A chat with Serena from Seeds of Hope Scotland, which supplies wildflower seeds to good causes.  It was developed during lockdown in 2020 and has grown into a social enterprise with a focus on biodiversity and mental health.  We talk about how Seeds of Hope Scotland started up and how we can all garden and grow more sustainably.  Seeds of Hope website, Facebook page, Instagram & Twitter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cultivatevariety.substack.com ..read more

Episode 16 of the Scottish Garden Podcast is a chat with Sallie Sillars, Head Gardener at Horatio’s Garden Scotland, which is located within the grounds of Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.  The charity Horatio’s Garden works across the UK and creates beautiful, accessible gardens in NHS spinal injury centres.   We discuss the planting and design of the garden in Glasgow, which was designed by James Alexander-Sinclair and opened in 2016. Horatio's Garden Scotland website is here and they also have a Facebook page, Twit ..read more

An episode for daffodil-lovers everywhere!  A chat with Caroline Thomson of Backhouse Rossie, location of Scotland’s Daffodil Festival and the National Collection of Backhouse daffodils.  Caroline Thomson is a direct descendant of the Backhouse family and in our conversation we talk about the family history with daffodils, as well as their surprising links with science, and her efforts to rewild part of the estate.  Full details about the online Daffodil Festival are on the website here and you can also follow Backhouse Rossie on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also f ..read more

Episode 14 is a chat with MT O'Donnell, editor of the Scottish Gardening Magazine, a new,  free, digital, bi-monthly publication aimed directly at gardeners in Scotland.  Our discussion is a celebration of Scottish gardening!  We talk about why MT created the magazine, its content and format.  We also discuss her gardening background and her love of local community gardening, as well as being an RHS Schools mentor - and the importance of encouraging new gardeners of all ages.  You can find the Scottish Gardening Magazine at its website, on Facebook, Instagram and Twi ..read more

The guest for this episode is Brian Cunningham, one of the regular presenters on the BBC Scotland TV programme Beechgrove and Head Gardener at Scone Palace in Perth. We discuss his career in horticulture, how he puts his stamp on the Scone Palace gardens, how he ended up on Beechgrove and we also talk about a brand new project - the Scottish Garden Show due to take place next May at Scone Palace.  You can find Brian aka @gingergairdner on Instagram and Twitter or watch him on Beechgrove on BBC iPlayer.  Beechgrove can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  The Sc ..read more

A conversation with Susie Walker-Munro, a founder member of the Tea Gardens of Scotland collective, producers of the first 100% Scottish-grown tea. We discuss how the project began, how they grow and make their tea and their hopes for the future of Scottish tea.  **Please note - because my conversations with guests are informal and usually recorded at their home or places of work, there can be some background noise - in this case, Susie's lovely dog!  There's also a little bit of a buzz in the recording.  Sorry this isn't up to the usual audio quality and I hope it won't put y ..read more

A conversation with Simon Milne, the Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.  We talk about its 350th anniversary celebrations, its history and wealth of plant material, education, community and the future - plans for restoring and renovating its historic glasshouses.  The RBGE website has links to its Virtual Spring tours and those of its partner gardens. RBGE can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  You can contact the Scottish Garden Podcast on scottishgardenpodcast@gmail.com or message via Instagram or Twitter - both @scotgardenpod. This is ..read more

We're getting ready to return for 2020!   In the meantime, here's a trailer for the Scottish Garden Podcast, highlighting some of the topics we've discussed on the show so far.   If you haven't listened to Scotland's only gardening podcast yet - give it a go!  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cultivatevariety.substack.com ..read more

A conversation with Monica Straughan, Treasurer of the group Beautiful Perth, the winners of the RHS Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions Award. We discuss what it takes to receive such an accolade, the rewarding work done by the dedicated team of volunteers, and their Zero Waste Perth project.  You can find Beautiful Perth's website here - their presentation to the RHS judges is here and the video of the judging day is here. You can contact the Scottish Garden Podcast by email - scottishgardenpodcast@gmail.com or find me on Instagram @mycornerofearth. This is a public episode. If ..read more

A chat with Ken Cox, woodland plant expert, horticulturist, author and Glendoick Garden Centre owner.  We discuss peat, pots and plant hunting, and I take advantage of Ken's expertise to ask him how best to look after my rhodedendrons! Glendoick Garden Centre's environmental policy is here, along with how-to videos, Ken's books and more information on the Cox family and their plant hunting expeditions. The list of Scottish Gardenplant awards can be found here on The Caley's website and in Garden Plants for Scotland, which I can highly recommend. Oh and there's gin! Sign up for the new ..read more