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Introduction

The host introduces the RHS Malvern Spring Festival and highlights some of the features of the show.

  • The RHS Malvern Spring Festival is a gardener's paradise with beautiful planting displays, show gardens, and new plants.
  • The festival marks the start of the year with everything bursting and bubbling away.
  • The setting for the flower show is stunning.

Must-Have Plants and Flowers

The segment showcases some of this season's must-have plants and flowers.

  • Top nurseries and growers are present at the festival showcasing their products.
  • Commasias are highlighted as a stunning plant that one of the hosts is obsessed with.
  • A National Collection holder provides tips on how to grow commasias to best advantage.
  • Different varieties of commasias such as Carolia group, Blue Danube, and lilac style are discussed in detail.

New Plants at Morven

This segment focuses on new plants showcased by H.W Hyde Nursery.

  • H.W Hyde Nursery introduces a tulip called Nightmare which has beautiful inky black flowers in goblet shape. It is an alternative to Queen of Night tulips but blooms later than it.
  • Another tulip introduced by H.W Hyde Nursery is Hot Chocolate which has lovely rich dark burgundy flowers that bloom early as it belongs to Triumph type tulips.

Plant Display

This segment showcases a magnificent display of blended plants.

  • Nicotiana mutabilis is highlighted as a plant that changes color from white to different shades of pink. It is transparent and can be placed at the front of water.
  • Honesty, specifically Lunaria Shed Glow, is discussed as a wonderful variety with dark stems and rich dark flowers that attract butterflies.

Show Gardens Inspiration

In this section, the speaker talks about the inspiration that can be found in show gardens and highlights some of the displays at the RHS Melbourne Spring Festival.

Muted Palette Garden

  • First-time designer Stuart Bugby created a garden with a muted palette that earned him a silver gilt.
  • The garden has burgundy tones that start with the legal area and repeat throughout, creating continuity.
  • A golden edge hosta runs through the garden, providing flow and unity.
  • The combination of colors creates a fabulously unified garden.

Foliage Garden

  • This foliage-focused garden is filled with grays, blues, and silvers, giving it a light and airy Mediterranean quality.
  • Westringia fruticosa 'Mundi' is an Australian plant that works well as a box alternative for dry gardens.
  • Another plant used in this garden is Aliagnus Limelight, which produces flowers with an incredibly strong scent in autumn.

Multi-tonal Flowers Trend

In this section, the speaker discusses multi-tonal flowers as one of the key trends at this year's show.

Osteospermum and Perennial Wallflower

  • Two great examples of multi-tonal blooms are Osteospermum and Perennial Wallflower (Erysimum).
  • Multi-tonal blooms can be associated with single-color other flowers to create beautiful cohesive flower and plant associations.

Peonies & Foxgloves Ultimate Spring Display

In this section, Mary Baker talks about her ultimate spring display featuring peonies and foxgloves.

Terry Baker's Nursery Journey

  • Terry Baker started playing around with plants in the late 1970s and never stopped.
  • He specializes in growing peonies, foxgloves, and other good plants.

Woody Shrubs and Foxgloves

The speaker talks about their passion for woody shrubs and foxgloves, how they got the National Collection for Foxgloves, and how to grow them.

Passion for Woody Shrubs and Foxgloves

  • The speaker's passion has always been woody shrubs and foxgloves.
  • They applied to host the National Collection for Foxgloves in the 1970s/80s to help protect endangered species of plants.
  • Foxgloves are easy to grow in trays as long as they get enough light for germination.

Intersectional Peonies

  • Intersectional peonies are created by crossing tree peonies with herbaceous ones.
  • They produce beautiful mounding growth with multiple flowers on one bush.
  • Peonies take a long time to raise from seed (at least seven years).

Flower Show Preparation

The speaker talks about preparing for their first flower show at Malvern, selecting plants that will make a lovely centerpiece, and hoping for good weather.

Preparing for Flower Show

  • It has been tricky selecting plants due to the slow spring weather.
  • They have selected some shrubs that will make a lovely centerpiece along with some foxgloves.
  • Candy Mountain is one of the Camelot series of foxglove hybrids that they have chosen.

Selected Plants

  • Ellie Agnes is a lovely scented shrub with different variations on foliage.
  • Colquitzia amobilis, also known as beauty bush, is a stunner and looks beautiful.
  • Deutzia is a beautiful shrub that goes well with foxgloves because it's more of a Woodlands plant.
  • Deutschea polycarpa is one of China's gems and flowers in May.

Hoping for Good Weather

  • They are hopeful that some of the tree peonies have got fantastic buds on them right now and will be looking perfect for the show.
  • With any luck, they will get sunshine to make everything look beautiful.

The Gold Medal Garden

In this section, the speaker talks about the gold medal garden and how beautiful it is. They also discuss the fox gloves and peonies in the garden.

