Grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends Sarah Raven in conversation with Arthur Parkinson

One of the greatest treasures that a garden can bring us is the cut flower, and with a fine selection of perennials and woody plants, that treat returns to us year after year.
That’s why this week’s podcast guest, the wonderful Rachel Siegfried, shares her penchant for perennials throughout her work, and in her new book - The Cut Flower Sourcebook.
Tune into this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a fabulous list of the 12 most inspiring perennial plants, and how to structure a showstopping arrangement.
In this episode, discover:
A brief history behind Rachel’s delightful flower farm, Green & GorgeousThe simple, yet wonderfully effective four-part structure into which she divides arrangementsReliable framework and filler plants like Rosa Glauca and Snowberry upon which to build your displaysFocal flowers, showstoppers and accents to breathe life and add movement, like the always stunning early Peony Buckeye BelleGet in touch: info@sarahraven.com
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The limit to your imagination extends far beyond the size of one’s garden, particularly with the cut flowers that award-winning garden designer Butter Wakefield adores most.
Butter returns to the podcast with more than a smorgasbord of stunning flowers compact enough to fit in the smallest of gardens, but captivating enough to make the most monumental impact as a cut flower.
In this episode, discover:
The bold bulbs of Daffodil Jetfire and subtle beauty of AvalancheWhy the Dahlias of Rosie Raven, Lou Farmen and Josie are among those which most wildly capture Butter’s adorationDavid Austin’s majestic roses accompanied by the most delightful fragranceA border must-have with flowing cascades of purple flowers - Salvia nemorosa CaradonnaGet in touch: info@sarahraven.com
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Our olfactory system elicits some of the strongest emotions we can feel, so the scent of a garden should be at the forefront of your mind when planning your garden - as it is for the wonderful Jo Fairley.
Jo edits The Scented Letter, a quarterly magazine focused on fragrance, which makes her a perfect guest on the podcast to share the 12 most evocatively scented plants, from the strong fragrance of Trachelospermum to stalwart Sweet Peas.
In this episode, discover:
The personal history with Scented Geraniums that makes them one of Jo’s most beloved, aromatic plantsWhich of the Roses are absolute essentials for smell, and why Jo would never plant a Rose without scentJo’s love of Sarcococca’s incredible growth, bold structure, and fragrant leavesPlenty of book recommendations to inspire you with many more scented plantsGet in touch: info@sarahraven.com
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Sowing tomatoes should be right at the top of your list for the month ahead, with the joy they bring to a garden and the remarkable variety in taste.
Whether it’s the small and mighty Noire de Crimee or the ever-reliable flavour of Sungold, this week’s episode of the podcast brings a wealth of advice for growing your own. 
In this episode, discover:
The standout tomatoes that’ll bring joy to your garden and plate, from the stripy Tigerella to the unbeatable taste of SungoldCharming combinations for companion planting to keep your tomatoes in good healthThe remarkable results you can see by growing tomatoes in a ring culture potA whole raft of recipes to use your produce in such varied and utterly delicious waysGet in touch: info@sarahraven.com
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Wood is wonderful in the garden, and can be both beautiful and useful to create fencing, arches and posts in such a way that cares for the environment around us.
If you’re still using the likes of imported bamboo in your space and need inspiration for alternatives, Adam Nicolson joins Sarah once again on the podcast to share how locally grown, coppiced wood can be so fantastic for you and for the world.
In this episode, discover:
The near-zero environmental cost of using the wonderfully pliable birchWhich trees are the most useful for absorbing more carbon, and how to best treat themA fascinating history of why chestnut is so prevalent in this part of the worldHow to coppice wood, and the true impact of coppicing on carbon absorption from our treesGet in touch: info@sarahraven.com
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Beside the visual splendour of a thriving vegetable garden, there’s such joy to be had from picking your own delicious ingredients.
At a perfect time to coincide with Sarah’s new book, she takes this solo episode to share a fantastic list of the 12 absolute best vegetables, from flavoursome essentials to the simplest, most cut-and-come-again veg for all seasons.
In this episode, discover:
Several of the most prolific, cut and come again veg from Mizuna and Rocket to the versatile Swiss ChardVarieties of Kale for the patient gardener or those looking for a quick growerA duo of tomatoes befitting of any garden alongside what Sarah dubs ‘the perfect cucumber’Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
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