Talking Heads - a Gardening Podcast

Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker
  • 4.6 (27)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

Follow professional gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain as they reveal exactly what it’s like to be horticulturists in the diverse and exciting world of gardening . Lucy and Saul have 40 years of gardening experience between them and it soon became clear to them both that this fulfilling vocation can be incredibly diverse, occasionally challenging and hugely rewarding. On the podcast they regularly discuss horticultural topics close to their hearts and give you an insight into their lives as gardeners. If you wish to support the podcast you can via our BuyMeACoffee page - just click the link at the end of the podcast description or the donate button found at the bottom of this page. 

  1. 4d ago

    Ep. 321 - Last week we talked about the issues in the present, well this episode is about the solutions for the future in gardening - Lucy 'Nostradamus' Chamberlain looks into her crystal ball....

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. The end of summer drought doesn't mean that we aren't still to face the real consequences of this years weather - there's much more weather to come. But what does the future hold for gardening? Well Saul and Lucy get the grey matter working to bring you some of their future predictions of what gardeners maybe doing in the next decade to start adapting to what the weather throws at us - much of it means evolving how we garden and what our gardens may look like - but if there is one thing for certain we'll still be gardening a lot (maybe more in Winter!?) Instagram links: Saul plantsmansaul Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  2. Aug 22

    Ep. 320 - This episode is thoughtfully entitled 'The acceptance of late summer garden glumness' - but, Saul and Lucy promise it will lift your spirits and get your grey matter whirring...

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. This week, Lucy and Saul encourage us all to let go of our inner control freak, and welcome the fact that in gardening, every year, some plants thrive where others fail, certain machinery will test our patience, design ideas may materialise as a triumph or a flop - and that's just part of the marvellous melting pot that is gardening. So, take Saul's lead (yes! He's embracing the silver lining), remember that the future is still yet to be decided, and dip your little toe into 2027. Because: "There's always next year!" Instagram links: Saul plantsmansaul Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  3. Aug 16

    Ep. 319 - Saul is solo this week, as again he is on his travels this time to Norfolk with the RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group visiting Felbrigg Hall (NT) and East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens - where there maybe a Hedychium Trial going on :)

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. During the fifth Heatwave of the year, Saul is soloing it while out and abut in the South East of the UK working for Plant Heritage and visiting some gardens with the RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group in Norfolk. Felbrigg Hall (NT) was a surprise of exotic and Mediterranean planting in a Walled garden space that included lush borders, some big pumpkins and lots of interesting metal sculptures. East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden, lived up to the hype of being one of the UKs premier gardens, with Hidcote-like garden rooms, stuffed with exotic and traditional plantings and a fantastic 'Desert Wash' dry garden that looked just right in the sweltering heat, transporting you to other warmer parts of the world. We also took part in the Hedychium trial being held there, and also being Saul's favourite part of the whole trip! Instagram links: Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Saul plantsmansaul Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  4. Aug 8

    Ep. 318 - In this episode, we give an almighty shoutout to our loyal listeners, by discussing their gardening conundrums. Stand by your beds for tree selection, mite obliteration and a twisted rotator cuff!

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. We give a long overdue shoutout to our wonderful listeners in this episode - and in doing so discuss raptors, buddleja aphids, petrichor (Lucy is NOT jealous...), chilli peppers, fuchsia gall mites and tropical tree selection in a Lancashire garden - in doing so we inadvertently fill the whole 30 minutes when we actually had planned to also discuss summer gardening 'funk' (which we have now moved to next weeks episode). If this isn't evidence that this podcasting duo are the king and queen of hortiwaffle, I don't know what is! Instagram links: Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Saul plantsmansaul Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  5. Aug 2

    Ep. 317 - Well one thing dominates horticulture in most of the UK at the moment - drought - officially half the country has reached that status and we are seeing winners and losers, but also many silver-linings and little joys in our gardens!

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. The lack of rain in many parts of the UK (not all) has been the number one issue for weeks now - rain dances, water bowsers and talk of changing plantings are now a regular feature of conversations throughout gardens as the  Environment Agency declares half of the UK to be in official drought status! But although there have been many losers in this hot, dry weather its not all bad and Saul and Lucy wanted to bringing a little positivity in this weeks podcast with talk of juicy peaches, luscious exotic planting and of course, the wood-fired hot tub! Instagram links: Saul plantsmansaul Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  6. Jul 25

    Ep. 316 - With the summer holidays starting, Lucy pushes her brain into action for another 30-minute episode of horticultural highlights. Butterflies, box moths, hosepipes and orchids are just some of the noticeable events she and Saul have seen this we

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. It's been yet another week of dry weather, and with no end in sight the gardening duo ponder what this might mean for the survival of certain insect species - friend and foe. Saul also reports back on his travels, and some exciting news for Plant Heritage, while Lucy turns her (tired) brain towards the Gardeners' World Autumn Fair at Audley End, Essex.   Instagram links: Saul plantsmansaul Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  7. Jul 19

    Ep. 315 - Hot, Dry and Perspiring! That's the TalkingHead Podcast duo at the moment, but gardening continues whether at Lucy's clients or at RHS Badminton, tune to to hear how Lucy and Saul are coping!

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. Wow it is dry out there and the temperatures are well above the norm for long periods - so both Lucy and Saul are, to say the least, continuing in good British form - 'mad dogs and Englishmen' comes to mind. Gardening still needs to be done though - if just the watering - so Lucy has been continuing to shape her client's plots and Saul has spent almost 12 days getting ready and then half-wilting at RHS Badminton - so listen in to find out how that goes - and if the worse happens at least we can all go for a dip in Lucy's new hottub! Instagram links: Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Saul plantsmansaul Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

  8. Jul 11

    Ep. 314 - It's a grow your own special! Lucy takes us on a tour of her home plot to explain how she cooks her edibles. Strap yourself in for a menu featuring kohl rabi and carrot remoulade, broad bean salad and poached pears with raspberry ice cream

    Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home. With Saul attending to his Plant Heritage duties at RHS Badminton, Lucy takes this opportunity to give you an audio tour of her modern kitchen garden. Summer is now at its peak, so naturally her thoughts are focused on how to create recipes with all those homegrown fruit, veg and herbs. If you have an aversion to butter, turn your ears away now... Instagram links: Lucy lucychamberlaingardens Saul plantsmansaul Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Support the show

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4.6
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Follow professional gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain as they reveal exactly what it’s like to be horticulturists in the diverse and exciting world of gardening . Lucy and Saul have 40 years of gardening experience between them and it soon became clear to them both that this fulfilling vocation can be incredibly diverse, occasionally challenging and hugely rewarding. On the podcast they regularly discuss horticultural topics close to their hearts and give you an insight into their lives as gardeners. If you wish to support the podcast you can via our BuyMeACoffee page - just click the link at the end of the podcast description or the donate button found at the bottom of this page. 

Information

  • Creator
    Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    351
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Talking Heads - a Gardening Podcast
  • Show Website
    Talking Heads - a Gardening Podcast