Talking Heads - a Gardening Podcast

Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.During the fifth Heatwave of the year, Saul is soloing it while out and abut in the South East of the UK working for Plant Heritage and visiting some gardens with the RHS Tender Ornamental Expert Group in Norfolk. Felbrigg Hall (NT) was a surprise of exotic and Mediterranean planting in a Walled garden space that included lush borders, some big pumpkins and lots of interesting metal sculptures. East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden, lived up to the hype of being one of the UKs premier gardens, with Hidcote-like garden rooms, stuffed with exotic and traditional plantings and a fantastic 'Desert Wash' dry garden that looked just right in the sweltering heat, transporting you to other warmer parts of the world. We also took part in the Hedychium trial being held there, and also being Saul's favourite part of the whole trip!Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.We give a long overdue shoutout to our wonderful listeners in this episode - and in doing so discuss raptors, buddleja aphids, petrichor (Lucy is NOT jealous...), chilli peppers, fuchsia gall mites and tropical tree selection in a Lancashire garden - in doing so we inadvertently fill the whole 30 minutes when we actually had planned to also discuss summer gardening 'funk' (which we have now moved to next weeks episode). If this isn't evidence that this podcasting duo are the king and queen of hortiwaffle, I don't know what is!Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.The lack of rain in many parts of the UK (not all) has been the number one issue for weeks now - rain dances, water bowsers and talk of changing plantings are now a regular feature of conversations throughout gardens as the  Environment Agency declares half of the UK to be in official drought status! But although there have been many losers in this hot, dry weather its not all bad and Saul and Lucy wanted to bringing a little positivity in this weeks podcast with talk of juicy peaches, luscious exotic planting and of course, the wood-fired hot tub!Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.It's been yet another week of dry weather, and with no end in sight the gardening duo ponder what this might mean for the survival of certain insect species - friend and foe. Saul also reports back on his travels, and some exciting news for Plant Heritage, while Lucy turns her (tired) brain towards the Gardeners' World Autumn Fair at Audley End, Essex.  Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Wow it is dry out there and the temperatures are well above the norm for long periods - so both Lucy and Saul are, to say the least, continuing in good British form - 'mad dogs and Englishmen' comes to mind. Gardening still needs to be done though - if just the watering - so Lucy has been continuing to shape her client's plots and Saul has spent almost 12 days getting ready and then half-wilting at RHS Badminton - so listen in to find out how that goes - and if the worse happens at least we can all go for a dip in Lucy's new hottub!Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.With Saul attending to his Plant Heritage duties at RHS Badminton, Lucy takes this opportunity to give you an audio tour of her modern kitchen garden. Summer is now at its peak, so naturally her thoughts are focused on how to create recipes with all those homegrown fruit, veg and herbs. If you have an aversion to butter, turn your ears away now...Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Wow, what a scorcher last week was in the UK - and beyond! Of course, this gets the weather obsessed podcast duo thinking: what will we need to do to adjust our mindset towards working in and taking pleasure trips to, gardens. A flexible mindset is key. We also pay tribute to show veg master Terry Porter, who sadly passed away in recent days. It's guaranteed that if you visited gardening shows these past few decades, you'll have seen his phenomenal work first hand.Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Well every year the NEC beckons the Talking Heads Duo back to BBC Gardeners World Live to share their garden wisdom on the Plants Expert Desk, as well as show people around the Floral Marquee when no-one else is there and this year, Lucy builds her Make a Metre Matter border. Altogether it keep the Talking Head duo incredibly busy, so recording a podcast can be a bitty affair, but join us as we share some of the sights and voices at this years show!Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious - but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardener's tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.After many weeks apart, Lucy and Saul finally catch up with each other (via Zoom) to discover what's been going on in their respective gardening lives. Saul is still recovering from The Chelsea Flower Show, and Lucy is busy prepping for her Beautiful Border at BBC Gardeners' World Live at the NEC. In the meantime, the dry spell has ended with rain falling in both Devon and Essex - giving the duo's gardens a much needed rest from the scorching conditions. If any listeners want to similarly refresh Lucy and Saul at the NEC, all biscuits are welcome!!Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 showSupport the show

