'

Rosa 'Desdemona'

Rosa 'Lady of Shalott'

Aster x frikartii 'Mönch'

Rosa 'Buttercup'

'Aspirin® Rose'

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' 

Dracunculus vulgaris

Rosa 'Adélaïde d'Orléans'

Rosa 'The Generous Gardener'

Rosa 'Eustacia Vye'

Rosa 'The Shepherdess'

Rosa 'Phyllis Bide'

Rosa 'Maigold'

Rosa 'Koko Loco'

Rosa 'Munstead Wood'

Rosa 'Florence Mary Morse'

Rosa 'Climbing Pompon de Paris'

Rosa 'Gloire de Dijon'

If you've got a small garden and worry that it can't have the same impact has a bigger plot, then listen up for some great planting ideas! In this edition of Talking Dirty, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis catch up with fellow podcasters Michael Perry (Mr Plant Geek) and Ellen Mary of @ThePlantBasedPodcast and three of the four have small gardens at home.

Alongside chatting about the trials, tribulations and triumphs of gardening in a small space, the quartet also cover allotment life, some zany planting combos and living a plant-based lifestyle.

PLANT LIST

Thunbergia alata 'Arizona Brownie'

Thunbergia alata 'African Sunset'

Echium pininana

Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream'

Vaccinium corymbosum

Vaccinium 'Pink Lemonade'

Acanthus mollis

Lapageria rosea

Camellia rosthorniana 'Cupido'

Puya berteroniana

Puya coerulea

Radish, 'Watermelon'

Kalanchoe 'Dolly'

Calibrachoa

Petchoa 'Beautical'

Begonia 'Glowing Embers'

Oxalis vulcanicola 'Molten Lava'

Some places are synonymous with certain flowers, and at Easton Walled Gardens that flower is the Sweet Pea. For years they've tried different varieties and ways of growing them and shared their discoveries with their garden visitors.

As this year's Sweet Pea Season begins, Lady Ursula Cholmeley joins Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis to talk through the history of both the gardens and their association with Sweet Peas. Plus plenty of tips and tricks and top varieties.

And, as if all the Sweet Pea Show and Tell wasn't enough, there are also some lime-tolerant lovelies, which Ursula has been trying in their delightfully named 'Pickery' (or cutting garden!).

If you're not already swooning of Sweet Peas, get ready for some serious FLOMO (Floral FOMO) in this episode.

PLANT LIST

Iris sibirica

Geranium x oxonianum

Campanula medium

Campanula pyramidalis

Lathyrus odoratus 'Henry Eckford'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Painted Lady'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Erewhon'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Almost Black'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Route 66'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Watermelon'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Kingfisher'

Lathyrus odoratus 'America' 

Lathyrus odoratus 'Cathy'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Border Beauty'

Lathyrus odoratus 'Toffee Apple'

Rosa 'Columbia'

Gilia tricolor  

Omphalodes linifolia  

Omphalodes cappadocica 'Cherry Ingram'

Gypsophila elegans 'Covent Garden'

Linaria Rhythm & Blues 

Nectaroscordum siculum

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'

Kolkwitzia amabilis

Jasminum polyanthum

Diascia personata

Diascia personata 'Coral Spires'

Mathiasella bupleuroides 'Green Dream'  

Buddleja alternifolia

Once you fall in love with plants, you generally find you want to make more from what you've got. Propagation is addictive and magical, but how do you master it? And exactly how far can you take a method when you figure one out? In this episode of The Talking Dirty Podcast, plantsman Joe Sharman shares some of the secrets he's learned from a lifetime loving plants. Plus he, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old VIcarage) and Thordis discuss how we trigger a horticultural spark in others and share some unusual plants, sure to get you reaching for your pen to add them to your ever-growing wishlist! Talking of which, there's some great FLOMO as well - Fear Of Missing Out on a fabulous plant. And insights into where a love of gardening started for this trio of plantaholics.

PLANT LIST

Fuchsia 'Lena'

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'

Geranium psilostemon

Primula denticulata 'Karryann'

Verbascum creticum

Rhodiola fastigiata 

Phacelia tanacetifolia

Phacelia bolanderi

Kniphofia 'Atlanta' 

Kniphofia caulescens

Linum narbonense 'Heavenly Blue'

Allium schubertii 

Hibiscus sino-syriacus

Ornithogalum magnum

Dianthus 'Enid Burgoyne' 

Dianthus 'Chomley Farran'

Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff'

Verbascum 'Blue Lagoon'

Pelargonium 'Paul Crampel'

Pelargonium 'Mr Wren'

Pelargonium 'Frank Headley'

Hymenocallis 'Sulphur Queen'

They say the best things come in small packages...well that couldn't be more true of Alpines. And this week - if you needed convincing - Luke Whiting of Alpine Specialists D'Arcy & Everest is along to prove how wonderful they are. From their hardiness, to the range of situations you can grow them in, and of course their stunning flowers and foliage, Luke shares just a smidgen of the treasures they grow and sell. Plus how a Spiderweb came to his rescue on a mission to get Habranthus seed and why a Baked Bean Alpine is a winner!

Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are building up their wishlists. By the end of the episode, we're sure you'll have a few FLOMOs as well! Talking of which, check out that plant list...

PLANT LIST

Calceolaria fothergillii

Camassia quamash

Delosperma 'Beaufort West'  

Clematis 'Pixie'

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Foxtail'

Delosperma nubigenum

Habranthus tubispathus

Habranthus gracilifolius

Habranthus caeruleus

Rhodohypoxis 'Kiwi Joy'

Rhodohypoxis baurii 'Mars'

Rhodohypoxis 'E.A. Bowles'

Rhodohypoxis 'Jupiter'

Cephalaria gigantea

Allium insubricum

Lewisia tweedyi  

Calceolaria paralia 'Lemon Drops'

Calceolaria 'Sunset Orange'

Calceolaria arachnoidea 'Darcies Velvet'

Delphinium nudicaule 'Fox'

Delphinium 'Just Peachy'  

Delosperma 'Darcies Smile'

Verbascum 'Golden Wings'

Erigeron scopulinus  

Soldanella montana

Allium chrysanthum

Salvia candelabrum