The Beauty of the Garden

  • The gold medal garden is beautiful.
  • There are flowerbeds with vertical accents.
  • There are shrubs and herbaceous plants.
  • The Chinese tree peony called Hai Huang has double fluffy pale lemon flowers with a lovely perfume.
  • There is a large pink gansumudan tree peony that steals the show.

Sustainability and Biodiversity at the Show

In this section, the speaker discusses sustainability and biodiversity at the show. They talk about how important it is to support wildlife and create habitats for beneficial insects.

Emphasis on Sustainability and Biodiversity

  • There is a lot of emphasis on sustainability and biodiversity at the show.
  • The show gardens themselves are an inspiration for creating sustainable environments.
  • Upcycling materials across the site is important for sustainability.
  • Creating bee-friendly environments with diverse materials like bamboo tubes encourages bees to thrive.

Supporting Wildlife in Gardens

In this section, the speakers discuss supporting wildlife in gardens. They talk about using old agricultural feeding stations as ponds, creating green roofs to extend garden space, and providing access points for bees to drink water.

Supporting Wildlife in Gardens

  • Old agricultural feeding stations make perfect ponds when converted into them.
  • Green roofs can double up garden space while providing habitat for species to live and thrive.
  • Access points like babbling brooks allow bees to drink water easily.
  • Tree stumps left to rot provide habitats for different creatures like beetles.

A Garden of Two Hearts

In this section, the speakers discuss a garden with a mix of ornamental and native plants. They talk about the importance of Hawthorne and Silver Birch for pollinators and creating habitats for beneficial insects.

A Garden of Two Hearts

  • The garden has a mix of ornamental and native plants.
  • The Hedgerow is important for pollinators as an early source of nectar and pollen.
  • Silver Birch supports a lot of beneficial insects.
  • The mix down on the ground is nearly all natives with lots more to come.

The Beauty of a Sustainable and Wildlife-Friendly Garden

Rachel and the speaker discuss the beauty of a garden that is both sustainable and wildlife-friendly. They talk about how being messy and loud is encouraged in such gardens, as it provides habitats for invertebrates.

Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

  • Being messy and loud is encouraged in wildlife-friendly gardens, as it provides habitats for invertebrates.
  • A pathway filled with compost and sticks can provide an easy way for invertebrates to cross without having to face bright sunlight.
  • A garden that is both sustainable and wildlife-friendly should focus on providing not just food but also sleeping, breeding, and foraging habitats for animals.

Spring Spectacles at Abiglasney Garden

Toby visits Abiglasney Garden during springtime to witness its beautiful display of bulbs and blooms.

The Magic of Tulips

  • Tulips are dotted throughout the garden, always twinned with clever complementary planting to make the most of their display.
  • The tulips' fiery theme has spread to the spring planting thanks to tulips that glow from the borders like embers.

Metallic Foliage

  • Many leaves have a metallic silver quality to them which bounces light back up through the flowers above, making the borders seem to pop.
  • Brunner Jack Frost is a ground cover plant with silver foliage that managed to keep this silver foliage right through summer even when weather's hot.

Smoke-like Leaves

  • Smoke-like leaves from fennel and peonies add smoky effect to the garden.
  • The red color in young buds on peonies, roses, and other plants is due to a plant pigment called anthocyanin which provides protection from overheating in spring sunshine.

Introduction

In this section, the gardener introduces himself and talks about his approach to gardening.

Approach to Gardening

  • The gardener has been waiting for an opportunity to put his own stamp on things and help establish what's been left before.
  • He believes that a plant has to be useful and perform well, not just look good.
  • He is always looking for new and interesting plants to complement tried and tested ones.

Box Tree Alternative

In this section, the gardener talks about a box tree alternative he used in his garden.

Bloombox

  • The gardener used a dwarf Rhododendron called Bloombox as an alternative to box trees.
  • Bloombox produces lightly fragrant flowers that can be clipped like a box plant.
  • It is something people may not have seen much of before, giving the garden a "wow factor."

Woodland Garden

In this section, the gardener talks about the woodland garden in his yard.

Snake's Head Portilleries

  • The snake's head portilleries are planted in soil that doesn't sit too wet in winter or dry out too much in summer under dappled shade.
  • They are hardwired to bloom before the canopy above them steals all their light, making them invaluable for adding color during spring months.

Layer Cake Planting

  • The woodland garden is planted up like a layer cake with trees at the top, shrubs below them, and two types of herbaceous flowers at ground level that come into bloom at different times but all in spring.
  • Using this palette of plants can provide months of color.

Kamasia Bulbs

  • Kamasia bulbs are another excellent plant for dappled shade that looks beautiful when partnered with foxgloves.
  • They are cheap to buy as bulbs in the autumn, making it possible to plant them generously.

