grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

• The best of the best narcissi for early spring colour and scent - Episode 212

  Narcissi are such rewarding plants to grow, tolerant of almost any site and situation. At Perch Hill in particular, it’s shaping up to be a stellar spring for the humble daffodil and its more diminutive narcissus relatives.Whether it’s perenniality, perfume or punchy colours that you’re after in your own garden, in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Sarah shares her personal edit of the longest-flowering and most fragrant narcissi varieties to grow.In this episode, discover:Why planting narcissi in your garden can be a viable alternative to tulips as the climate continues to changeTop varieties for long, light flowering patterns (flowering a little over a long period of time), fabulous fragrance, and superb perennialityHow best to plant your narcissi so that they stand out in a successional bulb lasagneProducts mentioned:Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus ('Old Pheasant's Eye'): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pheasants-eyeNarcissus 'Avalanche': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalancheNarcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcingNarcissus 'Starlight Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensationNarcissus 'Moonlight Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensationNarcissus bulbocodium 'White Petticoat': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-bulbocodium-white-petticoatNarcissus 'Pipit': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pipitNarcissus 'Minnow': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-minnowNarcissus 'Actaea': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaeaDutch Iris Mix: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-iris-mixAllium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: [email protected] on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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• Talking biodynamics and biodiversity in growing cut flowers with Alfie Nickerson - Episode 211

  Alfie Nickerson is a biodynamic flower farmer making his mark in British horticulture, and his 3,500-strong dahlia field, buzzing with wildlife, is testament to that.After working for 6 years as a jobbing gardener in London, and then volunteering at Fern Verrow – the biodynamic farm of previous guest Jane Scotter – Alfie describes his journey in creating the biodiverse haven that is Burnt Fen Flowers, as well as sharing his favourite annuals and dahlias, on this week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’.In this episode, discover:Alfie’s early gardening experiences in London, and what drew him to the Norfolk countrysideThe incredible work behind Burnt Fen’s biodynamic flower cropHow they prioritise biodiversity in their practices, and what that biodiversity gives back to the landAlfie’s absolute favourite varieties of annuals and dahlias for cuttingVisit Burnt Fen Flowers: https://burntfenflowers.com/Products mentioned:Ammi majushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majusHelichrysum bracteatum 'White' (Sunflower)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helichrysum-bracteatum-whiteZinnia elegans 'Giant Purple Prince'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-elegans-giant-purple-princePapaver somniferum 'Black Swan'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-swanDahlia 'Jowey Winnie'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-jowey-winnieFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: [email protected] on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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• A return to Perch Hill - tales of a head gardener and talented florist with Bea Andrews - Episode 210

  Bea Andrews is no stranger to Perch Hill - she was head gardener for many years, and is now back in a new guise as our visiting florist, aka Botanika Flora.It's a joy to welcome Bea back for this nostalgic episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ with Sarah as she shares her fascinating background and route into horticulture in her native Hungary, the story of how she came to Perch Hill, and the inspiration she draws from the garden and the Sussex countryside in her stunning floral designs.In this episode, discover:The early inspirations behind Bea’s journey into gardening, horticulture and floristryFond memories of Perch Hill, her impeccable eye for colour, and humorous anecdotes from her time as head gardenerWhat Bea looks for in seasonal cutting, and how she combines these flowers and foliage in her unique arrangementsProducts mentioned:Bea’s Summer Dahlia Collection: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/beas-summer-dahlia-collectionFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Botanika Floral: https://www.botanikafloral.co.ukGet in touch: [email protected] on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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• From entrepreneurialism to The Eden Project, a life’s work with Sir Tim Smit - Episode 209

  The Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall are two of the most important horticultural projects of recent times, both helmed by the brilliant mind of Sir Tim Smit – Sarah’s guest on the podcast this week.Tim’s work on pioneering projects like Eden is guided by three pillars that also resonate for Sarah – education, entrepreneurialism, and the environment. In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we gain a rare insight into how Tim brings these values to life in projects that help reconnect people with the land and explore the potential of their own relationships with the natural environment.In this episode, learn more about:Tim’s entrepreneurial streak, and how his Dutch and English heritage has informed his remarkable journey with nature and the environmentHow innovative thinking on sustainability and the environment underpins Tim’s current and future projects, including the new Eden Project in Morecambe BayThe huge importance both Tim and Sarah place on improving education for the future of our natural world and the next generation of environmental entrepreneursFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Eden Project Morecambe: https://www.edenproject.com/new-edens/eden-project-morecambe-ukThe Lost Gardens of Heligan: https://www.heligan.com/Get in touch: [email protected] on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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• Our vital role as gardeners in supporting birds, with the RSPB’s Emma Marsh - Episode 208

  If you're looking to support wild birds in your garden, the RSPB’s upcoming Big Garden Birdwatch is an essential event for us all.Adam Nicolson and Emma Marsh, Executive Director of the RSPB, join Sarah in this week’s bird-focused episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to discuss how to get involved in this weekend’s annual bird count, how it came to be, and the many ways that gardeners can actively support and encourage more wild birds in our gardens and green spaces.In this episode, discover:The role that gardens and gardeners play in restoring a bustling wild bird population.What we all can do to provide natural sustenance, shelter and safety for birds with our choice of planting.How the Big Garden Birdwatch came to be, and how you can get involved this coming weekend.Verbena bonariensishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensisLupinus ‘Masterpiece’ (Westcountry series)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lupinus-masterpieceEnglish Yew (Taxus baccata)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/english-yewRosa ‘Rambling Rector’https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rose-rambling-rectorFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Join the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatchGet in touch: [email protected] on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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