With much thanks to CED Natural Stone, we bring you the last in the series on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 episodes and today Peter Donegan chats with the great British artist and sculptor John O'Connor. From day dreams and counting snowflakes, to how John left landscaping, his first attempt at sculpting and art school to becoming one of the most talented sculptors that I have ever had the honour to sit and chat with. The Sodshow is available every week in iTunes, spotify and all good podcast stores. Spotify Tim Howell. Spotify ! The Sodshow: Twitter: @sodshow facebook: The Sodshow ins ..read more

Peter Donegan returns to chats with Con Traas' Apple Farm in Tipperary. It is an apple farm. But it's also a lot more than just an apple farm.  It's worth noting maybe that Peter was on holidays working whist camping, again; surrounded by all that the fruit farm has to offer. The old buddies chat practices that were then acceptable, what is done now, changes in presentation over the eons and just what the supermarket will want to see and what is logic in growing and being responsible.  Subscribe to The Sodshow in iTunes, all good podcast stores and via www.sodshow.com Show Links ..read more

With thanks to CED Natural Stone, on this episode Peter Donegan speaks with Jilayne Rickards, designer of the CAMFED Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. To quote CED Stone: The CAMFED garden was just one of the gardens that we were lucky enough to work on. The charity is fantastic and works to help women obtain the education they need in order to prosper. Thank you so much to CAMFED, Jilayne Rickards and Cormac from Conway Landscapes for letting us join in on this fantastic garden! Garden Details: The CAMFED Garden: Giving Girls in Africa A Space To Grow Designer: Jilayne Rickards Contr ..read more

Peter Donegan returns to chats with Con Traas' Apple Farm in Tipperary. It is an apple farm. But it's also a lot more than just an apple farm.  It's worth noting maybe that Peter was on holidays working whist camping, again; surrounded by all that the fruit farm has to offer. The old buddies chat practices that were then acceptable, what is done now, changes in presentation over the eons and just what the supermarket will want to see and what is logic in growing and being responsible.  Subscribe to The Sodshow in iTunes, all good podcast stores and via www.sodshow.com Show Links ..read more

Jamie Bigham is the person in charge of Dereen Gardens based in Kenmare and speaks with Peter Donegan.  Derreen Garden covers more than 60 acres of garden and has over 12 km of paths which wind through mature and varied woodland full of rare and exotic plants. The garden is also a haven for wildlife and a habitat for Sika deer, Irish hares and red squirrel. Seals can often be seen from the shore and there have been sightings of otters and Kerry’s rarest mammal, the pine marten. By the shore there is an abundance of bird life, including cormorants, oyster catchers, gulls, great northern di ..read more

With thanks to CED Natural Stone, on this episode Peter Donegan speaks with Helen Boem, Floral Marquee Manager for The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). From volunteering for RHS shows to her actual job now, her career before as a garden designer and meeting her Mammy at RHS Chelsea to just how much it takes to fill a floral marquee at Chelsea Flower Show, the work that goes in behind the scenes for the growers and nurseries and of course everything else that manages to run through Peters brain. The Sodshow is available every week in iTunes, spotify and all good podcast stores. Spotify Tim ..read more

Peter Donegan chats with Neil Grant. When Neil Grant asked his careers master about horticulture as a career during his O levels he was told not to waste his time. Being stubborn he applied to RHS wisely gardens to train he was also advised to go back to school and take his A levels and go to college. Destiny took him to Writtle College where he met his future (and still) wife Linda. This romance led to the eventual title of Managing Director at Ferndale Garden Centre just south of Sheffield (or north Derbyshire if your allergic to northerners). Neil plays and active role in industry bodies ..read more

Peter Donegan chats with Taina Suonio, designer of The Roots in Finland garden at RHS Chelsea 2019. Whilst Taina's garden was sponsored by the Kyrö Distillery Company, this episode could not have happened without the support of Tim Howell (pictured above) who has for ever been unwavering in his support of this thing I do and, CED Natural Stone who have made this and the entire series of 2019 RHS Chelsea episodes possible and supported Taina's garden. Thank you !  Built by Conquest Creative Spaces, Taina and Peter together chat living away from home, whilst show garden building, that p ..read more

Peter Donegan chats with Neil Grant. When Neil Grant asked his careers master about horticulture as a career during his O levels he was told not to waste his time. Being stubborn he applied to RHS wisely gardens to train he was also advised to go back to school and take his A levels and go to college. Destiny took him to Writtle College where he met his future (and still) wife Linda. This romance led to the eventual title of Managing Director at Ferndale Garden Centre just south of Sheffield (or north Derbyshire if your allergic to northerners). Neil plays and active role in industry bodies ..read more

Peter Donegan chats with good friend, all round legend and repected maestro of the horticulture world Rocky Coles. Rocky is a hands on professional horticulturist, maintaining and developing private gardens in Northamptonshire under the guise of Well Planted. A skilled gardener who loves wielding a sharp pair of secateurs, transforming shrubby blobs and wild wisterias allowing them to shine. Known to some as the dancing gardener, he is a firm believer of bringing joy and fun to the garden and making gardening accessible for all. Rocky is the brainchild behind the Northampton shoeplants proje ..read more