Talking Heads – a Gardening Podcast

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #20 we are joined by Scottish Self-employed gardener Susan Stephen, who as well as being a Talking Heads 'superfan' won out Episode 200 quiz. Susan's life as a career-change gardener was borne out the need to heal her earlier life experiences and a fascination with the natural sciences, coupled with a chance encounter with the garden at her daughter's school, and she's never looked back.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Susan @susanbwmn_susan

Instagram links:
Lucy headgardenerlc
Susan susanbeegardening

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

The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling their vegetable gardens into burgeoning yields. It's a great time to be alive in horticulture as the show season reaches a crescendo, plant fairs almost every weekend threaten to empty your savings and open gardens throughout the UK inspire that next bit of work you will be doing in your own plot. As ever Lucy and Saul will bring you tales (and waffle) from their gardens, so join us every week for more horticultural high-jinx on Talking Heads.

Join Saul in his back garden, where jungle leaves are the major theme. With Lucy busy with her down-under family, Saul brings you our on a day of looking after his Ginger and Banana friends. He specifically focuses on how he feeds his plants and discussing some of his thoughts on what best feeds to use, how to feed and the frequency with which he adds fertiliser to his various plant collections. He also begins a new chapter in his garden life, the potential for a proper nursery!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling their vegetable gardens into burgeoning yields. It's a great time to be alive in horticulture as the show season reaches a crescendo, plant fairs almost every weekend threaten to empty your savings and open gardens throughout the UK inspire that next bit of work you will be doing in your own plot. As ever Lucy and Saul will bring you tales (and waffle) from their gardens, so join us every week for more horticultural high-jinx on Talking Heads.

Well the Talking Heads pair have just about recovered from the NEC, until a bubble of exceptional hot weather appeared as we're getting down to serious gardening. So the pair try to keep going with ice-creams and dips into the pool or river. The years weird weather has also affected Saul's Sweet Peas, and he's not the only one as the Sweet Pea Society have had similar issues too. Listeners questions on Agretti and (of you live in the north) the need for Waterproof Clothing are also discussed - never a dull moment in the garden!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live 2024 as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 13th-16th June and is a sprawling show of the finest gardens and plants to grace mid-June (as well as the BBC Good Food Show). As well as early morning tours for the very keenest of gardens, the pair have been on their usual Advice Desk answering the broadest of questions that the public bring with them and for the first time this year giving workshops on growing the best Veg and Fruit in your garden and gaining success with houseplants. So join the Talking Heads pair as they give their opinion on what has been a packed show full on interesting new features and old acquaintances. 

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardener's are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling their vegetable gardens into burgeoning yields. It's a great time to be alive in horticulture as the show season reaches a crescendo, plant fairs almost every weekend threaten to empty your savings and open gardens throughout the UK inspire that next bit of work you will be doing in your own plot. As ever Lucy and Saul will bring you tales (and waffle) from their gardens, so join us every week for more horticultural high-jinx on Talking Heads.

Who doesn't love discovering a new plant or rediscovering and old long-lost friend at a plant fair. Saul certainly does, and it is the first weekend in June, when everything must give way to the Tregrehan Rare Plant Fair. A mecca for exotic and unusual plantspeople from all over the UK and beyond, to see what some of the most venerated nursery folk have bought to relieve us of our hard earned cash. So join Saul has he succumbs to a few purchases and has a look at what he has bought and how he will grow them in his home garden.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

For those who know Lucy, you'll understand how much joy growing your own food brings her. In the decade of her looking after the walled kitchen garden at East Donyland Hall, along with memories gained via her smallholding upbringing, growing fruits, vegetables and herbs is within her blood. She's applied all she's learnt to a 40 x 40ft space, nestling in rural Essex. And in this episode, she takes you on a detailed tour of this space, discussing edibles you'll certainly know, but also introducing you to some you may not.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is again upon us, as gardening gets its 'Wimbledon' moment where everyone becomes a gardener for one week. Manicured gardens, fantastic flowers and plants, amazing skill and a lot of perspiration is on display as the horticultural world strives to put on the most mesmerising display of Gardening this year. Lucy and Saul are privileged to be allowed to attend the Monday press day for a preview of the show, and as ever the pair are wowed by the efforts that nurseryman, garden designer, landscaper and trade stands put on. So listen in for a few highlights, the odd quibble and lots of seeing our friends (and the odd celebrity )along the way.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

Without a doubt, spring is in full throttle, both in Devon and in Essex. Lucy and Saul are enjoying produce from their plots, and displays in their borders - Lucy even managed to squeeze in a visit to her local Beth Chatto gardens, courtesy of the Garden Media Guild. Seeing how famous gardeners plant up their gardens is such an enjoyable process, and this will also be echoed later this month when the duo step out onto the Chelsea Flower Show showground.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

A favourite annual fixture in their diaries, Lucy and Saul report back from the recent BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair, held at the beautiful gardens of Beaulieu in the New Forest. This year the Talking Heads duo have had the pleasure of giving their usual Plant Expert tours with Head Gardener, Kelvin Yapp, and former gardener, Dan Blaney - but also giving workshops on Seed Sowing, Houseplants and Grow our Own! As ever the Beaulieu garden gang have been consummate hosts - and for the first time this year we've even had the back-up and incredible plant knowledge of Tamsin Westhorpe - the newest member of the plant expert cadre!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc
Tamsin tamsinwesthrope

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Tamsin @TamsinWesthrope

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

Blossom is everywhere at the moment and especially on our fruit trees signalling the start of Orchard season. And what a start - there seems to be an overwhelming amount of it which potentially heralds for lots of fruit come late summer. It's also National Blossom Week  so Lucy and Saul have a chat about Orchards and how to fit one into your life - whether small and bijou, or full on Cider Orchard. Lucy also visits Brogdale in Kent, where the National Fruit Collection is housed, a place for those passionate about Apples, Pears, Cherries, the list goes on. So next time your thinking of planting a tree - maybe a fruit tree might fit the bill.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

Owning a greenhouse is an utter treat, and Lucy certainly adores hers (HUGE thanks, Aunty Gwen). Getting the most out of this precious under cover space is her goal, so this week, while Saul takes a well earned rest, she explains how she looks after her building to best effect. Expect discussions on essentials such as temperature and light management, and also listen out for her tips for installing services and juggling space when seedlings and maturing plants compete on the staging. Oh, and installing a light so that you can garden at night is a win, win!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

With rain falling relentlessly from the skies, snails invading within the greenhouse, and seedlings bursting forth on our propagation benches, the gardening duo are made fully aware that spring is definitely here! Devon is being characteristically wet, with a month's rainfall in just over one week. Will it ever stop? (Hopefully by the time you read this Stonelands will be bathed in blue skies). Seed sowing is in full swing for both Lucy and Saul, and Lucy gives a few tips on how to bulk up plants quickly. And finally, the pair chew over the word 'pests' - how can we apply it in the garden these days, or should we at all?

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

Rain strikes again! So far 80% of the days in the Westcountry this year have been washouts, and when drier, sunny days arrive the ground is so boggy gardening outside is proving tricky! But never fear because gardening indoors is still an option, whether in the greenhouse sowing seeds, potting plants on and gearing up for drier days ahead (hopefully) or in the house with your burgeoning houseplant collection. Houseplants are probably the biggest growth section of horticulture at the moment, with the fashion for a small (or large) collection fuelled by social media, new greenfingered gardeners and a lack of gardening space. Saul is no different having grown and collected many indoor plants since his youth - so join him as he talks everything houseplant from the comfort and 'dry' of his living room!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

Most outdoor gardening is on hold until we finally dry out - especially in Devon where Saul has received roughly two and a half times the average rainfall over March! But that doesn't mean Lucy and him have to put the horticultural waffle on hold, as we answer listeners questions on Grow Lights and where the professional gardener can go to find advertised jobs. We also talk about Alpine plants with Saul's first flower show of the year - though the weather may not be playing ball, there's still plenty of gardening going on!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

As the Talking Heads pair beaver away in their garden, meeting up to have a good waffle has been delayed - but never fear both have taken sometime out of their busy horticultural schedules to take you along into their personal slice of garden heaven and give a spring report on the blossom in Devon and the vigorous, vegetable seedlings of Essex. It truly is a wonderful time of year to be outside and the garden is living up to the hype, so wherever  you are in the world, get out and enjoy your garden!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Spring is the time of the gardening year where all gardeners sigh with relief, it's really time to get out and about and enjoy the wonderful world of horticulture.  A garden waking up and showing its early colour and form is a wonderful space to live and work in, an it's no exception that Lucy and Saul revel in this time of year, as their gardening lives start to get busier with sowing, planting, propagation, mowing, mulching and all other gardening tasks. Sprinkle in some early flower shows and the odd plant fair and our gardening life is complete, so thank god for Spring!

Saul and Lucy are wrestling their gardens into some kind of shape, as the Spring weather stops and starts. Blossom is beginning to show and many task seem to be building up, so the gardening pair are feeling the pressure. But maybe the answer comes in the form of Raised Beds - the subject of our guest on this episode, David Hurrion, who's new book is the comprehensive guide on  a facet of our garden both practically and design-wise that we maybe overlooking a little too much!

David's Book:
The Raised Bed book

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
David @DavidHurrion

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc
David davidhurrion

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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as these months are some of the busiest in all of the 12. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

Saul and Lucy return to their usual format of waffle, and with lots to catch up on they have a good chat about the weather (surprise, surprise), Lucy's lack of garden progress (Like us all), Saul's visit to the new 'Growing Point' nursery at the Eden Project, and a listener's question about perennial vegetables.  So a lot to cover in this new episode, as Spring (we hope) is slowly appearing on the horizon!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as these months are some of the busiest in all of the 12. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

As the winter gloom gives way to (hopefully) more joyful spring brilliance, its time for the Talking Heads pair to start their busy calender of garden events all around the country, with the starting gun fired at the Garden Press Event at the Business Design Centre in London. Join Lucy as she takes a look at the plethora of new garden products, meets with fellow horti-friends and even has a sneaky interview with Saul, as he eulogises the Hardy Plant Society to the gather throng of press and influencers alike.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as these months are some of the busiest in all of the 12. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

Winter is slowly dissolving into Spring - and especially this year where the mildness and wet has caused many plants to start their Spring early and the lawns are quite shaggy from continual growth. Saul has all these issues in abundance at Stonelands, so while dodging the downpours he is getting as much work done while things dry up. Join him as he takes a look around the greenhouse and then attempts a live seed sowing demonstration (fantastic for a purely audio medium!), as the growing season starter gun is fired.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b

Support the show

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as these months are some of the busiest in all of the 12. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

It's a route many of us take when we embark upon our professional gardening journey, and so Saul and Lucy couldn't let National Apprenticeship Week pass without giving this method of training due appreciation. The range and reputation of venues offering such schemes is impressive, and the partnership of training whilst earning an income makes these on-the-job schemes a viable option for many. Plus, Lucy shares exciting composting news - hear her heave a huge sigh of relief!

