Talking Dirty

After an impromptu lurgy-induced break, Talking Dirty returns to explore the wonders at East Ruston Old Vicarage this March. Alan Gray - owner of the 32-acre garden on the Norfolk coast - shares new purchases and old 'friends' which are heightening the joys of spring. Meanwhile Thordis has some very seasonal FLOMO*!

*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out

PLANT LIST

Abeliophyllum distichum Roseum Group

Hedera helix f. poetarum

Ilex 'East Ruston Gold'

Magnolia 'Caerhays Belle'

Pyrus communis 'Robin'

Cichorium intybus

Echium vulgare

Borago officinalis

Oak leaf Polyanthus

Erysimum 'Winter Passion'

Erysimum 'Winter Orchid'

Narcissus cyclamineus

Narcissus 'Rataplan'

Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'

Narcissus 'Firebrand'

Iris 'Benton Dierdre'

Iris 'Benton Olive'

Narcissus 'Bath's Flame'

Daphne bholua 'Mary Rose'

It's been quite a brutal start to the year, but that hasn't stopped East Ruston Old Vicarage from turning out some showstoppers this winter! From bulbs in the garden to shrubs under glass, Alan Gray shares some of the plants bringing him joy in the garden. Plus updates from behind the scenes. And, of course, some FLOMO*!

*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out

PLANT LIST

Fuchsia 'Lottie Hobby'

Narcissus cyclamineus 'Englander'

Crocus sieberi 'Ronald Ginns'

Solanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape'

Griselinia littoralis

Lathyrus grandiflorus

Dianthus 'Mrs Sinkins'

Pittosporum tobira 'Variegatum'

Pittosporum tobira 'West Acre Gold'

Reinwardtia indica

Scilla bithynica

Primula meadia

Alan Gray and Thordis are feeling festive and they're celebrating with some seasonal Show and Tell from Alan's 32 acre garden on the Norfolk coast, from the plants you'd expect to be dazzling in December, to some unseasonal surprises.

PLANT LIST

Galanthus 'Santa Claus'

Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships'

Galanthus elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse'

Narcissus 'Cedric Morris'

Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête'

Jasminum nudiflorum

Arum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Miss Janay Hall'

Iris unguicularis

Lonicera fragrantissima

Daphne bholua 'Darjeeling'

Viburnum × bodnantense

Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis ‘Dragon Gate’

Camellia sasanqua 'Rainbow'

Camellia hiemalis

Camellia 'Sparkling Burgundy'

Camellia 'Sugar Dream'

Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'

Viburnum tinus 'Israel'

Taxus baccata 'Standishii'

Griselinia littoralis 'Dixon's Cream'

Griselinia littoralis 'Bantry Bay'

Forsythia suspensa

Erysimum 'Parish's'

Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'

Salvia curviflora

Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush

Fuchsia 'Lottie Hobby'

Amarine belladiva 'Anastasia'

Helleborus niger

Skimmia japonica 'Rubella'

Euonymus

Ruscus aculeatus 'John Redmond'

Hebe 'Simon Delaux'

Abutilon 'Gerdmann'S Red'

Abutilon 'Estella's Little Bird'

Solanum laxum 'Album' syn. Solanum jasminoides Album

Solanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape'

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina'

Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart'

Ilex 'East Ruston Gold'

Arum pictum 'Primrose Warburg'

Alan Gray and Thordis take a look at the plants still packing a punch, even though East Ruston Old Vicarage closed to visitors last month...from fab foliage to seasonal blooms.

PLANT LIST

Iris unguicularis

Iris unguicularis 'Mary Barnard'

Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt'

Cestrum fasciculatum 'Newellii'

Viola 'Parme de Toulouse'

Begonia luxurians

Ilex verticillata

Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion'

Hosta 'Empress Wu'

Galanthus reginae-olgae

Galanthus 'James Backhouse'

Griselinia littoralis 'Dixon's Cream'

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'

Buddleja davidii 'Santana'

Nerine 'Hotspur'

Alan Gray and Thordis take a look at the plants stunning the visitors at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month, including some unusual foliage plants.

