Sarah Raven

What horse meat scandal? Welcomed with a steamy slice of scalded (beef) lasagna for lunch, the good folks, that are the garden media, congregated at the annual Garden Press Event at the Barbican in London, to peruse all that is new and exciting in horticulture retail. Retailers have been busy; new product launches, diversification of product lines, and cunning marketing strategies. Horticultural retail is buzzing… Start ‘em early Retailers have [...]

There really is no other way of saying it, this year the kitchen garden has been pants. Record breaking hot March weather, subsequent and unremitting torrential rain, persistent cold temperatures, fuming storms, in addition to exceptionally lethal slug vandalism and uncanny pigeon mutilation, amount to the perfect recipe for disaster. With the bulk of painstakingly grown produce mullered, and end of June nearing, one can’t help but wonder if there [...]

Even beyond the boundaries of the showground, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show always manages to create incredible buzz and excitement, about all things gardening. Every year, after the show, the urge to get into the garden is overwhelming and unfortunately so too, is the urge to acquire every (new) favourite plant seen at the show. A handful of rather clever people have managed to harness the energy surrounding the show, [...]

Through the throng of garden press, a rather determined elderly gentleman worked his way towards me at last week’s Garden Press Event. ‘Are you the tall lady I am to meet to discuss this?’, he inquired whilst feverishly pointing to an edition of Garden Centre Update (GCU) magazine. Unfortunately, qualifying only on the ambiguous height requirements, he swiftly moved on. Only, as later revealed in various discussions on the trade [...]

Leading on from Horticultural Renaissance of Wildflowers and Wildflower Fruit & Nut Case; An interview with Sarah Raven, this post collates the experienced advice of Sarah Raven, Peter Clay, Crocus co-founder, Richard Hopkins plant manager at Applegarth nurseries, Peter Chapman owner Perryhill nurseries and Paul Barney owner Edulis, on how to actually go about creating, or as is in our case, restoring, a wildflower meadow. They all generously agreed to [...]

Leading on from Horticultural Renaissance of Wildflowers, this is the second post in the series; the interview with Sarah Raven highlighting not only her passion for wildflowers, but their importance to the natural habitat; the countryside. Introducing Sarah Raven is pointless. Any serious gardener will know her for her skill in growing tantalising fruit and vegetables, pulling off colour combinations worthy of Christopher Lloyd, command of wild flowers and respective [...]

Intentions to restoring native wildflowers in our field & garden originated from Sarah Raven’s report on Gardener’s World back in 2008. Years, and many gardening projects later, plans for the field are still on the back burner.  However, talk of Raven’s new book on wildflowers rejuvenated plans. She kindly agreed to an interview, where she shared her passion, enthusiasm and vast knowledge on the subject. This is the first of [...]

What a difference a little rain makes. Alas, little being the operative word. Despite reports of storms, rainy weather forecasts, we have just had one, admittedly good, shower two weeks ago. Since then, we have only been cruelly beguiled by thick luscious clouds, but none since have dropped any of their precious cargo. Fortunately for our, still dry, garden though, temperatures have dropped, which gives us all, plants included, a [...]

There really is nothing quite like freshly picked asparagus. So delicious that many admittedly perish even before reaching the pot. One can only but agree with Sarah Raven, who dotingly refers to them as ‘Garden Caviar’, even though I am not quite the Caviar devotee. After much research, our elected varieties are; Gijnlim, Backlim and Purple Passion. According to various trusted garden scriptures, March is the best time to plant [...]