Details of, and links to, all the webinar recordings can be found here:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/articles/horticulture-discovery-week

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b

Support the show

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as these months are some of the busiest in all of the 12. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

Last week, Lucy was thrilled to be a key speaker for the RHS's Horticultural Careers Discovery Week, where industry ambassadors were asked to shine a spotlight on their chosen career paths. The 40-minute webinars covered a wide range of professions, from tree surgeons, plant health inspectors and horticultural advisors, to horticultural therapists, garden designers and even filmset dressers. So, whichever route into gardening may have piqued your interest, the duo hope that its led to a varied, fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable career.

Details of, and links to, all the webinar recordings can be found here:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/articles/horticulture-discovery-week

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Intro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io
"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b

Support the show

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as these months are some of the busiest in all of the 12. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

Saul and Lucy return to their usual format, as Lucy's jetlag and holiday tan start to fade. Luckily, the duo have plenty to get their teeth into this week as RHS Chief Horticulturist and podcast friend, Guy Barter, reveals his plant trend predictions for 2024. We can expect grow your own, wildlife gardening, exotic fruits, purple veg, houseplants and succulents to all keep us company on the plot in the year ahead, according to Guy - and we don't doubt him! Whether we all plant up survivalist gardens, only time will tell...

(Please donate to your local Air Ambulance, in Devon visit https://www.daat.org/)

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

One of the drawbacks of any holiday is returning home, and with Lucy its no different as the combined Time zone difference and temperature shock means she taking a little time to recover. So Saul takes the opportunity to bring the listeners to Stonelands where the mercury bottoms out at -4C, so work is constrained to those areas of the garden where a deep frost isn't too prevalent. Rose pruning is the main the aim while he waits for the thaw, but expect a number of warm cups of tea, that is until the Devon Air Ambulance drops in!

Please donate to your local Air Ambulance, in Devon visit https://www.daat.org/ 

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

If there was any sign that Lucy was at the opposite ends of the earth then the weather (in true Talking Heads style) would be it. While Saul has put on the extra layers and woolly hat due to winter finally catching up with the UK, Lucy is sunbathing in +25C heat in the Australian summer. But the pair are still enjoying their gardens and plants - as dry weather means pruning is Saul's main focus and the beauty of the Hunters Valley means wine, chocolate and cheese is Lucy's!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

Happy New Year to all our listeners - another turn around the sun is in order, and the Talking Heads Podcast continues into its fifth year (madness I tell you!). So to celebrate what better than sending the Veg and Fruit queen down under. Lucy (with family in tow) have headed to the land of Vegemite and Roos to enjoy some winter time sun (or is that summer!?) and lets us into what she has been admiring in the gardens she has seen, her visits to the local garden centre and her battles with some of the local bird population.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

The final episode of 2023 is here - and to describe the year in one sentence - indescribable! Lucy and Saul take a look over what has been and what might happen next year, we get into a discussion about the competitive Christmas garden lighting that seems to be sweeping the country and also take a look at our favourite Xmas plants. Talking Heads is now 4 years old and with over 200 episodes in the bag we are always so grateful to have our listeners join us every week - so Merry Christmas to you all, have a wonderful New Year and you will hear the Talking Heads duo once more in 2024!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.

It's the episode you've all been waiting for (well at least three of you anyway) - yes the answers to the fiendishly cryptic 200th anniversary quiz - if you didn't enter but still gave it a go a month back see how you've done. Lucy and Saul also talk Poinsettia - a stable of the UK Christmas decorations - but remember its not just a plant for Christmas!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Support the show

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

Never mind Autumn - Winter is here! (And apologies, because it's Lucy's fault - and NOT Tomasz Schafernaker's - if you're experiencing dank, mild conditions this week.) With the drop in temperatures comes a switching of seasons, so Saul and Lucy look this week at what can be achieved in their gardens. Actually, it's quite a lot! So, whether you want to thwart weeds, knock pests on the head, renovate your compost heap, check in on your pelargoniums, cut back your tender plants, or sit by the fireside with a tempting seed catalogue, there's still plenty to be completed on the plot. And if you do stumble across an impressively long iris rhizome, you know who to tell...

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Support the show

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

Saul is in full recovery, and returning to Stonelands for a full weeks gardening was just the tonic - and with the frigid and dry days of winter finally here it means we can get stuck into some 'proper' gardening. Lucy has a lovely listeners question about pruning Witch-hazel, which gets the gardening pair thinking about winter flowers, and she also relives here Garden Media Guild Award experience where the great and good meet to celebrate their achievements in the world of Gardening in the press, podcasts and photography.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

With rainfall and storms still dominating the news, Lucy and Saul open this episode with a look at the monthly rainfall for (usually) dry Essex. There are also listener questions on pelargonium overwintering and green manure management, along with a little insight into the workings of RHS committees. The duo also look at jobs for early winter, as Lucy delves into her 'Donyland Diaries' (Saul is hastily finding a suitable jingle...). Leaf gathering, bulb planting and hardy veg sowing are just a few of the tasks that she and her team were completing.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

Well - who would have thought 4 (ish) years ago when Lucy and Saul tried to record their wafflings it would lead to 200 episodes of the Talking Heads Podcast. The Gardening pair are more than humble and slightly bemused with it all, but so incredibly thankful to all the loyal and soon-to-be loyal listeners that have joined us over the timespan of this venture. So what better way to celebrate then to set a simple (Saul) and cryptic (Lucy) quiz - and remember best answers to us through our social media wins! Here's to another 200 (or at least another 20) episodes - CHEERS!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

Saul is hunkering down on the Devonshire estate of Stonelands, as yet more rain and accompanying high winds, in the form of storm Ciaran, hits our shores. In Essex, Lucy will be less affected by storms but this week she admits to feeling melancholy as she says goodbye to the gardens at East Donyland Hall. Regular listener, Tufty, poses a question about hedge trimmers, which gets the duo thinking about harnesses, back safety, petrol, electric and battery operated models. As ever, there's a lot to discuss!

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #20 we are joined by Stonelands Gardener Brian Langley - who although recently retired, spent 45 years in the National Trust as a gardener firstly at Tatton Park in Cheshire, but for the last 37 years at Antony House in Cornwall. Now in his retirement he shows no sign of slowing down working at Stonelands House part-time, volunteering for numerous charities and biking off to all parts of the UK and the World. A passionate advocate for the natural world and enabling everyone to engage and enjoy it, we chat about his life and work.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Instagram links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

It's official - Saul and Lucy love tulips! Whether they're showy Darwins and Triumphs, or the more diminutive species, the duo have been busy stocking up on this late spring performer. Daffodils, too, have been purchased, be they ones for naturalising in turf, or planting into pots to fill the air with scent. Fritillaries, anemones, scillas, muscari, lilies, alliums - between Lucy and Saul the stock of Peter Nyssen and J Parkers has been severely dented! We finish the episode with a flurry of other jobs to complete on your estate, large or small, proving that autumn is one of the key seasons for cracking on with practical tasks.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc


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

Autumn signals the slow descent into slumber for another year - but not before the fireworks of the late flowering perennials, exotics and bulbs, the harvest of the last of the beautiful summer veg and finally the firework bank of the tree's as they turn there annual colours of orange, reds and yellows. Its time to switch up the usual gardening to get on with some bigger jobs and also dust off the longer trousers, thermals and the rain coat as moisture levels increase and the temperatures go down. Autumn is always a time for both reflection and planning as the previous growing season and next collide in the Head Gardeners mind - so join Lucy and Saul every week as they bring you more tales from their gardening lives!

It's been three weeks since Head Gardening pair Saul and lucy have recorded a podcast together, so as with every gardener who hasn't touched base for a while its non-stop horti-waffle as we catch up with what has been happening as Summer makes way for the Autumn harden. Lucy updates us as to where her gardening journey is taking her post-East Donyland, and Saul updates us on the Squash harvest, one of the few veg that he has finally mastered (maybe!).

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

After nine years working as Head Gardener for East Donyland Hall, Lucy's time at the garden's helm is coming to an end. As she, Ian, Nick and Boo prepare to say goodbye to the almighty walls that have kept them company over the years, she reminisces over the many happy memories that sit within them. Expect tales of badger invasions, wildflower meadow virals, smuggler catacombs, moat fatalities, notebook tete-a-tetes and, of course, kitchen garden feasts. This is the 85-acre garden where Lucy cut her 'head gardener' teeth - it's been a joyful journey for her and privilege to hold that role.

