Not Just a Garden

Strap in for this recap as we follow Gardeners' World 2026 episode 17's flying visit of the first ever RHS Badminton Flower Show. We check out the movers & shakers, the growers & showers, and marvel at cuttings in glass bottles, despite the hot-flushes.And in our CCCUP we hear that Greg Anderton from Leafy Lytham won Best Plant Village Exhibit, and Dan Stearne from Dan's Plants won yet ANOTHER gold for his display. As if that's not enough for one week, Dan's also made it onto the front cover of The Sunday Times Home - with an article telling the story of his journey, from growing sweet peas with Grandma for teachers at the end of school term, to winning multiple RHS Gold Medals. Big congrats to both Greg and Dan!🥂🌿Farida Sober (from ep61 of Chit-Chats) is generously offering our listeners 20% discount on her newly released eBook: THE FERMENTED GRASS METHOD – Bring Your Soil Back to Life with Nature’s Own Fertility Cycle. Use the code SWEETPEA at checkout🌿🥇🥇We also remind our listeners that Dan’s still the man! With another Gold at RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Dan’s Plants is THE plant nursery to buy your plants from this season! Dan’s kindly giving a 10% discount on all his award-winning plants with our exclusive code NJAG10🥇🥇Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

Renowned Australian garden designer Marylyn Abbott was on Gardeners' World 2025 Winter Special episode 1 when she and Head Gardener Dominic Rendell showed us her spectacular gardens at West Green House. We were thrilled that Marylyn could join us for a Chit-Chat and on this episode we hear about the incredible history of the house and gardens and the hidden obelisks, nymphaeums, bridges, birdcages, follies and more discovered around the grounds.We also find out about how Marylyn became Marketing Manager of The Sydney Opera House, having Nelson Rockefeller and his wife to dinner, the challenges of waterproofing a lake, operas in the green theatre, floods in outback Australia, and the beauty of the original and magnificent bush-houses.  Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Dangar IslandKennerton GreenHighgrove GardensMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

Disclaimer: Adam was NOT digging out 200mThis week on our recap of Gardeners' World 2026 episode 16 we finally discover the truth behind Sweetpea and the missing Hidcote White. We also have a healthy debate about what a "more perennial" plant is, relearn the health benefits of mullein, establish the difference between tulip fire and fire blight, and ask why oh why oh why are our courgettes only producing male flowers a second year in a row.On Gardeners' World this week, Adam Frost's on his knees again, before Jamie Butterworth meets with Chantal Sparrow at West Dean Gardens to talk Delphinium elatums. Rajul Shah shows us around her contemporary cottage garden at Le Strange Close in Norwich and Carol Klein gives us a catch up on progress in her place in Devon. Finally Tracey West in Birmingham shows us her garden full of roses with some tips on keeping them so beautiful.🌿Farida Sober (from ep61 of Chit-Chats) is generously offering our listeners 20% discount on her newly released eBook: THE FERMENTED GRASS METHOD – Bring Your Soil Back to Life with Nature’s Own Fertility Cycle. Use the code SWEETPEA at checkout🌿🥇🥇We also remind our listeners that Dan’s still the man! With another Gold at RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Dan’s Plants is THE plant nursery to buy your plants from this season! Dan’s kindly giving a 10% discount on all his award-winning plants with our exclusive code NJAG10🥇🥇Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

This week on our recap of Gardeners' World 2026 episode 15, we dig deeper into the difference between cork and a sponge and learn the REALLY good news that pasta can be good for you. We also find out from a listener about Oregon exploding whales and beautiful mixed hedgerows in the USA, whilst also hearing from a couple of the designers from last week's Gardeners' World Live and learning a bit more about their beautiful show garden.On Gardeners' World, Richard Marshall in Bishops Cleeve shares his varied National Collection of penstemon, though we're flummoxed by the Hidcote White🤷🏼‍♀️, and head gardener Selina Ozanne shows Arit Anderson around the beautiful gardens at The Exchange in Erith.The very cool and inspiring Jenny Radbourne from Wensleydale Botanicals gives us a tour of her stunning garden in Wensleydale, before Rachel de Thame heads to Hanham Court - between Bristol & Bath👀 - to look at the natural beauty of self-seeders.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