PLANT LIST

Lapageria rosea

Passiflora semiciliosa

Bougainvillea spectabilis

Mandevilla

Pleroma urvilleanum syn Tibouchina urvilleana

Abutilon 'Fool's Gold'

Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima'

Strobilanthes dyeriana

Plectranthus ciliatus 'Easy Gold

'Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'

Streptocarpus saxorum

Camellia sasanqua

Berberis gagnepainii var. lanceifolia 'Fernspray'

Acer rubrum 'Oktober Glory'

Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'

Salvia leucantha

Dahlia 'Magenta Star'

Dahlia coccinea var. palmeri

Dahlia 'Labyrinth'

Dahlia 'Edith Jones'

Dahlia 'Dilys Ayling'

Alan Gray and Thordis look back at East Ruston Old Vicarage's starring role on BBC show Gardeners' World, plus container planting, greenhouse overhauling and Hedychiums.

PLANT LIST

Manihot grahamii

Ptilotus exaltatus

Begonia fuchsioides

Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'

Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'

Ageratum petiolatum

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'

Coleus argentatus syn Plectranthus argentatu

Coleus argentatus 'Hill House'

Helichrysum petiolare

Osteospermum

Ricinus communis 'Carmencita'

Dahlia 'Jomanda'

Hedychium deceptum

Canna brasiliensis

Dahlia 'Ken's Rarity'

Dahlia 'Magenta Star'

Dahlia coccinea var. palmeri

From the climbers impressing Alan Gray this summer to the ways he's updating container planting, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage.

Talking Dirty is taking a little summer break, but we'll be back with an East Ruston Old Vicarage September Special.

PLANT LIST

Helichrysum petiolare

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'

Petunia exserta

Begonia 'Erythrophylla'

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Streptocarpus saxorum

Argyranthemum 'Jamaica Primrose'

Brugmansia × candida 'Shredded White Fantasy'

Sparrmannia africana 'Variegata'

Lantana camara

Abutilon 'Ashford Red'

Passiflora caerulea

Abutilon 'Orange Hot Lava' 

Punica granatum

Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride'

Podophyllum versipelle 'Spotty Dotty'

Begonia fuchsioides Red Form

Neopanax laetus syn Pseudopanax laetus

Abutilon 'Gerdemann's Red'

Passiflora semiciliosa

Tropaeolum smithii

Jasminum polyanthum

Tropaeolum ciliatum

Lonicera glabrata 'Damchin La'

Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’

Brassaiopsis mitis

Manihot grahamii

Ensete ventricosum 'Hiniba'

Musa nagensium

Settle back and get ready for another plant extravaganza with Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants. In Part Two of his Talking Dirty appearance, he shares plants for the future, great foliage combos, beautiful bark and so much more! Your FLOMO* is sure to be off the scale!

*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out

PLANT LIST

Pinus engelmannii

Firmiana simplex

Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'

Napaea dioica

Phlomis bourgaei

Phlomis fruticosa

Lindera obtusiloba

Lindera triloba

Acystopteris taiwaniana

Hedychium gardnerianum ‘Tangkhul Naga’

Marsdenia oreophila (syn. Cionura)

Dregea sinensis

Dahlia tamaulipana

Dahlia imperialis 

Persea bracteata

Lagerstroemia indica 'Cedar Lane Red'

Lagerstroemia subcostata

Isodon (Plectranthus) effusus var. longitubus

Quercus alnifolia

Dendromecon rigida

This week it's a much-looked forward to episode with none other than Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants. From the extraordinary plants which have turned up on his nursery, to the ways he's testing hardiness, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are enthralled. More fantastic plants next week in part two.

PLANT LIST

Philadelphus 'Casa Azul'

Philadelphus maculatus

Philadelphus mexicanus

Magnolia obovata

Magnolia × wieseneri

Begonia 'Torsa'

Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana ‘Bells and Whistles’

Begonia grandis subsp. holostyla ‘Nanjiang Silver’

Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana ‘Claret Jug’

Amomyrtus luma

Amomyrtus meli

Luma apiculata

Watsonia marlothii

Indigofera heterantha

Agave montana

Agave ovatifolia

From propagation successes to exciting new container combos, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage.

PLANT LIST

Mitraria coccinea

Beschorneria yuccoides

Agave montana

Fuchsia 'Delta's Sara'

Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana

Begonia 'Torsa'

Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange'

Dahlia excelsa

Campanula medium

Melica uniflora f. albida

Dahlia 'Hadrian's Midnight'

Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Baron'

Oxalis vulcanicola 'Sunset Velvet'

Oxalis vulcanicola 'Plum Crazy'

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Creme Brulee'

Helichrysum petiolare

Begonia 'Black Knight'

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Wedding Gown'

Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride'

Dendromecon rigida