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

With 70mm of rain in two hours, Saul's description of subsequent flooding in Devon reminds us that, ultimately, the weather dictates all in the garden. With rivers looking like 'Willy Wonka's chocolate factory' has Stonelands escaped unscathed? Lucy hasn't been relying on the weather to give her a dramatic few days, but her week's events remind us that aspects of working life have the ability to swell, peak and wane, and riding those waves can be a good test of our resilience. Step forward, then, with silver linings and multiple packets of custard creams!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc


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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Late summer and Early Autumn is the zenith of the late summer garden, and especially so when your garden comprises the more exotic and tropical foliage that Saul loves so much. So on a solo mission, he takes you for a stroll through the gingers in his life, plus a few other plant cameos that are looking particularly good at this time of year - all while dodging the rain showers - never be told that Saul (and most head gardeners) aren't out in their plots in all weathers!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc


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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Phew! There doesn't seem much time to catch breath, at the moment. Lucy is still unpacking from her show garden adventures, while Saul is dashing between RHS Plant (TOP!) committee duties and Hardy Plant Society events. But the estate gardens are still growing so the duo must also give them due attention and management. Scorching weather has lessened the speed of turf growth (thankfully) so mowing tasks have been replaced by watering and deadheading. Plus, we must also make time for the all-important job of biscuit eating! Thanks Audley End visitors, you're keeping us going ;-)

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc


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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

A second year of BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair means Saul and Lucy are working and playing at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex once again. As well as their usual Plant Expert Tours of the wonderful Walled Garden, Lucy and her team have finally built there long-planned Showcase Garden, and the news of how it fared is beyond thrilling. Saul also gets his annual shot of the weird and wonderful as he samples some of the 'Future' crops being trialled by the Audley Team.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc


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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

With only day's until the start of build-up, we're catching up with Lucy, who along with Audley End Gardeners Gemma Sturges and Kelly Fowler, are designing and building a Grow Your Own Show Garden at BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair at Audley End. The trio are very experienced gardeners, especially with Fruit and Veg, but have stepped outside their comfort Zone with this Show Garden Project. Plans are best laid, plants have been grown to the peak of perfection and jelly babies are at the ready, as the Trio take the step beyond the familiarity of their usual patches of garden into a world of both excitement and pressure. So how's it been going, are they ready and what is there to look forward to if you are coming to the show, Saul finds out.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Gemma @gemma_sturges

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc
Gemma madamtuberist
Kelly fedbyplants

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Has August in 2023 been one of the lushest for many a year, it certainly feels like it. Weeds are on steroids, fruit and veggies are swelling and ripening in unbelievable quantity , and planting, dividing and propagating our precious plants has been a joy. Lucy and Saul have been revelling in all these things and more - as they bulk up their stocks of plants for overwintering taking as many cuttings as they can.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Gardening is a wonderful occupation and hobby (sometimes both) for the mind, soul and body. Saul and Lucy discuss their representative loves through a Summer where the weather has proved to be anything but loved. But the gardens don't care, in fact they are revelling in it! So the head Gardening pair compare tomatoes, talk gingers, discuss whether stress good for flowering and how a little time away from there garden makes all the difference. 

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Cats and Dogs - and the whole farm yard too - its pretty wet out there even in the deserts of Essex. Though a complete opposite to last years dry weather, the rain has meant lush gardens, an explosion of weeds, but also soggy gardeners! However, Lucy has had more on her mind (and body) than the constant precipitation, as her shoulder pain continues to prevent her doing what she loves most in the garden, so the Head Gardening pair take a look at how to manage your body during this most physical of jobs and why its important to think about your health as an important factor for a long and fruitful career.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Ommmpphhh. Lucy and Saul are showing the wear and tear for the garden season, it is important to look after your body to keep you gardening all year long, so sometimes taking it a little easier is a good thing. But do plants have that luxury or is it GO GO GO during their brief season to get the maximum out of their gardening time. Feeding is an important part of keeping your precious plants healthy and hearty but do we really know what were doing when we 'slosh' on our chosen food, and is feeding really needed at all, or is it all about looking after that precious topsoil!

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Is your grass looking lush compared to this time last year, are the weeds growing at a rate of knots, is your cordyline looking like "A hedgehog after drinking three cans of Red Bull", do you fancy getting your nose into a good horticultural text book?  You can rely on Lucy and Saul to answer all these questions and more, in this week's Talking Heads podcast episode. And while Lucy may feel somber that the Hall's kitchen garden is taking a year out, she's by no means resting on her laurels when it comes to growing her own food. 

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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/) 

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From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #19 we are joined by Horticultural Polymath David Hurrion - a very familiar figure in the Horticulture press, at Flower Shows and those who are lucky enough to join him on his adventures across the world of gardening and plants. David has 50 years experience in gardening from his start as Head Gardener of his home plot at the tender age of 8 years old, through training at Writtle College, through Garden Journalism, Teaching,  Nursery Work and regularly hosting stage's at some of the countries biggest flower shows.

Website:
www.davidhurrion.com

YouTube:
David Hurrion

Twitter links:
David @DavidHurrion
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Instagram links:
David davidhurrion
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

We've all been there with are gardens - not enough time in the day to do all those tasks you want to, not enough resources to get the garden looking 100% and not enough space for all those idealist plans. Well gardening, especially professionally in very large spaces, is as much about compromise as it is about getting everything looking perfect. Saul and Lucy chat about how they 'cut their coats to their clothe' and make sure they are working as smart as they can to achieve as much as possible in their gardens.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

It's go, go, go! The Head Gardening duo are holding on tight as their weeks have brought them new potatoes, basil, garlic, raspberries, strawberries - and a whole lot more! Saul mops his brow after a busy but thoroughly enjoyable stint of NGS tours, while Lucy has been busy transporting, potting up and preening the show garden plants for Audley End's September fair. But, of course, we also ensure we take time to enjoy the garden! Observations on weather (it's a given), roses and apples also get air time, and we thank our wonderful Buymeacoffee supporters - you are all marvellous folk!

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

The National Garden Scheme has been supporting garden owners since 1927 to open the gardens for charity, with the proceeds from the entries, plan sales and refreshment benefitting many worthy charities that the NGS supports. If you want to show your garden to the public whether a large garden like Stonelands or a small personal garden, allotment, community garden or horticultural project the the National Garden Scheme  (as well as various other schemes and charities) then listen in as Saul describes the whys, how's, when's and what's of the process, and you can also go to the NGS website to learn more to. 

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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/) 

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Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live 2023 as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 15th-18th June and is a sprawling show of the finest gardens and plants to grace mid-June (as well as the BBC Good Food Show). As well as early morning tours for the very keenest of gardens, the pair have been on their usual Advice Desk answering the broadest of questions that the public bring with them.
 
Saul and Lucy take a good wander around the show both inside the Floral Marquee and out in the Show Gardens, as well as answer a couple of loyal listeners questions. Enjoy a small snippet of the show, and maybe we'll see you next year!

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Summer days are here again - sipping G&T on the terrace, lounging in our pools and holidays in the Algarve!? You must be kidding, for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul it's full-on gardening, as our plots and patches reach the zenith of there horticultural output. This is the season when we really see the results of all those labours over the previous 6 months - colour, texture, scent and flavour all reach their crescendo as the garden provides us with the visual and edible treats that we work so hard for. Enjoy theses long days and wallow in the best gardening has to offer.

Wow - trying to keep up with any garden as we slip from the spring into summer is always a tall order. Lucy and Saul are full throttle at the moment trying to max out the best of their gardens - chopping, pruning, dead-heading, staking, sowing, harvesting, mowing, strimming, and hopefully fitting in some resting, are all part of our daily make-up of work. To keep up Lucy and Saul have been writing lists of tasks, not all get done, but at least we know what needs doing - the same for this podcast episode, where the list of topics feels just as full, so join us again down the garden path for more Horti-waffle!

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

Our gardens are increasingly becoming a space where we can extend our social activities, and a well placed garden building can bring a sense of occasion to the proceedings. But what are the considerations for these (often) costly installations? Where exactly should they be sited, do aesthetics have to be compromised by practicalities, and how on earth do you encourage a 4-meter length of timber to bend exactly where you want it to? Saul and Lucy discuss all this and more, as we also ponder the weather (of course) and salivate at the promise of more biscuits.

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

It's the highlight of the horticultural calendar, as the Talkings Heads pair head to the big smoke of London for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The show is always a talking point for any garden year, sometimes controversial, but always a mecca of what the UK and the world can achieve in the horticultural sphere. Gardens embraced a more naturalistic, sustainable theme with the hot topic of 'weeds' bringing much deliberation. The Great Pavilion felt more alive than ever, with a buzz that has been missing for a couple of years - some of the displays, including the exhibit Lucy was involved in building, were magnificent. We also tucked into some good food, admired a fantastic greenhouse and, as with every year, gossiped and chewed the cud with all our garden friends that we might only see in this hub-bub of the horticultural world.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

Hold onto those horticultural reins and steer her steady - May madness has hit! Both Saul and Lucy are feeling the pressure of spring, what with shows, seedlings, sunshine, rainfall (and subsequently, LOTS of weeds!). So, how do the Head Gardener duo navigate the bombardment of jobs? By taking a few deep breaths! And also remembering to take time out to enjoy why we are all here in the first place, to garden. We also have exciting Chelsea Flower Show plans, as Lucy helps build a show garden for the first time, and Saul then joins her for the marvel that is Monday Press Day.

Twitter link:
Saul @GardeningSaul

Instagram link:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

Lucy and Saul are back to their day-jobs after Beaulieu, Holidays and House sales - which means things are bound to go wrong. This week Saul has had the dreaded curse of 'threes', as three catastrophes have befallen his usual fun at Stonelands, but like water off a ducks back you must reach out for the positives, embrace the setbacks as learning opportunities and enjoy the Garden as May brings one of the most beautiful periods in the growing year!

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

With Saul taking a well deserved rest, Lucy delves into her past to explain why she is such a keen horticulturist. Now retired, her smallholder parents had a massive influence on her career choice. Their horticultural heritage also sheds light on a fascinating collective of market gardeners who, between them at their peak, produced 50 per cent of the UK's glasshouse salads. Termed the 'Land Settlement Agency', it brought many happy times for Lucy and her parents, as hopefully the interviews confirm (apologies to those two asparagus customers!!).

If you'd like to watch the video I mention in this episode, follow this link, or search for 'Growth with the LSA':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmvyX3RWv4Q

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Support the show

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

A favourite annual fixture in their diaries, Lucy and Saul report back from the recent BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair, held at the beautiful gardens of Beaulieu Motor Museum, in the New Forest. As well as helping out on stage with interviews and talks, the duo have had the pleasure of giving tours with Head Gardener, Kelvin Yapp, and his team. Our reputation must proceed us because the estate gang have kept us incredibly well fed and watered - plus, regular podcast listeners have not let us down via their supplies of biscuits - thank you, one and all!

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Support the show

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

Well rested and well fed, Lucy returns from a break in Norfolk this week - but how on earth do gardeners squeeze a holiday in when spring has sprung? Is there ever a good time to leave your garden unattended? Saul also has time away from his Stonelands Estate, so the duo explain how the Donyland and Stonelands trains stay firmly on the tracks whilst their Head Gardener is absent. Automated systems, nifty plant trickery - and the help of green-fingered gardening friends, neighbours and colleagues - all help to ensure that Head Gardeners can rest, while their estates can tick over, unaffected.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

Lucy is away on here Easter holidays, so Saul takes the opportunity to enjoy a sunny Saturday morning to bring you listeners along at a look at how is back garden, full of exotic and tender plants have fared. The winter has been very cold, very dry and very wet in equal thirds so his collection of unusual plants has been tested to its limit! Having said that many of the plants that are starting back into growth have surprised Saul and have given him good heart to plant out in the mild, maritime climate that he enjoys in his Devon garden.

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

For this very special episode we're catching up with Lucy, who along with Audley End Gardeners Gemma Sturges and Kelly Fowler, are designing and building a Grow Your Own Show Garden at BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair at Audley End. The trio are very experienced gardeners, especially with Fruit and Veg, but have stepped outside their comfort Zone with this Show Garden Project. So we catch up with them to see how the initial design was decided, how they are choosing which Veg and Fruit to display, those nurseries and companies that are helping them and a very special cameo appearance from Terry Porter, Show garden Veg supremo who passed on some sage advice and also super secret tips (Not disclosed in this podcast!). So join us for the start of Lucy, Gemma and Kelly's Show Garden adventure.

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul
Gemma @gemma_sturges

Instagram Links:
Lucy headgardenerlc
Gemma madamtuberist
Kelly fedbyplants


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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

After our recent shout out for gardening conundrums, the Talking Heads podcast audience has done us proud! Between Lucy and Saul, the Head Gardener team answer all manner of horticultural questions, from how to keep strawberries healthy, to why magnolias are being denuded - and all manner of things in between. Why do red onions bolt? How do you grow lemongrass? How do I establish fritillaries in my meadow? What do you think of grafted vegetables? What can I grow in dry, windy shade? And our favourite question to answer: what will you do when you retire? Any guesses....?!

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul


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

Support the show

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

You can't of failed to be aware of the impact we have on our natural environment and this week one of the big stories has been the feeling of most of the trees in Plymouth city centre - where Head Gardener Saul calls home. So along with lucy the Talking heads pair discuss whether we are taking the green environment in our cities and towns seriously and whether we should invest more to bring the best of the built and natural environment in partnership - after all isn't that what gardening is all about!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

What is that on the horizon - well, it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year, bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

This week, Lucy has been given the exciting task of observing an ancient Donyland border plan, and interpreting what direction it should take next. Given the climate's present desire to turn on a sixpence, should she attempt to preserve the original designer's plans, or is she at will to evolve them? All gardeners face similar questions in their borders, large and small, so she and Saul muse over what the modern day design process should be. Oh, and we also get exciting peach and tomato news!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

What is that on the horizon - well it's Spring of course. The klaxon for warmer, longer days is finally sounding and Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are looking forward to it immensely. Spring is a wonderful time of year but also incredibly busy for all professional gardeners up and down the country as the gardens come alive with colour, texture and the occasional weed! Join them both as they navigate this beautiful time of year bringing you the sights and sounds of Stonelands and East Donyland, as well as their home gardens and beyond.

Lucy is partial to a list - in fact if you've ever seen her notepad its endlessly filled with tasks to do, little squares and many ticks. Most Head Gardeners have a extensive 'To-do list' its part of the  fabric of our practice and they are all so important, so join the Talking Heads duo as they look through a few tasks on theirs and how they hope to accomplish them and stick that next tick down.

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

Support the show

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

Spring is beckoning, so Saul fires his mower up (but not where you'd think...!) while Lucy is busy deciding where and when to mulch. She also reports back on her visit to the Garden Press Event, and reveals her exciting project for 2023: a show garden! We then return to the topic at hand, gardening, to see what the two have planned for their respective estates during spring. The jobs list is certainly changing with the seasons.

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

Lucy has been at the cutting edge of journalism this week at the Garden Press Event, so Saul takes you on a solo journey down the Dawlish Water at Stonelands to look at what wildlife greets him on a beautiful February morning. Gardening for Wildlife is a big topic for discussion in the garden media at the moment, with many gardeners specifically creating elements of the garden with wildlife in mind - so Saul discusses his view on encouraging wildlife and why its necessary to think about our animal cousins as an essential part of the garden makeup.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

This week, Saul rests his mighty voice, while Lucy takes us on a tour of her home kitchen garden, just outside Colchester. Here, she talks you through her 2023 grow your own plans, as she daydreams of early broad beans, baby carrots and lush spinach. Fruit pruning also needs to be completed, and while some trees should be cut back in summer, there are plenty of edible berry and orchard crops that warrant attention now. The episode is also audio-bombed by Isaac (the cat). Never let it be said that we don't go the extra mile to lay on a suitably furry Saul stand-in...!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

Gardening, like all hobbies and professions, are not immune to the fashions of the moment - whether you're a Galanthophile, Daffodilaholic or need to be the biggest pumpkin on social media. But are these trends the horticultural world's friend or foe, the answer is complicated, whereas trends help highlight the garden to newcomers they can also form a barrier of gardening perfection and cost for some. Lucy and Saul take a look at what trends they follow and those that are maybe a little bemusing.

(Apologies for Saul's sound quality - his microphone decided to die, but the sledgehammer has been dutifully applied and it should be working again for next week!)

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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/) 

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We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

We've all enjoyed those visits to gardens where we've left with bellies full of cake and an imagination full of ideas, so why not become a significant part of that hugely rewarding process? Opening your garden for charity can feel like a daunting process, but inspired by the National Garden Scheme's recent 2023 media launch, Lucy and Saul discuss the many benefits it can bring. Talking to an NGS county organiser, and overcoming any hesitancies you might have, will help raise funds for brilliant causes and give your garden a motivational focus.

Twitter links:
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC
Saul @GardeningSaul

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

The constant rain or frost maybe slightly depressing at this time of year - especially if you are itching to get outside and start working the soil! But it does give us an excuse to sit in our potting shed or workshop and start writing up those plans for the year. Saul and Lucy are making plans now for the year as a great way of giving our work structure as we get busier and busier come the spring and summer. Ordering plants and seeds, maintaining or purchasing machinery, surveying trees and getting creative with new border designs are an ideal way to spend your time now to get on leg-up on the season ahead. So listen in to see what the Head Gardening pair are putting together!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

With snowfall and spring indicators at the forefront of Saul and Lucy's minds, it's clear the start of the season is still at the mercy of the weather. But this downtime is an excellent opportunity to initiate revamping or restructuring areas of your plot, so get your design head on! Regardless of whether your garden is estate- or courtyard-sized there are plenty of resources out there to whet our appetites and twitch our purse strings. So, with that in mind, the duo describe those that are their favourites.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

This week both Saul and Lucy are failures!! But does that matter - of course not. Failure - things going wrong, plants dying, weather ruining our garden are all part of the process, and in fact should be celebrated rather than hidden away. This episode we talk about failure as one of the most important parts in the life of gardener and how it informs a future practice and makes us look at the garden in a different light.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are in the depths of winter, and whatever the weather may - or may not - have in store for us in this traditionally chilly month, Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy turn their thoughts to the year ahead. Often mistaken for a quieter season, there are plenty of winter tasks to complete and projects to initiate. Winter pruning, leaf clearing, renovations and new plantings will all be discussed (we can't promise that conversations about biscuits and lists won't also appear...). Whatever the topic, the duo hope to prime us all for the unfolding gardening seasons.

In this episode, we hear from newly appointed Head Gardener, Danny, asking what advice we would have liked to have been given when we first stepped into our roles. Assessing resources, not rushing in, trusting your instincts and being happy with your decisions are all top of the list, as Lucy and Saul consider the varied tasks and responsibilities this role brings. Hopefully these will resonate with Head Gardener listeners, and guide up-and-coming horticulturists, too.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

On 5th December each year we celebrate World Soil Day, where the importance of this unassuming brown mass is 'unearthed'. Saul and Lucy are both strong believers that a healthy soil is crucial for the consequent vitality of our plants - without soil, we simply wouldn't exist! So, the pair expand our knowledge of what exactly soil is, the role of soil pH, how macro- and microorganisms are fundamental for cycling plant nutrients - and so much more. Hopefully, by the end of this detailed episode, your appreciation of soil will be reinforced.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #18 we are joined by Head Gardener Åsa Gregers-Warg of the Beth Chatto Gardens - one of the UK's finest gardens in Essex. Åsa came over from her homeland of Sweden in 2001 to start as a student gardener under Beth's tutelage, and in the past 20 years has evolved into the Head Gardener, driving the gardens development forward since Beth's death in 2018. Lucy and Saul chat to her about her love for gardening, Beth as a mentor and 20th Century Gardening Icon and also how Åsa sees the development of such a prestigious garden in the future.

Twitter links:
Beth Chatto Gardens @BethChattoGdns
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Instagram links:
Beth Chatto Gardens bethchattogardens
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

Lucy and Saul scoured the internet (i.e. put a tweet out) asking for our podcast listeners to pose some of the most ruthless horticultural questions that could be asked - well now the pair of Head Gardeners try to answer them. What to do with Step-over apples, Favourite Waterproofs and Ladders and a curious case of 19th Century French Hotbed gardening are all on the agenda in the Talking Heads first ever 'Gardeners Question Time' episode.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

Far from closing the door on their respective estates for winter, Lucy and Saul are energetically ticking off a multitude of jobs from their 'to do' list, and they're encouraging their listeners to do the same. Be it clear out the potting shed, grow edibles in your greenhouse, harvest peasticks for plant supports, take hardwood cuttings, set up cold frames, plant garlic or lay mulches, there are endless jobs for this deceptively dormant time of year. With any progress to get ahead in the garden directly related to your enjoyment of it come spring, let the duo inspire you into action in the weeks ahead.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

When winter does arrive - a big if seeing the latest and average temperatures - its crucial we have those plants that need a little  extra TLC ready to overwinter - but to we focus too much on keeping the temperatures just right in our greenhouses and conservatories? Are moisture levels in the compost and soil around our plants precious roots as important (if not more) to how our precious collections fare over the winter period. Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul discuss along with a few more topics in the latest podcast episode.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

With Saul and Lucy being big fans of top quality horticultural waffle, what better place to look for inspiration than the pages of the RHS journal, The Garden? Expect discussions on garlic planting, curry ingredient growing, lowering your carbon footprint via vegetables and much more, as the duo inadvertently stumble across abundant grow your own features. Let's hope that next month's issue of the magazine is an exotics extravaganza!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

Mild weather continues this October - and although this may not bring on a classic display of Autumn colour for our trees, the end of October and start of November is peak season for reds, yellows and oranges. It's also school half-term, Lucy is enjoying some time with her little one, so Saul is left to guide you around Stonelands looking at some of the best trees and flowers that are giving us our final send off the gardening year.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

With mild weather predicted on the horizon, and beautiful days for gardening while the leaves turn their wonderful shades of crimson and yellow, its time to get out and get those gardening tasks done before the winter sets in. Lucy and Saul have a look at some of the Autumn tasks they are getting on with over the next few weeks, from bulb planting, sowing broad beans and pruning their roses. Its an ideal time to get ahead of next seasons plans and use this Indian summer to its fullest.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

Accessing trade accounts, swapping skills with tradesfolk, propagation, upcycling and much more - Saul and Lucy have got plenty of tips for their podcast listeners on how to save money and stretch our funds. Lucy also discusses how she's juggling her busy work schedule, and Saul soldiers on with talks and networking events whilst fighting off a nasty bug. It might not be rock 'n' roll, but it's always authentic! 

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

A key trait of any successful gardener is the humility to confess that there is still so much to learn. With decades of horticultural experience under their belts, Saul and Lucy still get a real buzz from sharing their observations about what this gardening year has taught them. Lucy tells Saul what this spring's storms revealed to her, and Saul shares his insight into the Devonshire plants that, surprisingly, toughed out the summer drought.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

After a good break the Talking Heads duo are back - Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul have recharged their batteries after a long, dry and somewhat busy busy and are looking forward to Autumn and Winter in their respective gardens. FOr many that means protecting precious plants of all levels of hardiness. But what is Hardiness and how does it differ across the country? And how should that effect the level of protection you give your plants - are you a risk taker or experimentalists? Do you want to make sure your on the safe side for everything or is tailoring your plant choice to your microclimate more important? Lucy and Saul take a look at this complicated world on todays episode.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Autumn has arrived on the shores of the UK - a slight freshness to the mornings and a waning of the light signal that subtle change to the season. In the garden the peak colour and growth is starting to give way to the texture and autumnal colours that signal the slow, but beautiful descent, into a period of more dormant reflection. Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of year and also a celebration of what has gone before, the present harvest of abundance but also the future excitement of gardening plans and work.

Saul returns with another episode from his back garden - at its peak of lushness much of what was foliage has now turned floral. Gingers, Brugmansia, Salvias, Begonias have burst forth with a range of hues and scent that makes September the month for the lush jungle gardens around the UK, and a last hurrah of many gardens before the colder weather begins the slow work of pruning and protection for the winter. 

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

Lucy and Saul are out and about again. This time working at BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair held at the beautiful Audley End House and Gardens. The pair have been given the run of the amazing 2.5 acre Walled Garden and along with the gardening team of Louise, Gemma, Kelly, Ursula and Angi they've been waxing lyrical on Fruit and Veg to many of the shows visitors. So sit back and enjoy a few of the sights, sounds and highlights from their weekend. 

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #17 we are joined by Head Gardener Louise Ellis, Kitchen Garden Supervisor Gemma Sturges and Senior Kitchen Gardener Kelly Fowler from Audley End House and Garden, and English Heritage managed estate in Essex. Both Lucy and Saul along with Louise and her staff will be at BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair (2nd-4th September) giving tours of the walled garden and appearing on the various stages giving insights into their work and lots of gardening advice. So we find out about how they got into gardening, some of the crucial elements that go into managing an extensive garden and two and a half acre walled kitchen garden, as well as a few insights into their favourite gardening jobs!

Twitter links:
Gemma @gemma_sturges
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Instagram links:
Gemma madamtuberist
Kelly fedbyplants
Lucy headgardenerlc

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

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

The sporadic nature of summer thorms is testing the patience of Head Gardeners, Saul and Lucy. Rain may be falling locally, but not on their respective Devonshire and Essex estates. So, how do the pair contemplate managing such erratic water supplies, and what can home gardeners do to emulate the same thinking? Water storage tanks, domestic dwelling planning regulations and grey water recycling all get the Talking Heads treatment - plus, we get an insight into what can happen in a head gardener's bathtub!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

Gardening is portrayed in all sorts of media - from Monty on Friday nights, local radio garden phone-ins to YouTube influencers providing the latest gardening trends. The world of Gardening Media may seem glamorous but it is wide in its breadth with many outlets providing a space for the Horticultural voice to be heard. Lucy and Saul thoroughly enjoy using these platforms to  promote their beloved career and pastimes, and give a few tips and advice if you too want to give a little media work a go yourself.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

We're all so much more aware of the benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables these days, and if you're a Head Gardener on an estate with a large kitchen garden, it's happy days during August. Saul and Lucy both love growing food for their employers, so what have they been harvesting over the past few days? Hear tales of courgettes, French beans, salads and agretti (plus, don't forget the fruit!). August is also a key month to start off hardier crops to yield during the cooler months, so Lucy urges you to utilise your glasshouse to the max this autumn and winter. In essence, get sowing!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

Whilst May might have been unseasonally rainy for many UK gardeners, June and July have proved characteristically dry, especially for Lucy in Essex. This prompted the Head Gardener duo to assess their lawns, and ponder what the future might hold for them. Should we just accept that summer droughts equate to brown turf, or are there other planting or management options that will give us the desired green growth between our bare summer toes? Listen in to their thoughts as Lucy and Saul discuss ryegrass, Bermuda grass, and a re-think of brown grass.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hallmarks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

Summer hit the UK (and a lot of Europe) square in the face this week, the heat of Monday and Tuesday was very unusual with England, Wales and Scotland all breaking their record high temperatures. Gardening in the heat is not pleasant, but in a warming world and longer periods of heat in the summer predicted for our usual temperate climate, Gardeners will have to adapt, not only in their working practices but in some areas their plant palettes too. Luckily Lucy had (for the sake of the podcast) just returned from a holiday in Rhodes, where she assures Saul she did plenty of botany to research the topic of todays podcast!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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/) 

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From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #16 we are joined by Deborah Lambkin, Botanical Artist. Deborah is an award winning artist who has worked for many botanical institutions around the UK and Ireland including primarily at RBG, Kew and for the RHS Orchid Committee as well as journals such as Curtis Botanical. Luc and Saul have an in depth conversation about Botanical art, how Deborah approaches the process and why it is so important.

Twitter links:
Deborah @DeborahLambkin
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

Instagram links:
Deborah deborahlambkin
Lucy headgardenerlc

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/)

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Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hallmarks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

The Summer is in fall swing, as the summer solstice has been and gone and warm (even hot!), long days are ahead. Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy realise they haven't seen each other for quite some time, let alone chatted about tales from their respective gardens! So in this episode let the garden chit-chat begin as they Lucy brings stories of bindweed success, bio-fumigant experimentation and meadows that are both Poppy-less but none the less beautiful.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hallmarks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

Have you ever thought of opening your garden for a charity fundraiser? That's exactly what's been on Lucy's mind for the past few months. But what does it take to get your own personal garden ready for the masses, and are you prepared for what folk might say about it? Thankfully, Lucy lives in a lovely village containing generous folk with a healthy appetite for tea, cake and Granny Ann's scones. If anyone dares to criticise those, they'd better be able to run fast...

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

With Lucy's family visiting from Down Under, Saul takes a solo look at his Exotic back garden, focussing on some of his plant passions and those plants he believes need a wider recognition in our Botanical lexicon as gardeners. Brugmansia, Gingers, Bannanas and his recent interest in Proteaceae all feature, as he tries to keep his thoughts on a small section of his plant collection to half an hour. So enjoy an episode of big leaves, fancy flowers and dreams of more tropical climes.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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/) 

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Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live 2022 as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 16th-19th June and is back to its usual sprawling best after the pandemic years - a smorgasbord of plants, gardens and the latest horticultural products (as well as the BBC Good Food Show) bringing some beautiful gardens and wonderful plants to see and buy.
 
Saul and Lucy take a good wander around the show both inside the Floral Marquee and out in the Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders taking a look at a couple of the exhibits and catching up with some friends - both old and new - that have come to see the show as well.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Long summer days, high temperatures and maximum sunlight are the hall marks of a good summer (lets hope for a little rain though!). The Summer of 2022 is eagerly awaited by all the keen gardens up and down the UK as herbaceous borders, roses, veg gardens and meadows are awash with new plantings, flower and a general sense of abundance that only Summer can bring. Whereas Spring is a steady ramping of growth the Summer is a time for 'peak  plant' followed by the mellow and relaxed waning into Autumn - so slap on that sun scream, stick on your favourite summer hat and get out and enjoy all the hard work you've undertaken in your garden!

Lucy realised that its been quite some time since we talked Fruit and Veg, which Saul thought was impossible with the Queen and Fruit and Veg - so its time to set the record straight as we bring you up-to-date with what is going on in our respective Kitchen Gardens. Expect tales of the acceptance of mice, blooming large artichokes and catch cropping to the maximum. June is always that time when the Kitchen Garden seems to be running at full steam and soon enough tasty Veg and Fruit will be the norm from our productive plots.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Support the show

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Lucy and Saul are thoroughly enjoying the 2022 growing season, especially as society gets used to opening its doors again. With Chelsea under their belts, the duo are excited to visit their favourites gardens and plant fairs this summer, but what does it take to be a nursery owner on this relentless shows circuit? Long working hours and excessive time on the road can make it tough, so we think we owe these unsung heroes of the plant hunting world a well deserved pat on the back.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

So after a 3 year hiatus, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is back in its usual May slot with all the pomp and ceremony you can expect from what is the world's most prestigious gathering of flowers, gardens and horticulturists. Both Lucy and Saul were very privileged to be able to see the show on its traditional Monday Press Day, and although the spent a very busy day in conversation with many garden friends they hadn't seen for quite a while, the pair discuss their highlights and memories from a day outside their own gardens.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Unusual yew hedge dieback, bluebell conundrums and box moth developments - it's all in a week's work for the modern Head Gardener! Saul listens on as Lucy tells him how, with a little help from her friends, she's solved three mysteries at the Hall this week. As experienced as we might be,  it still gives us a buzz to research and discover the latest findings in the horticultural world. Talking of worlds, Saul and Lucy are also incredibly excited to be visiting the world famous Chelsea Flower Show early next week - it's time to scrub down and spruce up!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Join Saul for a week in the life of a Head Gardener. Lucy is having a rest this week after our latest hectic schedule of shows and some overdue holiday, so Saul takes you on a five day look at how his week at Stonelands goes, including the highs of a beautifully flowering Spring to the lows of tyre punctures! For the week Saul gives you a little insight into what working as a Head Gardener is all about, and why its a career both Lucy and him love so very much.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy have left the relative comfort of their own gardens to travel to Hampshire to spend three days at Beaulieu, not only the venue for the National Motor Museum but also venue of BBC Gardeners World Spring Fair and the permanent setting for both the Victorian Flower Gardens and a beautiful Walled Vegetable Garden. The pair have been leading tours of the gardens all week with Kelvin and Dan from the gardening staff, and have enjoyed chatting away to the visiting public and giving them all sorts of gardening advice.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

