Talking Gardens

In our final episode from the show, we ask what is going to happen to RHS Chelsea now Project Giving Back funding is ending, Jack Wallington puts forward ideas for an alternative sort of garden show, Tom Massey tells is what it's like to relocate a show garden, we discover who won People's Choice and some top designers tell us why they keep coming back for more.

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Come behind the scenes with us on today's episode of Talking Chelsea to find out what industry types made of the show this year, what's involved in preparing and building show gardens with multi-Gold winning contractor Crocus, how to get into the show for free - ie volunteer - and the personal reason behind why Arit Anderson created her show garden. 

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Today’s episode of Talking Chelsea is dedicated to plants and planting at the show. Discover which style of planting is dominating the gardens and standout plants across the showground, as well as Rosy Hardy’s top tips for creating a gold winning plant exhibit, Nigel Slater on naming a new sweet pea, Tom Stuart-Smith on the amazing collection of plants for his show garden, Michael Perry’s top picks and plants for 2027, what it’s like to plant up a show garden behind the scenes and what designers wish they had known before doing the show.

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Join us at the Chelsea Flower Show today to get the lowdown on all the medals and best in show winners with Lucy Hall, Sarah Eberle on being the most decorated Chelsea designer in history, and Rhoda Parry on what a ‘naturescape’ is. Plus a day in the life of the Chelsea show manager, how Frances Tophill found collaborating with The King and David Beckham, what the Gardens Illustrated team think the major design trends and ideas are this year and some funny disaster stories designers have shared from previous Chelsea outings. 

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In the first episode of our Chelsea Flower Show miniseries we are coming to you direct from the 2026 show with all the behind the scenes insights, including a hard first look at the show gardens with Chris Young, some AI design controversy with Matt Keightley, the reason why gnomes are (usually) banned at the show with RHS librarian Fiona Davison, who the judges are and how the judging works according to the judges themselves, what the actual medal are made of and insider tips on how to win a Gold with a host of top Chelsea designers.

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Stephanie talks to Midori Shintani about her time as head gardener for one of the world’s most influential modern gardens, the Tokachi Millennium Forest, and her next move working with Dan Pearson on the Play Earth Naturing Park in Japan, and launching her own plant nursery. Discover what it was like to share the landscape with bears, and the idea of 72 micro-seasons for gardeners through the year.

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Garden designer, horticulturist and GQT panellist Matthew Wilson is our guest on this episode, and he’s discussing his favourite gardens, from Kent to California. He reveals the things his clients say they don’t want in their gardens, what on earth hydroseeding is and the one temperamental plant he wishes he could grow. Plus, we discuss the benefits of urban greenspace, the sustainability of concrete and why he’s wary of rewilding.

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Our guest this week is the British designer and businesswoman Cath Kidston, whose body care brand C. Atherley celebrates her love of scented pelargoniums. Cath describes the gardens she has created, from a beautiful riverside plot in Chiswick to her current Cotswold garden with a view. She discusses her love of ‘pellies’ and why a greenhouse is an essential in her garden. Plus, we touch on gardening with deer, Cath’s approach to low-maintenance gardens and her surprising dream plant.

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Plantsman, author and TV presenter Jamie Butterworth joins Stephanie this week, tracing his horticultural beginnings from Young Gardener of the Year on TV to working with Monty Don. Jamie talks candidly about the highs and lows of setting up his own nursery during the pandemic, and his plans for his brand new home and garden in the Lake District. Plus, we find out why Jamie loathes ‘boring’ evergreens and why he harbours serious shed envy. 

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Our guest this week is Matthew Pottage, who became RHS Wisley’s youngest-ever curator aged 29 and is now head of horticulture and landscape strategy at London’s Royal Parks. He reveals his love for Chilean plants and why monkey puzzle trees often struggle in the UK, as well as the controversial return of conifers and pampas grass in our gardens. We discuss why many people are afraid to plant tall trees, and Matthew talks about being challenged as a gardener, how to create a fabulous garden in a rented home, and his own striking houseplant collection. 

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