Aberglasney Gardens

In this section, the gardener talks about Aberglasney Gardens and what he likes about them.

British Natives

  • The extensive use of British natives throughout the gardens is impressive.
  • Ragged Robin is particularly beautiful with its pink cut flower.

Blue Flowers

  • The color blue is prevalent throughout the gardens, matching the blue sky perfectly.
  • Camassias and irises are just a few examples of blue flowers used in the garden.

Generosity

  • Aberglasney Gardens are generous in their planting, views, and nature.

Celebrating Fabulous Foliage

In this section, the speaker talks about how foliage can be used to create contrast in a garden and highlights some plants that are great for achieving this effect.

Using Foliage for Contrast

  • Contrasting different textures is a great way to make foliage work well in a garden.
  • The speaker showcases examples of contrasting textures using fine pastuka, oleander, and strelitzia.
  • Epimediums are fantastic foliage plants that make great ground cover in dappled shade or woodland conditions. They hail from Asia and come in both deciduous and evergreen varieties.

Plants for Achieving Contrast

  • Epimedium rubric is a great plant for achieving contrast with its beautiful tone, fabulous form, and fine foliage.
  • Hostas are exciting large leaf and hardy plants that make brilliant foliage contrast with epimediums. There are hundreds of cultivars to choose from, including vanderbar pair which makes a perfect container specimen with its heart-shaped leaves and yellow trim around the edge.
  • Burns have an incredible array of beautiful furniture and fabulous textural foliage that can be used to create contrast with bolder leaf plants like hostas. Dryopterous erythrosa or Japanese Shield fur is a particularly gorgeous specimen that emerges at the start of the year with beautiful copper-tinted foliage before eventually turning dark green.

Beauty in Edibles

In this section, the speaker talks about how vegetables can be both beautiful and edible, making them a sustainable addition to any garden.

Vegetables as Ornamental Plants

  • Vegetables can be beautiful in their own right, with flowers like those on broad beans and a range of different colors and shapes in the foliage of brassicas.
  • Growing edibles alongside ornamental plants is becoming increasingly popular, with 44% of gardeners devoting space to this practice.

Growing Edible Plants in Small Spaces

In this section, the speaker provides tips on growing edible plants in small spaces and how to combine ornamentals with edible plants.

Tips for Growing Edible Plants

  • Tie plants into a strong support to prevent flopping.
  • Use a barrier around carrot plants to prevent carrot fly.
  • Mediterranean type herbs need an open gritty compost.
  • Combining ornamentals with edible plants works well in small spaces.

Combining Ornamentals with Edible Plants

  • Sunflowers attract pollinators that help pollinate broad beans.
  • Flowering herbs like Melissa aficionalis and Alia mobiliquim are great for pollinator gardens.

Preparing for RHS Show

In this section, the speaker talks about their nursery's preparation for the RHS show and their passion for propagation.

Passion for Propagation

  • The speaker's grandfather had a passion for plants which rubbed off on them from an early age.
  • The speakers fell in love with propagation and decided to start their own nursery.

Preparation for RHS Show

  • The Kitchen Garden Plant Center won four prestigious RHS gold medals last year.
  • They plan to bring flowering herbs to encourage predators to the garden at Malvern this year.

Dividing Herbs and Growing Naturally

In this section, the speaker talks about dividing herbs and growing plants naturally.

Dividing Herbs

  • Spring is the time to divide hearty herbs like lemon balm.
  • Divide lemon balm into quarters using a saw to prevent it from dying in the middle.

Growing Plants Naturally

  • The speakers wanted to be ecological and not kill pests, but instead provide food for predators like lacewings and ladybirds.
  • They trust nature and grow naturally to provide the best plant possible.

Planting a Show Garden

In this section, the speaker discusses how to prepare plants for a show garden and shares tips on planting in small spaces.

Preparing Plants for a Show Garden

  • Plants need to be prepared so that they can perform well at the show.
  • The speaker experienced problems with weather affecting plant growth.
  • The speaker suggests using edible plants like creeping lemon thyme and red vein sorrel to attract bees and insects to the garden.

Tips for Planting in Small Spaces

  • Planting in a show garden is different from planting in a regular garden.
  • The speaker recommends using structural plants like rosemary Tuscan blue and Welsh onion for instant impact.
  • Compact herbs like basils, corianders, mints, sorrels, times, chives, and oregano are recommended for small spaces.

Winning Gold at Malvern Flower Show

In this section, the speaker talks about their experience winning gold at the Malvern Flower Show.

Winning Gold at Malvern Flower Show

  • The speaker's team won gold at the Malvern Flower Show.
  • Winning gold is important as it sets high standards for future shows.

Growing Alliums and Hysops

In this section, the speaker discusses growing alliums and hysops.