We've all had triumphs and tragedy in our personal gardening adventures, and professional Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are no different. Over Easter there have been some wonderful moments for the pair including saving the Easter Bunny and the generosity of Gardening peers when deliveries of Plants and Horti-books. But as with all the natural world disasters to occur that can send even the most hardened Head Gardener into a world of despair. So buckle up as we explore the highs and lows of our gardening lives!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Sowing directly into the soil is a forgotten skill, so Saul and Lucy jog the memories of their podcast audience to remind them of the different way to get this technique right. Plus, discover why Saul is relying on the stimulatory effects of wild garlic, after a tour around Hampshire. Lucy reveals how the first firing up of her Sheen x300 flame gun went, and the duo also launch the second of their exciting prize draws.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

With Saul 'back' upright and in the garden, Lucy and him have a small chat on how important looking after your body is when it comes to having a long and healthy horticultural career. The pair also talk about the sudden, and in most cases damaging, frost that the whole country experienced - trying to control temperatures in the Greenhouse is an especially challenging task. We also see how our meadows are progressing with some timely intervention by Lucy to remove a thuggish problem. So tune in for more gardening waffle!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Ouch! Mr Walker is out for the horticultural count with a bad back, so Lucy goes solo this week by giving you a guide of her kitchen garden. At 40x40ft she's packed a plethora of crops into this area (blueberries, raspberries, pears, apples, cherries, peaches, gages, rhubarb, asparagus - the list goes on and on) so in this episode she gives you an insight into what any respectful grow-your-owner would be doing on their spring plot. With the weather yoyo-ing, her thoughts are dominated by how her fruit flowers will deal with this chilly spell - only time will tell how her precious crops fare.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Saul and Lucy are on the road in Essex again - this time visiting Audley End Garden on a secret mission to do some filming. So seeing each other again promotes some more entertaining Horticultural waffle, as they bask in the glorious Spring sunshine and warmth that has characterised the last week or so over most of the UK. The pair chat about trained fruit, their meadows waking up and Lucy's new experiment with Bio-fumigants. We also announce the winner of our first ever Supporters competition for a pair of Niwaki Secateurs and cleaning kit.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the early tufts of seedlings and herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever-accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - it's a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever, Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

With Lucy being poorly, and Saul tied up with the post-storms clear up, both Head Gardeners admit to being a fortnight or so behind their usual timetable. Mulching needs attention, and so the duo crack on with various spring jobs. Lucy also visited the Garden Press Event, looking for new peat-free composts and securing a beautiful pair of Niwaki secateurs as a thank-you to the podcast's Buymeacoffee supporters. Saul also talks shredders, observing how these substantial machines have improved in design and quality over the decades.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has just arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the beginning tufts of seedlings a herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - its a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

If there is one guarantee in March is that the nations gardeners are splurging their money on seed packets for both the Vegetable Garden and for annuals and perennials in their flower borders. One of our listeners, Nikki Parsons, is one such gardener who got in contact with us to ask about how we store our seed and what we do when we don't have a seed packet's crucial sowing instructions in front of us? We also give a few tips on watering, talks Blood Oranges and Rhubarb and give a huge amount of thanks to our Buymeacoffee supporters!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring 2022 has just arrived and a new chapter in our gardening lives has started as bulbs, early blossom and the beginning tufts of seedlings a herbaceous perennials speak of the year ahead. As days in spring seem to tumble one after another in an ever accelerating list of garden jobs, plantings and hum of mowers - its a great time to shake off the winter slumber and start to engage with the natural world around us, enjoying the spectacles of spring that lie within. As ever Saul and Lucy will bring you their waffled musings and exciting revelations as this most joyous of seasons unfolds!

Meteorological spring has passed and we can officially look forward to longer days and temperatures slowly creeping upwards (no frosts please!). For Lucy and Saul this means more than ever we can engage with those jobs that all gardeners love and shake off the waterproofs and thermals that characterise are winter wardrobe. Magnolia is flowering,  the last of the over-wintering vegetables are being consumed, Spring fairs and flower shows are on the horizon and were even looking at our budgets to see what planty delights (and occasional bit of kit) we can afford. So join us for some more Talking Heads Horti-waffle!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are now firmly in winter, and you might be thinking that Head Gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain are taking things easy on their respective estates. But as these latest episodes will show, the two are fervently working away as busily as ever. With jobs such as planting, pruning, clearing and renovating on the cards, Lucy and Saul are at no risk of getting cold during this chillier season. The gardening friends are also busy thinking of the year ahead, so expect plenty of discussions about the weather, biscuits, buying new equipment, mowing, spreadsheets vs. lists, (more biscuits), and what plans they have for their own private gardens.

When warm air and cold air do a merry dance about the North Atlantic waters, it concludes with turbulent times over the UK. Storms Dudley, Eunice, Franklin and Gladys wreaked their havoc last week, and now gardens up and down the country are clearing up the resulting damage. Lucy and Saul discuss the effects of these "once in a generation" wind speeds on the Donyland and Stonelands estates, plus they get to grips with a few impressive meteorological terms. Remedial pruning is also on the menu, and the duo achieve an optimistic attitude towards the opportunities this brings.


Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #15 we are joined by David Turner, Marketing Services Manager at Mr Fothergills Seeds. David has spent many years around the retailing and marketing of many horticultural amenity products and has spent the last decade with Mr Fothergills as their PR Contact and liaising with both the industry and the public on its various seed products. We have a good chat to him about his job, the seed industry in general and also an in-depth look at how they coped with the pandemic when Seed orders increased 500% almost overnight!!

Twitter links:
Mr Fothergills Seeds @MrFothergill
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are now firmly in winter, and you might be thinking that Head Gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain are taking things easy on their respective estates. But as these latest episodes will show, the two are fervently working away as busily as ever. With jobs such as planting, pruning, clearing and renovating on the cards, Lucy and Saul are at no risk of getting cold during this chillier season. The gardening friends are also busy thinking of the year ahead, so expect plenty of discussions about the weather, biscuits, buying new equipment, mowing, spreadsheets vs. lists, (more biscuits), and what plans they have for their own private gardens.

Saul reveals that the tell tale signs of spring are emerging in Devon, whereas Lucy still waits patiently for Essex to catch up on its floral displays. Forced bulbs, new purchases and a cunning plan to thwart mice damage all get the attention of Lucy and Saul this week, as Saul admits his sticker addiction to the masses and Lucy claims that Essex mice have definitely watched Mission Impossible. The duo also discuss the excitement that visiting new gardens can bring. Saul has already begun his 2022 road trip, whereas Lucy is still sitting on the starting grid. Spring, it seems, is definitely around the corner.


Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are now firmly in winter, and you might be thinking that Head Gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain are taking things easy on their respective estates. But as these latest episodes will show, the two are fervently working away as busily as ever. With jobs such as planting, pruning, clearing and renovating on the cards, Lucy and Saul are at no risk of getting cold during this chillier season. The gardening friends are also busy thinking of the year ahead, so expect plenty of discussions about the weather, biscuits, buying new equipment, mowing, spreadsheets vs. lists, (more biscuits), and what plans they have for their own private gardens.

Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul are starting to get excited - the new garden season is almost upon us, days are getting longer and early spring flowers, bulbs and blossom is starting to appear. They have lots to chat about as the work begins to focus towards the coming year from the benefits of storing your precious harvests to the very unseasonable need to mow your lawns in mid-winter. They also emphasise that although it may get cold out there gardeners are still working hard and what you wear and how you work is essential to prevent one's toes and nose from feeling the frost!


Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are now firmly in winter, and you might be thinking that Head Gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain are taking things easy on their respective estates. But as these latest episodes will show, the two are fervently working away as busily as ever. With jobs such as planting, pruning, clearing and renovating on the cards, Lucy and Saul are at no risk of getting cold during this chillier season. The gardening friends are also busy thinking of the year ahead, so expect plenty of discussions about the weather, biscuits, buying new equipment, mowing, spreadsheets vs. lists, (more biscuits), and what plans they have for their own private gardens.

One of Saul's many tasks this winter was to organise a snowdrop festival - so after its success Lucy wanted to pick his brains about this diminutive bulb's allure, it's cultivation and Saul's must-grow varieties. In return, Lucy reveals to Saul that her flame gun is on order (exciting!) and she also discusses her plans to use plant-based biofumigants in the walled kitchen garden at East Donyland Hall. Listener, Ian, also has his question about box moth answered.


Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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/) 

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Last week, Friday 14th January we lost one of the Horticultural world's icons in Peter Seabrook - for six decades he relentlessly championed the sector, gardens and those gardeners he worked with. His sudden death has saddened many people including Saul and Lucy who had the honour to get to know him in their gardening lives. On this special tribute episode we pay tribute to him and replay our interview with him from the beginning of last year. RIP Peter.

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We are now firmly in winter, and you might be thinking that Head Gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain are taking things easy on their respective estates. But as these latest episodes will show, the two are fervently working away as busily as ever. With jobs such as planting, pruning, clearing and renovating on the cards, Lucy and Saul are at no risk of getting cold during this chillier season. The gardening friends are also busy thinking of the year ahead, so expect plenty of discussions about the weather, biscuits, buying new equipment, mowing, spreadsheets vs. lists, (more biscuits), and what plans they have for their own private gardens.

The thought of cracking open the first seed packets of the year whets any gardeners appetite, but what varieties make their way onto Saul and Lucy's order list? In this episode the duo explain what parameters persuade them to order specific seeds. Large estates have the luxury of space allowing us to run our own trials, plus estate owners have their own benchmark 'must-grow' crops. But influences such as RHS AGM varieties, improvements in disease resistance - and even the lure of a catchy name - all help Lucy and Saul whittle down and fine-tune their orders.


Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

We are now firmly in winter, and you might be thinking that Head Gardeners Saul Walker and Lucy Chamberlain are taking things easy on their respective estates. But as these latest episodes will show, the two are fervently working away as busily as ever. With jobs such as planting, pruning, clearing and renovating on the cards, Lucy and Saul are at no risk of getting cold during this chillier season. The gardening friends are also busy thinking of the year ahead, so expect plenty of discussions about the weather, biscuits, buying new equipment, mowing, spreadsheets vs. lists, (more biscuits), and what plans they have for their own private gardens.

It's the New Year, so Saul and Lucy are feeling well rested after their Christmas break. Both received gifts that any green-fingered person would enjoy, and both admit to putting on a little festive weight. So, with intentions to crack on with their gardening teams, Saul tells Lucy what he's been up to at Stonelands this week, and Lucy reveals what's been keeping her busy at her keyboard these past few months. This Head Gardening duo are certainly not resting on their laurels - it's still a busy and exciting world that they live in!


Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

The year is almost out as Christmas and the New Year celebrations begin! A perfect time for Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul to have a ponder about the last year (or the last two years really!) and define how the wish to approach their gardening practice for the coming season and those resolutions that will stoke some energy and joy into the horticultural spaces where the love to linger. This is the last episode of this year, so to all our listeners we both wish you a very Happy Christmas and look forward to talking (waffling!) to you all again in 2022.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul realised they had no topic for this podcast and instead of taking a few minutes to figure one out, they just pressed recorded and start what came naturally to both of them - horticultural waffle! So the pair discuss what is going on in their gardens and their lives - Bamboo, Holly, Carrots, Trees and Laurel all find their way onto the podcast.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

The gardening sector is jam packed with writers, bloggers, radio broadcasters, TV personalities, authors, photographers, influencers - and, we add humbly - podcasters such as yours truly. So, we were on the edge of our seats when the winners of the 2021 Garden Media Guild Awards were announced recently. Did Lucy and Saul bag a gong? Were we both dancing on our respective potting benches? This year, as finalists, we were the bridesmaids - but who were the brides?! Listen in to find out.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

Whether you love formal or informal, evergreen or deciduous, large or small - hedges play an intrinsic role in our gardens. There is a hedging plant to suit all gardens, tastes and budgets but it's crucial to put some thought into exactly what and how you want to plant, to ensure the hedge meets your specific needs. Saul and Lucy muse on what would be their hedging masterclass.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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/) 

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From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #14 we are joined by the brand new Head Gardener at Helmingham Hall, Brendan Arundel. Having made the jump from Cambridge Botanic Garden and Wisley Apprentice, via RHS Hyde Hall to Helmingham in no short time, Brendan gives us his thoughts on becoming a first time Head Gardener, the confidence it takes to make that step up into managing an historic space and his advice to those who have started in our industry about how to reach this worthwhile career milestone.

Apologies for some of the audio quality on this interview.

Twitter links:
Brendan @BrendanArundel
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

Throughout  Spring, Summer and Autumn we think of the Vegetable plots as a hive of growing energy and then a larder of beautiful fruit and veg for our kitchens - but are we guilty of switching of during the winter believing that there not much going on. Well lucy lets Saul know that actually the winter time can be just as busy when it comes to growing, harvesting and planning in the vegetable garden!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

Autumn leaf colours are one of the marvels of our temperate climate, but what exactly is happening within the leaf, and why do some trees and shrubs exhibit more glorious tones than others? Lucy and Saul muse on this topic, delving into the world of chlorophyll, anthocyanins and carotenoids. Leafmould, too, is at our fingertips at this time of year - is there science behind this? You bet!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

One of Saul and Lucy's great joys at this time of year is to have a wander into the orchards they look after, pluck an apple straight from the tree and sink their teeth into one of nature's greatest fruits! And both implore you to take a look at the 100's and 100's of varieties that can be grown in this country to find your favourite and give it a go in your garden - from Cox's Orange Pippin to Pitmaston's Pineapple, the wonderfully complex world of Apples is a feast of flavour, colour and texture.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!

Well, in actual fact - don't mention Saul's pumpkins or Lucy's parsnips, because both have gone awry this year. But, when things go wrong in the garden it's an opportunity to learn, and both Head Gardeners are happy to confess that new pests, persistent weeds and ingrained behaviours have taught them a lot this year. Ultimately, that the very best approach when disasters strike - take it on the chin, learn from your observations, and step forward into 2022 with newfound knowledge. So, onwards and upwards!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #13 we are joined by the wonderfully energetic Plantsman and Head Gardener  Steven Edney - who in his gardening career has built a lasting legacy of clever and spectacular planting as Head Gardener at The Salutation and briefly at Canterbury Cathedral, before jumping full throttle with his partner Lou Dowle into the very exciting cultivation of their own 3 acre plot - 'The Land' - with its 100m long border, 1-acre Jungle Garden and new 'No-name' nursery space.

Twitter links:
Steven @stevenedney4
Lou @LouDowle
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

The mellow fruitfulness of Autumn has been heralded by the subtle change in temperature and darker mornings and evenings in the garden. For Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker this starts one of their favourite times of year as Lucy's vegetable patch is at maximum yield producing food for East Donyland Hall and Saul revels in the changing colours in the canopies of his precious treescape at Stonelands. So join us throughout the season as we bring tales of crispy leaves, hibernating plants and plenty of pumpkins!
 
Although Autumn may bring signs that this year's gardening season is coming to end - it is also the perfect time to plan and prepare for next years display - and this is very nicely encapsulated by planting bulbs. Bulbs are always a trust exercise in the hope of a brilliant display to start the Spring in the coming year, so Lucy and Saul have a chat about what bulbs they are purchasing and how they use them in the gardens they look after.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
At the start of Saul's week break from his usual working life at Stonelands he travelled up to his old stomping ground in London to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower show - an event he managed some 7 years ago and he hadn't visited since. With the added bonus of being the first ever Chelsea held in September he was very much looking forward to seeing if the show had evolved and gives his opinion on the show.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
If there is a subject that gets regularly looked at on the Talking Heads Podcast its Saul and Lucy's meadows which they are both very rightly proud of! And the late summer into autumn period is an essential period in any meadows meadows maintenance, as it is usually (but not always!) time to cut any meadow and start thinking about sowing or planting any new additions for next years display. So join Saul and Lucy as they chat about the hard work they are doing now, required to keep your meadow vigorous and beautiful in the coming year.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
This week, Lucy is on her lonesome but she keeps herself busy by giving us a tour of the autumnal highlights (and lowlights) of her home kitchen garden. She's also been run off her feet organising the Hall's garden for a major event, so she gives us an insight into what's happening in the brain of any Head Gardener in the build up to such significant dates. There have been plenty of lists....!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live - Special Edition as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 26-29th August and consists of a Special Edition from the outside areas of the usual show ground and the Floral Marquee - bringing some beautiful gardens and wonderful plants to see and buy.
 
Our main role at BBC GWLive is to man the Plant Experts Desk. Over the 4-day show period Lucy and Saul answered nigh on 1,000 plant-based queries, from how to control a nuisance pest to where to buy that must-have plant. Being at the coalface puts us in a unique position, so let these two Head Gardeners reveal what the most popular questions were at this year's Special Edition show.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live - Special Edition as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 26-29th August and consists of a Special Edition from the outside areas of the usual show ground and the Floral Marquee - bringing some beautiful gardens and wonderful plants to see and buy.
 
As the show draws to a close Saul and Lucy focus on the show gardens - a blend of contemporary cottage chic, fiery urban jungles, 21st century living and an amazing garden from the Association of Professional Landscapers that highlights the stellar and somewhat underappreciated work that goes into building much of the hard landscaping in our precious green spaces.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live - Special Edition as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 26-29th August and consists of a Special Edition from the outside areas of the usual show ground and the Floral Marquee - bringing some beautiful gardens and wonderful plants to see and buy.
 
On Day 3 of the show, Saul and Lucy had the great privilege of sitting down with Monty Don, the face of Friday Night Gardening, to talk about his great love for Longmeadow (his garden in Herefordshire), how he manages its creation and maintenance and his plans for its future while juggling the demands of being one of the most filmed gardens in the world.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live - Special Edition as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 26-29th August and consists of a Special Edition from the outside areas of the usual show ground and the Floral Marquee - bringing some beautiful gardens and wonderful plants to see and buy.
 
As Day 2 ends Saul and Lucy spend some time in one of the inspirational ends of the show - the Beautiful Borders - a showcase of talented new designers building and plant small borders and mini-gardens to show off their skills. We take a look at luscious tropical themes, subtle and calming Meadows, a slice of country heaven and a chic contemporary space. Plus we fit in some time to look at the yearly fun of the Schools Wheel Barrow competition.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Saul and Lucy are at BBC Gardener's World Live - Special Edition as the Plant Experts. The show spans the 26-29th August and consists of a Special Edition from the outside areas of the usual show ground and the Floral Marquee - bringing some beautiful gardens and wonderful plants to see and buy.
 