Summer is here - we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after their planty spaces, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Saul had an incredible experience at the #RHSChelseaFlowerShow, very different for his usual Monday Press Day jolly with Lucy, but instead a full on fortnight of Pavilion  , Garden promoting, media-hunting, volunteer wrangling while keeping his energy levels high (not always successful) and his brain ticking 9definitely not always successful). SO join him in this episode as he looks back at the the Flower show process and some of his highlights from the week in May where everyone talks about gardens and plants.Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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

On Thursday 21st May, we learnt of the passing of Matt Biggs - horticultural everyman, incredibly nice guy, and titan in both knowledge of our industry and hobby, but also fabulous communicator as well. Matt's career spanned all mediums from Tv, Book, Press and also Radio, where he spent 30 years delighting Garden Question Time audiences with his passion and wit for horticulture. Lucy and Saul count Matt as a true garden friend having spent a lot of time with him during the show season and elsewhere - where all we can say is he truly was Gardening's Nicest Guy. Matt was battling cancer till his death, and was very vocal about the support he wanted to make to the Mount Vernon Sanctuary Garden project that he was spearheading. If you have the chance to donate in his memory, please click hereSupport the show

Spring is well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Whilst the Chelsea Flower Show is keeping Mr Walker incredibly busy, Lucy has been kicking her literal heels whilst she waits for her body to heal. Luckily, there's plenty going on in the garden to keep her entertained, so join her in a 30-minute tour of Chateau Chamberlain to hear about teucriums, irises, aphids and tetrapanax. It's a horticultural smorgasbord of delights!Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!With Saul having a well deserved rest up in the Shetland Islands, Lucy focuses her attention on the BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair in Beaulieu, where she's putting together a Beautiful Border along with De-Graft Mensah to promote the Gardeners' World Make a Metre Matter campaign. This, along with her usual kitchen garden tours with the Beaulieu garden team, plus some appearances on the Gardeners' World magazine main stage, has kept her quite busy.... If you want to see her experience, watch her latest reels on her Instagram profile (link below) but if you fancy a half-hour episode describing this process, download away! Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!After their traditional weather waffle and (jingle pending) a new regular shed slot, Lucy and Saul ramble verbally through their respective weeks. While Saul has been repotting houseplants and prepping himself for Expert Group and Plant Heritage commitments, Lucy has been redressing her flagging energy levels after shining up Kingsland Gardens like a brand new penny for a family birthday event. There's also timely chat about the recent news on feeding our garden birds, as the duo reflect on how some task adjustments are easier to embrace than others. Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Easter and gardens are a synonymous mix - who didn't visit a garden over last week to see all the spring flowers and enjoy a does of Vitamin D. Well Lucy and Saul definitely took advantage of the sunshine to see other peoples gardens waking up to the 2026 garden season. They've also been hard at work (well at least one of the m has) looking after their clients gardens, and seeing all that hard work come to fruition. Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Get your thinking caps on - it's symposium time! Leaving their dibbers and desks behind for a day, Saul and Lucy trot off to London to attend the RHS symposium. Here, under one roof, many horticultural specialist's minds come together to ponder how the shift in climate is affecting our gardening mindset. Of course, there are concerns - but there are also opportunities - and both podcasters are pleasantly surprised by the new attitude towards biodiversity.Instagram links:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 well and truly here - as clocks change, sunny days lengthen, and the occasional chilly night catches us unaware. But the main thing is plants are really starting to wake up and give us something to cheer about after a very wet and gloomy winter! Saul and Lucy look forward to really getting to grips with there gardens both at home and work - and Plant collections up and down the breathe of the UK start showing themselves at their best for all to behold. Finally the 2026 gardening year begins!Brandish those pressure washers, Saul is back in the garden cleaning up after winter and preparing the way for his Exotics, while Lucy squeezing through Berberis bushes to reach nettles - nothing like some jeopardy to fulfil your gardening day. Also Flower shows are starting to gather pace - Daffodils and Orchids, Plant fairs and  Village Spring shows fill our weekends as we marvel at the UK's appetite for excellent gardening. Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!With Saul being busy with his Plant Heritage work this week, Lucy takes up the reins by guiding us, day by day, through her working week. She visits Georgina on Monday, speaks to Jon on Tuesday, works with Mick on Wednesday, has a scone with Elizabeth on Thursday, and visits Len on Friday - all in the name of horticulture, of course. The Essex weather this week has been lovely - blue skies, buzzing bees - and even the odd Brimstone butterfly - so no wonder she ends her days by flopping into or onto the nearest soft furnishing she can find, with a satisfying sigh (and biscuit...).Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well Winter is really starting to transform into Spring now, and so are our gardens. Lucy returns after her week away with tales of gardening shenanigans from pruning and training red currants, to clearing the final winter debris from emerging herbaceous borders, all while Saul does nothing, though it will soon be show season! The pair also start reflecting back on their life in horticulture, prompted by Frances' words last year, and realise a lot has changed in 25 years of being in the garden - what will the next 25 years hold, well one things for sure - more #HortiWaffle!Support the show

Winter is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well who would have thought that we'd reach episode 300 without Lucy and I killing each other (it's been close), but seriously what a journey over the last 6 years - and fear not we're only getting started. Having said that Lucy is obviously not too bothered as unfortunately she had to go off and talk about Vegetables (suprise, suprise) somewhere in Essex, so Saul picked up the phone and bought in the next best thing.. Frances Tophill...now a fellow Devonian and one of the most down to earth Gardeners World presenters your likely to meet!Instagram link:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensFrances francestophillIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!At last! Spring is on the horizon, we've had a few days without rain and it finally feels as though that winter dankness is coming to an end. So, the podcasting duo celebrate with... a day out in London! It's to visit the Garden Press Event - and as well as catching up with their horticultural chums, Lucy and Saul see innovations in peat-free composts, water conservation and much more. As if that wasn't enough, Saul has also been able to flex his gardening muscles with some fruit tree and wisteria pruning, while Lucy blitzes a huge rash of weeds, pots up cyclamen seedlings and plants some impressive standard elaeagnus.Instagram link:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well well well - the weather has...…not improved! On what feels like one of the wettest years in recent memory Gardening (and all outdoor pursuits) has been a bit of a long slog. But the Talking Heads pair try to console each other with those gardening tasks they can get on with (or at least Saul is feeling smug about being in an office - little does he know Spring is on the horizon). So Wineberries, Pruning, Houseplants and jobs out of the rain are the order of the moment. Also as this comes out on Valentines Day, love is in the air for our rarer plants as Plant Heritage Launch the Wishlist, a matchmaking service for those who are looking for the lost and unloved. Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Well - it's still raining! So while Saul feels sure that he's made the right decision and re-located to an office, Lucy throws herself into wet wintry showers by choosing jobs to keep her warm. This week, a day full of composting is on her list, as she discovers the joy of the full composting cycle. A listener also asks the podcasting team for their views on encouraging birds into the garden during winter. Ponds, berries, diverse plantings - and compost heaps - all feature in the reply.Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Rain, rain go away.....it's been a thoroughly wet time to be in the UK, especially in the Westcountry where Saul has been tying down his Bananas to stop them floating away. So Gardening has been a consistent duck under cover ever half hour, or fetching the rods from the cobwebs at the back of the garage to unblock some culvert or twenty! That hasn't stopped Lucy though who has been decorating her dog, Lily, with saw dust and Saul who finally emerged from the Office, ate a Banana and transformed into 'Dr Orchid' for the RHS Rosemoor Houseplant Weekend.Instagram link:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!With Saul having indoor mouse problems (three of them!) and Lucy admitting her addiction to homogenous gravel, the duo reveal what really presses a professional gardener's buttons during winter. Thankfully, rose pruning season is also in earnest so Lucy is getting her horticultural fix. Saul has been pressing new buttons, too (see his instagram link, below) and discovering that in social media world, January is the new February for seed sowing. Is this wise, or should seed packets remain closed a little longer? Listen in to find out their thoughts...Instagram link:Saul plantsmansaulLucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Finally the #hortiwaffle returns, as Saul has managed to break the surface of his new job and the information overload that is coming his way, and spend some time digesting his first few exciting weeks with Plant Heritage. Lucy, fresh of a false start week, is back into compost turning and topiary pruning. But the pair are really enjoying the winter structure the garden provides at this time of year, the promise of new growth to come and most of all enjoying another year in the wonderful world of horticulture!Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensSaul plantsmansaulLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!And they're off! While Saul enjoys his new life in a warm, dry office, Lucy is dodging the weather whilst still attempting to earn a crust (thank goodness for gardening radio and magazines :-). Snowfall and storm Goretti force her to dance the merry winter waltz, as she sidesteps sleet and soggy spells. Her body also reminds her that two weeks of doing very little physically, followed by intense compost hurling then a rapid cooldown, spells a date with Mr Nurophen and Master Wheatbag. Onwards and upwards then, for next week!LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is arriving in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Will it snow this Christmas? Will Saul ever manage to finally retrieve all his plants from Stonelands? Will Lucy push the John Deere to breaking point this time? Only listening to this final episode of 2025 will answer these burning questions, as we get the ever truly authentic recollections of the professional gardening life. More importantly, though - what do Lucy and Saul think of the predictions for 2026, set by the RHS (luckily, the year of the tomato and the year of the tropicals are both in there). It's unlikely that either podcaster will be piercing their water butt anytime soon, though...Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is arriving in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Many of our listeners will know Martin Fish from his wonderful podcast Pots and Trowels - a gardener very much anchored in the Northern climes of the UK but also a Senior Show judge, Gardens advisor for the RHS and former nursery man. Martin (along with his wide Gill) has been an ever present fixture at many Flower Shows and always has his finger on the pulse of gardening in this country. So we have a good chat about the state of horticulture especially at the Flower Shows and also a little insight into his new garden too.LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is arriving in the UK, so while Saul and Lucy hunker down, don layers and fire up the kettle more frequently than usual, what do their minds turn to in the garden? This is the perfect season for clearance of 2025 growth, for establishing new designs and for de-cluttering stores and greenhouses. Any hours that you can put into the garden now, will reward you hugely come spring and summer, when the jobs mount up. Quick - more tea and biscuits!Podcast listeners have turned Lucy's head from the garden this week, as talk of her favourite biscuit reach a peak. But, she's regained her focus by making Christmas wreaths and playing with her new toy: the Scheppach RS400 compost sieve. Saul, meanwhile has been taking a spin in the Stonelands' 4x4, to source a Christmas tree for the family. He's also been attempting to extract himself physically and emotionally from the Stonelands estate - a process that is taking him longer than anticipated. Wisley glasshouse staff, watch out...LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.Leaves, frost and rain...that's been this Autumn summed up...so not much gardening talk on todays podcast but instead two pieces of huge news in Saul and Lucy's lives. After 10 years of early mornings, tractor breakdowns and the occasional piece of cake Saul is leaving Stonelands to take up a new job role at Plant Heritage, while Lucy becomes a two-time winner of the Garden Media Guilds Practical Journalist of the Year! You would have thought the pair were good at their jobs...well lets find out..Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.Balancing clients, weather, school runs and shifting workloads is all part and parcel of the professional gardener's lifestyle, so Lucy lets us listen in on her teabreaks this week to reveal exactly what her diary involves. Whether she's judging tide times on Mersea Island, dodging rainclouds in her village or dashing across town to help out her smallholder parents, there's never a dull moment and each week poses different challenges. But, of course, there's always time for a much-loved biscuit (or mince pie, or jam doughnut, or slice of lemon drizzle, or....).Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.Wow - who on earth would have thought that from that first episode six years ago we'd now be celebrating our 500,000th download - but here we are! An almighty "thank you!" from Saul and Lucy - we are blown away and have an extra spring in our gardening steps this week. We celebrate in the only way we know how - by talking in depth about leaf mould, of course! Lignin, cellulose, fungi and the passage of time all get placed under the TH spotlight. And are you pruning your clematis earlier and earlier? Lucy and Saul have both observed this phenomenon - a sign of the shifting times.LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.The Autumn peak has been and gone, and leaves are dominating the ground especially with the squally winds and rain - it's still quite mild though! The big news in the industry at the moment though is the RHS State of Gardening Report, a deep dive into everything gardening especially what our indistry contributes to the economy, health, the environment and to society in general, an interesting and often eye opening look at why Horticulture is great! Also launched recently is the RHS Horticultural Hub, for those gardeners who know their onions and want to get into a more in depth look of their favourite hobby or job.Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.It's squally out there! With the podcast being recorded on the eve of Storm Benjamin's arrival, Saul and Lucy are turning their thoughts to one of the major autumn tasks - leaf clearing. While it's key to get this fallen foliage off the lawns, is it essential to remove autumn leaves from borders? The duo give this concept practical consideration. And it's been an incredible year for apples, this year, so much so that Stonelands has produced tonnes of fruit. Lucky Plymouth listeners can get their hands on this prestigious harvest - Saul explains how.Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.The pinnacle of the Autumn season is almost upon us as the trees up and down the UK turn their seasonal colours and end our garden season with one of the finest spectacles we've seen in years - make sure you get to your local arboretum or garden this year to see what colours your local trees are turning. We also answer a question on overwintering plants in the more extreme weather of Scotland, and end with a plea to join your local garden club, leave the internet behind and have a good natter with actual in-person gardeners, nothing is better on a darker evening with a mug of tea and  bourbon!LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.It's the hedges and edges episode! Saul and Lucy have both been flexing their muscles on long-pole hedgecutters and lawnmowers this week. Machinery reliance always comes with the risk of breakdown, though, and both gardeners have had issues with their hedging equipment - at this point we either tinker, or upgrade! Pitmaston Pineapple apple has given a bumper harvest for Saul, and Lucy's fruit thinning has worked its magic, too - the fruit stores at Stonelands and Kingsland are burgeoning as a consequence.LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.This week Lucy has had two of of fantastic listeners write to her with questions about how we garden in the winter - specifically how to overwinter precious Pelargoniums and if your using a greenhouse how best to frost-proof it and make sure your precious plants survive. We also commiserate ourselves on broken vehicles - remember to send us your old banger photos - and the gremlins continue to infect even this podcast......!Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.Last week, Lucy and Saul were posed an excellent listener question: Jo asks - how did we progress into our head gardening roles and the associated people management? What were the difficulties, were we given any training, and how did we find the experience? Well Jo, consider your question answered! The blessing of this horticultural industry is that everybody can experience different scenarios - and Saul and Lucy are no different. Oh, but we do both offer excellent green woodpecker experiences as part of our apprenticeships...Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 is here on the Talking Heads podcast - as the last vestiges of Summer in the garden dodge the wet and windy weather while trying to give the last hurrah before that inevitable but pleasantly seasonable slide into the hibernation of winter. But gardeners never sleep so Lucy and Saul are still out and about in their plots plying the horticultural trade they both love. So join them both for more horti-waffle and insights into the life of the modern, professional gardener.Saul returns from his holidays (technically he is actually still on them!) and Lucy drags herself away from that tropical border to come to the aid to a Dad with a Brassica Cage. Upcycling is the name of the game when it comes to protecting those Brussel sprouts, plus a few cub-scout worth knots! Also hedging is still dominating the gardeners day-job - when will the miles of foliage that needs trimming end! LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.With Saul taking a well deserved break after our time at Audley End for the Gardeners' World Autumn Fair, Lucy lifts the lid on her latest crush (after eating some homegrown sweetcorn and tomatoes, of course - that's a life-long love). Yes, she's entered the world of tropical plants after Saul's persistent persuasions via 278 zoom calls, of 35-minute duration. Names trip off her lips such as coleus (plectranthus), ensete, amaranth, salvia, musa, fasicularia (and dahlia, Saul....) as she conveys what she's learnt on her journey so far. LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Lucy and Saul certainly have their thinking caps on for this episode, as the duo discuss the specifics of what being a Head Gardener entails. Is it solely gardening, with a team of folk that you manage, or should you also be expected to dabble in electrics, plumbing, carpentry and chauffeuring? In all honesty, we think it should be whatever you're happy to do - and talking of which, we've both been very happy in our own gardens this week. Saul has been excitedly eyeing up his ginger blooms, whilst Lucy has been cooking up a variety of home-grown meals for her family. Thanks, mum and dad, for the sweetcorn!LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.How has the years warm and dry weather effected the productivity of our plots - well Lucy went to find out when she visited the Fothergills Trial Ground open day where they grow 1500 varieties of flowers, veg and fruit to show case their seed varieties. The picture is obviously mixed with some crops enjoying the temperatures while others struggling to get going, a similar picture back home at our gardens. We also look into some more 'Horticultural News' both sad and positive - including the new Adam Greathead Award for aspiring gardeners to gain valuable experience at John Massey Gardens, Ashwood Nursery and Great Dixter.Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Take a day out to spray weeds, and nobody will see any results instantly - but woe betide you if you neglect this essential job and customers consequently see a sea of fat hen (or, even worse, oxalis or creeping buttercup...) a week or so down the line. Juggling jobs is all part of the professional gardener's daily challenges, and understanding your clients' needs, along with good two-way communication, allows you to make sound decisions for all concerned. Plus, Saul has been spending more time in Stoneland's kitchen garden whereas Lucy has flexed her  tropical muscles once again. Great minds obviously do think alike - especially with revelations about wild swims and marine biology aspirations...Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.The school Summer holidays have started in the UK which means Lucy and her family have gone for a well deserved break to Beaulieu, a place familiar to all listeners. But that means Saul is on his own and bringing you along on his Saturday shenanigans down at the Beach and at the Story of Emily, a brand new garden and museum in West Cornwall, all while trying to fit some horticulture waffle in - a bracing dip, some jungle garden action and raucous folk music abound!LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Well, who would have thought that Lucy Chamberlain would get hooked on tropical plants, or that Saul Walker would be munching his way through lettuces and sweet peppers in the quest for edible perfection? But, that's what you can find happening in the life of two curious professional gardeners. The duo have also been fighting the never-ending battle of weeds, Lucy flexes her Niwake shears, and Saul peers into his wheelbarrow for a detailed weather report. Tomasz Schafernaker, we salute you!LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.In this episode, Lucy throws a curveball at Saul by introducing him to her love of machinery. Long-pole hedge cutters, brushcutters, leaf blowers and strimmers are all essential daily kit for professional gardeners. The hot, dry weather still causes the duo to wilt (hooray for Saturday the 19th... :-) and Lucy finds that some wildlife has struggled to cope in her customer's garden. The Ecowitt app gets a shoutout for gardeners who like to stalk their peers' climate (very interesting, Saul...) and the windy weather has ruffled Lucy's feathers, while Saul remains as cool as a cucumber. Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.The third UK summer heatwave is occurring, with summers getting warmer and drier - especially noticeable in Saul's usually much wetter county of Devon, this means a lot of plants need a little extra TLC to get them looking at their best. Lucy in dry Essex is, however, extremely used to these conditions and gives us a few hints and tips on plants to grow in the dry. Also a lot of pruning going on including the topiary, so appropriately the Henchman Topiary Awards have been announced - with some fantastical animals being created by artful pruning. However, forget all this because this weekend it's all about the BBQ - so enjoy your garden in the best way possible with grilled veggies and a banger or two!LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.Apologies for again this week mentioning the 's'-word (sweat) but it's been foisty throughout the UK, meaning that Lucy and Saul have yet again plenty of weather fodder to get their teeth into. They also discover a design issue with their battery mowers - are their other professional gardeners out there whacking their Hayters on an all-too-frequent basis? Hedges also go under the spotlight - do you cut yours once or twice a year? And we give a shoutout to our Australian listeners in NSW who are experiencing a cyclone bomb with tidal surges, high winds and up to 200mm of rainfall in just a few hours. Hunker down, stay safe and emerge unscathed if you can.LinkedIn link:Saul WalkerInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensIntro 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 in 2025 is here - and after one of the sunniest and driest Springs on record, we enter the long days and sultry nights with the garden looking glorious but always looking to the horizon for a little bit of rain to keep things looking green and lush. Herbaceous borders are set to maximum colour, vegetable beds seem to multiply in growth weekly and the gardeners tan is ever present. So enjoy the long summer days, take some time to appreciate time in your garden and join the Talking Heads pair as they continue to look after the spaces they are in charge of, as well as enjoying their gardens at home.It's well established that Lucy resides in arid Essex and Saul lives in drenched Devon, and the podcasting duo are certainly experiencing their standard levels of rainfall this summer. But gluts and dearths of moisture aside, they are both gardening in the heat, so how can you continue to keep your customers happy whilst also preserving your welfare? Hats, shade and (sorry) sweat aside, there are jobs to be done, with pruning, weeding, and getting round to those never-completed 'cherry' tasks all on the agenda. Just another standard week in the life of two professional gardeners, then!Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro 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