Growing Alliums and Hysops

  • The speaker was not able to grow alliums and hysops due to weather conditions.
  • Nursery scallions are starting to poke out their little yellow allion flowers, which can be used for Chelsea.
  • The speaker recommends growing peltario, a new leaf that is a combination of mustard and garlic, in small spaces.

Importance of Teamwork in Gardening

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of teamwork in gardening.

Importance of Teamwork in Gardening

  • The speaker acknowledges the importance of teamwork in gardening.
  • The team's success at the Malvern Flower Show is attributed to their collective effort.

School Gardens Category

In this section, the speaker talks about school gardens and their importance for children.

School Gardens Category

  • The theme for the school gardens category is "bringing to life a favorite book."
  • Gardening is important for children as it teaches them about biology and encourages them to learn when they are young.

Gardening for All

In this section, we learn about the Sunnyside Rural Trust, a charity and social enterprise that provides horticultural training and work experience to vulnerable people and those with learning difficulties.

Making a Difference

  • Keeley Siddiqui Charlotte founded the Sunnyside Rural Trust to help bring about a radical change in thinking towards people with learning disabilities.
  • Only 5% of adults with learning disabilities in England are in paid work.
  • People's abilities are often overlooked, and they are written off because of their label.

Horticultural Training

  • Trainees spend up to three years learning every aspect of horticulture across three sites.
  • They learn skills in crop spacing, orchard management, and some train for formal horticultural qualifications.
  • Attendance is five days a week, and people work in teams to grow plants and produce.

Personal Experience

  • Katie trained at Sunnyside Rural Trust and now works at the cafe and nursery.
  • She enjoys looking after people's gardens as it makes her feel happy.
  • The project has helped her overcome shyness by providing routines and making her feel welcome.

Louis' Gardening Heritage

Louis talks about his family's history of gardening and his role as a leader of trainees doing Council contracts in cemeteries and parks.

Louis' Family History

  • Louis is the fourth generation of gardener in his family.
  • He was inspired by his grandfather, who was a head gardener at the Rose Society.

Louis' Role

  • He leads a group of trainees doing Council contracts in cemeteries and parks.
  • The work is rewarding for him, as he enjoys being out in the gardens and working with the guys.

Keeley's Impact on Trainees

Keeley has injected joy into education and work for these trainees, inspiring them to think about this place as so much more than just growing plants.

Keeley's Leadership

  • Keeley holds the trainee's work to high standards.
  • Last year, they supplied all the plants for one of the show Gardens at Hampton Court Palace Festival.
  • She has inspired this team to think about this place as so much more than just growing plants.

Impact on Trainees

  • It has been fantastic for them, meeting lots of people here.
  • It brings out their personalities.
  • The work that's happening down here is fantastic.

Plant Investment Tips

Monty Don shares tips on investing in plants that will last long-term.

Annual vs Perennial Plants

  • If you buy an annual plant it will complete that year unless you buy a self-seeding annual or slowly scatter itself around your garden and keep blooming for many years.
  • If you buy a shrub or a perennial it will last for many years.

Papava Albuflorum

  • Monty's favorite plant is Papava Albuflorum, also known as bats poppy after Bath Chateau.
  • It has beautiful delicate clear pink color to it with very small blooms.
  • It's especially useful because there are buds all the way back down into the face of this plot so it's gonna bloom for months and months on end.

Hesperus

  • Hesperus is a great self-seeder that produces rosetta foliage in its first year and then its second year this spica flower.
  • It can cope with dapple shade and it's happy to grow at the back of the border.

Floral Investment

  • Some of the most desirable plants at flower shows are unfortunately also the most expensive but think of it as a floral investment as it will certainly pay dividends.

Favorite Plants at Flower Shows

Monty Don and Louis share their favorite plants from the show.

Lithodora

  • Louis' favorite plant is lithodora, an Alpine plant with beautiful rich blue flowers.

Pacifica Carullia

  • Monty discovered Pacifica Carullia, a gorgeous blue plant he had never seen before.

Monty Don's Garden

In this section, Monty Don invites viewers to come along to his show at Longmeadow. He also bids farewell until the next episode and introduces the next program on BBC 2.

Invitation to Monty Don's Show

  • Monty Don invites viewers to come along to his show at Longmeadow.
  • The show will be running until Sunday.

Farewell from Monty Don

  • Monty Don bids farewell until the next episode of his show.
  • He signs off with "bye for now."

Introduction to Next Program on BBC 2

  • Viewers are encouraged to stay tuned for a new series called Hidden Treasures of the National Trust.
  • The program promises a "Wonderland of a garden" and stunning stately homes.

Music Night with Paul McCartney

This section features music performances by Paul McCartney and other artists.

Music Performances

  • Various musical performances take place throughout this section.
  • Timestamps are provided for each performance.