Tonight Lucy and Saul have a wander around their favourite part of the show - the Floral Marquee - and look at four of their favourite exhibits - Robinsons (MAmmoth Onion), Shropshire Sarracena, Larchfield Trees and Alchemy Ferns.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
Ahhh - Lucy and Saul finally get loose of the shackles in their gardens and are allowed out for some well deserved Flower Show action. Next week - between the 26th and 29th August - it's BBC Gardener's World Live from the NEC in Birmingham, and as with every year we've been there we'll be manning the Plants Expert desk giving first rate advice, plant ID's and pest and disease consolation to anyone who wants to come and chat with us - so see you there!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
Lucy and Saul love their jobs - don't get us wrong - but rather than paint a rose-tinted picture we thought our listeners would appreciate an authentic, honest account of Head Gardener life. So, whether it's being attacked by swans, flexing your flat-pack muscles with furniture or just managing the general juggle of jobs, welcome to the busy, exciting - and occasionally frustrating - world of the modern Head Gardener!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
If there is one thing your guaranteed to be able to talk to any Head Gardener about in the UK - it is the weather - and Lucy and Saul are no different, in fact you may have noticed on the podcast that we're quite obsessed with it. There is good reason as the weather dictates much of our gardening practice and planning. Over the year we've seen many weather extremes and unseasonably strange weather patterns, which if climate change makes them the 'new normal', we may have to look how we manage and tend our green spaces.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
If you do one thing this weekend, complete a project to entice pollinating insects into your garden. That's the message that the @BBCRadio2's #BigBeeChallenge want to spread, so Lucy and Saul are very happy to oblige. In this special episode, we interview wildlife gardening guru, Kate Bradbury, to glean some expert tips on how to encourage bees onto your plot.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
The RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival a couple of weeks ago, were Lucy and Saul's first major flower show for almost two years, and the pair were overjoyed to see the gardens, floral exhibits and many industry friends that they hadn't been in contact with for all that time. In this episode we take a look at a few of the highlights and delve into the show gardens and exactly what messages we should be taking from them in our own garden!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
In Episode 101, Lucy takes a little time out from her week to wax lyrical about her favourite crop - tomatoes. Hugely popular with amateur and professional growers alike, Lucy reminisces about her childhood and how her smallholding upbringing cemented her love for this crop. She takes a tour of her own glasshouse and vegetable garden to discuss what she's growing this year, then touches on how to thwart the main pests and diseases, with a special focus on tomato late blight.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
Episode 100 has arrived - and Lucy and Saul can't quite believe that they've reached such a milestone producing their podcast. Both are incredibly grateful to everyone who listens - so a big Thank you to all of you. To celebrate the pair take a trip to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower show, as well taking a look back at past interviews on the podcast and get a few messages from their podcast friends!
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
Before we finally get to Episode 100 - Saul takes his microphone on a small field trip to the Orchard Meadow at Stonelands. His proudest achievement at Stonelands the slow and patient creation of the meadow at Stonelands is a annual highlight to his garden management, so he takes some time to discuss his thoughts on how he is creating and managing the space to focus on local and native wild flowers and allowing the space to evolve under its own design.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #12 we are joined by Horticultural powerhouse Martin Fish - who in his 40+ year gardening career has been the youngest Head Gardener in the country, built and ran his own nursery with wife Jill, spent 30 years answering your gardening questions on local Radio and now runs his own vlog - Pots and Trowels - with over 200 episodes straight from his garden!

Twitter links:
Martin @MartinFishHort
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
Where would summer be with out the Rose - the flower that is perennially voted as the nations favourite! And rightly so - as there is a colour, form, habit and shape to suit practically anyone, with varieties numbered in the 1000's. Head gardeners Lucy and Saul take a look at the roses at there estate gardens highlighting a few of their favourite varieties, and also give a few tips on how to get the best our of these wonderful plants.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Summer is upon us at last! The warmer weather seems much overdue this year, so Lucy and Saul are relieved to at last see the abundance of growth that this season can bring. This explosion requires selective intervention and management, so get ready for lively conversations about how these two experienced Head Gardeners keep calm - and cool - during the garden's peak period.
 
During late May and into June, glasshouses up and down the land undergo a transition from propagation powerhouse to ornamental delight. Hear how Saul and Lucy set those wheels in motion, and glean a few tips and tricks for getting your space under glass looking in top-notch condition for these most productive of months ahead.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
In six years, Lucy and her husband have transformed their back garden from an overgrown wilderness into a beautiful and highly productive edible plot. Here, Lucy gives us a guided tour, explaining how she positions her plants for maximum growth, and ensures a succession of fresh fruit and veg for her kitchen.

 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
They're a pain in the proverbial if you view them as weeds, yet they can be fundamental to the success of annual meadows, plus gravel and cottage gardens. How do you view self-seeders? Lucy and Saul have a fair bit of experience between them in both cases, so in this episode they ponder the best ways to manage this potential abundance.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
In a fun episode of the podcast Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy dream of being stranded on their own 'Desert Island' Garden filled with all the plants they love - an ultimate horticultural nirvana. They have a chat to each other about exactly how it would be planted, who they'd invite over and how they'd spend their days in gardening paradise.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
At last plants are starting to put on generous new growth, as this year's spring gradually warms up. Owners of perennial borders, wall shrubs and climbers should act now, stepping in to support those plants that can't be left to their own devices. There are many different ways to stake, and both Saul and Lucy are tackling this annual task now on their respective estates. Wires, too, need attention to keep them taught and ensure they're sufficiently strong for the task. It's a busy time ahead!
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
For so many not a single raindrop has fallen on our gardens in the totality of April, quite an unusual phenomenon when April and May can usually be guaranteed to supply those Spring Showers than keep are gardens fresh and vibrant through to the Autumn. Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy are dependant on the ideal weather to keep there large gardens thriving, so what do they do when unpredictable patterns of weather threaten to spoil our beautiful displays. They both discuss the short and long term jobs they are thinking about when dealing with drought periods.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
With this in mind, Lucy and Saul decide to showcase their must-grow spring bulbs, perennials and shrubs - especially those that often get overlooked. Choice enkianthus, arisarums, erythroniums, corylopsis, stachyurus and many more should receive pride of place in spring borders, according to these two Head Gardeners. So, if you fancy shaking up the usual spring suspects, grab your notebook!
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
Magnolia trees are one of the spectacles in Spring that many people will drive miles out of their way to see - a cloud of white/pink flowers with subtle scents marks the point where winter gives way to the new growing year in style. Magnolia is a very diverse genus and there are many guidelines on their cultivation to ponder before you plant one, so Lucy and Saul take a look at this most magnificent of woody species. 
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
Greenhouses, conservatories, porches and windowsills are brimming with seedlings and cutting at the moment, and these delicate plants prefer things to be in the 'goldilocks' range - not too hot and not too cold. So, fluctuating spring temperatures make life a bit tricky! Saul and Lucy both have large greenhouses on their estates, and more modest ones at home - and they've learnt over the years how to manage them successfully. In this episode, they share what they've gleaned.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
Spending a lot of time in their estate gardens, it would be remiss of Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul not to acknowledge their own personal green spaces at home and how they allow both of them to fulfil their passion for growing the plants they love. So the pair discuss some of the projects they have going on over Easter as they prepare their personal plant havens for the coming year.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
Bare-root, container-grown, woody, herbaceous - all these variations affect the way you establish these plants in your garden. Early to mid spring is the ideal time to plant, so put that trowel and spade to good use by taking stock of what Saul and Lucy consider to be best practice. There are many different right ways to plant, but there are also pitfalls to avoid - get it right now and you'll enjoy your plant investments for many years to come.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
Whether you're just entering your college years, or you're tempted by a career change later in your working life, what routes are available to expand and validate your gardening credentials? Lucy and Saul have both devoted thousands of hours to furthering their horticultural education, learning both in the classroom and via practical tutorials and assessments. But there are other routes to follow, so these two Head Gardeners discuss which one may be right for you.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

Spring is in the air - as the early season flowers bring a hint of colour and joy, banishing the winter blues away. Head Gardeners such as Lucy and Saul relish this moment in the year as the starting gun for a season of flower, foliage and ultimate fun. Gardening kicks off and all the hard work of winter enters a crescendo of horticultural wonder.
 
 Many gardeners both old and new grow vegetables, in fact if there is one section of our industry that is always popular, growing your own food is one of them. But have you stopped and thought about growing your own cut flowers at the same time. With a few packets of seed and a little space you can be harvesting bouquets all year long, and reducing the 'flower miles' that is associated with buying pre-packaged flowers at your local shop. Lucy and Saul discuss what they grow and how it has become an essential part of their productive plots.
 
 Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

While a practical career in horticulture is firmly on many listeners 'to do' list, how do budding writers break into the competitive world of garden journalism? With years of magazine and book writing experience under her belt, Lucy explains the monthly production cycle of garden magazines, and offers insight into the best methods for approaching endlessly busy editors. 

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

From time to time Lucy and Saul decided they wanted to record conversations with other Head Gardeners, Curators, Garden Owners and fellow horticulturists across the UK, these will be published as Bonus Episodes alongside their usual format of chatting about their gardening lives. We hope you enjoy.

For the Bonus Episode #11 Lucy and Saul and joined by Lou Nicholls, Head Gardener at Ulting Wick, a plantsman paradise in Essex owned by Phillipa Burrough (See Episode 56 and 57 for Lucy and Saul's visit there). Lou chats to us about her time in horticulture, both ups and downs, what its like to work for a very keen and hands-on garden owner, and lets us into why she set up the Adventures in Horticulture Garden Club, a crowdsourced group which brings big name speakers to the virtual gardening world.

Twitter links:
Lou @loujnicholls
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

With the cold of winter (hopefully!) behind us, and the spring knocking at the door - Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul are turning their attention to the various herbaceous and mixed borders at their respective estates and at home - and there is a lot of work to do in a relatively small window of time, to get them ready for the crescendo of growth and colour later in the year.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

Despite much of the country facing freezing temperatures at the moment, if you dodge the snow showers there are plenty of gardening tasks that can be completed now. Pruning, planting and (when any snow has melted) even grass-cutting are on the job sheets of these two busy Head Gardeners. The jobs need completing, plus Lucy and Saul need to keep moving in order not to freeze!

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

Its time to get sowing - Tomatoes, Chillies, Peppers and Aubergines are starting their year long journey from seed to fruit, so on today's podcast Head Gardeners Lucy and Saul take a look at what there sowing and their propagation space. Plus we give a few tips to those who haven't got large greenhouses to grow this years crops and flowers.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

The recent announcement that The RHS Chelsea Flower Show has moved to September, and that others, too, are being postponed, prompted Lucy and Saul to consider how gardening shows, fairs and festivals in general need to evolve, in order to protect themselves from unforeseen external influences. Ex-Chelsea Shows Manager Saul offers his invaluable insight, and Lucy, too, wonders what the visitor experience will be in years to come.

witter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

Weeds and weeding probably takes up the most time on Head Gardeners Saul and Lucy's estates, in fact if you don't like weeding becoming a professional gardener is probably not for you! However, before you think weeding is just a monotonous activity there is actually a lot more to think about when it comes to approaching your borders, so the pair discuss this age-old problem.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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

2021 has started but much of the troubles of 2020 have continued, and we understand that the full repercussions of what we have all been through are now being felt. But with summer and autumn now distant and the glory of winter around us, we continue with a healthy amount of discussion on some of our favourite horticultural topics, bringing a little dose of the garden to your daily lives.

The National Garden Scheme has raised significant and invaluable funds for a vast number of good causes over the past century, and its ambitions show no signs of slowing down. 2020 saw garden visits dented significantly, so how does the NGS plan to protect its beneficiaries from any future financial insecurity? Saul and Lucy were lucky enough to find out, via their 2021 media launch.

Twitter links:
Saul @GardeningSaul
Lucy @HeadGardenerLC

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