Ben from Worcester Terrariums was on Gardeners' World 2025 Winter Special Episode 2 during which he showed just a few of his many incredible terrariums whilst giving top tips on creating our own.We were delighted Ben could join us for a Chit-Chat and not just so that Sweetpea could gather intel on her terrarium attempts! We also learned about the various and unique animals Ben has been working with, from land-walking fish to see-through frogs, and some fun-facts about mourning geckos that blew our tiny minds🤯 We hear about Ben's work with Marvel and Disney, the beautiful books he's written, how he navigates the various social media platforms, his interest in some unique Japanese gardening techniques, and how he first entered into the world of horticulture.We also learn about Ben's dream garden which is perfect timing as he makes plans for his soon to be new garden in Stroud later this year! We look at some of the many spaces that are inspiring him, including Nigel Slater's urban sanctuary, DocBlock's botanical garden, and Jake Hobson from Niwaki’s garden, and find out about the very real importance of a shed to beat all sheds.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/Bluebell ArboretumDocblock's Botanical GardenTropical Aquarium PlantsMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

This week on episode 14 we follow Gardeners' World to GW Live and a whistle-stop tour of some of the gardens, border, and barrows at the show, with a plant list available to our subscribers.The show has Sweetpea wondering if it's better to eat more but smaller pieces, or fewer but larger pieces of cake in one sitting, and we consider the pros and cons of using cork, both in the bathroom, in wine bottles, and in the garden, with an underlying question still to be answered.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGardenBbG5AHGnLMbcfF2riyRB

A wise man once said, "gardening adds years to your life and life to your years" and on this episode of Chit-Chats, we meet that wise man.James was on Gardeners' World 2026 episode 2 when he and his son Noah gave us a tour of their pretty garden in Weymouth, but you may also know James from his appearance on series 4 of the BBC's The Traitors.In this Chit-Chat, we hear more about James' time as a Faithful, as well as his gardening business and love of the outdoors. Whether it's heading to the beach during his lunch break with flip-flops and towel at the ready, or making regular trips to the New Forest for some therapeutic tree time, it's clear that nature plays a big part in his life.We also take a musical meander, hearing about James' own music career, the "shedudio" where he records, a few gems from his extensive CD collection, and some words of wisdom for Sweetpea.And that's all before we delve into what would make James' dream garden; a magical place of multi-country influences, Eden Project style greenhouses, willow archways to private beaches (strictly pebble not sand), mineral waterfalls, majestic giant redwoods, and more.Some mentions from our guest, links can be found here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/gardens/New Forest National ParkMore Not Just a GardenWebsite: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden

This week on episode 13 of our Gardeners' World 2026 recap we find out the word for slapping someone across the face with a wet fish, before hearing more about stigmatic lips.On Gardeners' World we join Arit Anderson as she meets with Sharon Hockenhull in the stunning wildlife attracting garden she designed 8 years ago, and we consider the importance of our nocturnal pollinating friends. We're given a guided tour of Hayley Holgate's beautiful "Essex Tiny Garden" near Maldon, before Ellen Pye shows us the plans for her Morris Dancing inspired May Morning show border for Gardeners' World Live. Finally Joe Swift takes us to Annie and Jonathan Roberts' fantastic garden in Beaminster in Dorset where we also meet artist Flora Roberts and her son Jesse.Relevant links can be found on our website here: https://notjustagarden.co.uk/recaps/More Not Just a Gardenhttps://notjustagarden.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/notjusta_garden/https://www.facebook.com/notjustagarden/https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustaGarden