This month Alan Gray has come along with an arm full of Show and Tell, from his container-planting stalwarts to an eye-catching Crinum! I bet you'll be ooh-ing and aah-ing as much as his Talking Dirty co-presenter Thordis.PLANT LISTPhlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Crème Brûlée'Dahlia coccinea var. palmeriTagetes 'Cinnabar'Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits'Ageratum petiolatumEutrochium maculatum syn. Eupatorium purpureum subsp. maculatumClerodendrum bungeiCleome spinosaCrinum moorei Helichrysum petiolare 'Limelight'Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'Oxalis vulcanicola 'Plum Crazy'Iresine herbstiiIresine herbstii 'Aureoreticulata'Tithonia rotundifoliaClematis addisoniiPseudogynoxys chenopodioidesBomarea multiflora syn. Bomarea caldasii
From gap-fillers to planting for climate change, here's a meander through Alan Gray's latest escapades at East Ruston Old Vicarage, alongside his Talking Dirty co-presenter Thordis.PLANT LISTHydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillère' Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha'Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride'Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits'Amaranthus cruentus 'Foxtail'Lantana camaraFicus carica 'White Ischia'Plumbago auriculataLeonotis leonurusFuchsia 'Delta's Sara'Fuchsia procumbensTagetes patula 'Konstance'Erythrina crista-galliPunica granatumMalus transitoriaSalvia darcyi
Nearly the end of June already, past the Summer solstice and plenty to talk about at East Ruston Old Vicarage, particularly Alan Gray's latest planty purchases from their summer plant fair! Get ready to have some FLOMO*!*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing OutPLANT LISTEucomis pole-evansiiEucomis pole-evansii 'Dark Desire'Rosa x beaniiVerbascum roripifoliumIris tectorumBerkheya radulaBerkheya purpureaPuya × berteronianaBeschorneria yuccoidesAgave montanaPhoenix canariensisPodophyllum versipelle 'Spotty Dotty'Abutilon 'Red Tiger'Desmodium yunnanense
No rain, but lots of other things to put smiles on our faces at East Ruston Old Vicarage, from the last of the Daffodils to punchy Pelargoniums and fab Foxglove trees!PLANT LISTTulipa 'Yellow Crown'Narcissus 'Painted Desert'Narcissus 'Irish Linen'Tropaeolum smithiiPiptanthus laburnifolius syn. Piptanthus nepalensisBupleurum fruticosumPelargonium 'Dark Secret'Malus hupehensisPaulownia tomentosaPaulownia fortunei 'Fast Blue' ('Minfast')Smyrnium perfoliatumMelanoselinum decipiensEchium pininanaEchium 'Candyfloss'Nemophila menziesiiPrimula auricula ‘Swanton Cuckoo’
What weather we've had! As you can imagine there's plenty to talk about at East Ruston Old Vicarage, including an exciting new planting project for Alan Gray...PLANT LISTMagnolia 'Vulcan'Magnolia sieboldiiDelospermaCyrtanthus elatus syn. Vallota speciosaWatsoniaSparaxis tricolorHippeastrumTigridia pavoniaPodranea ricasolianaAbutilon 'Fool's Gold'Clianthus puniceusHelichrysum petiolareFremontodendron californicumTithonia rotundifoliaColeus scutellarioides 'Burgundy Wedding Train'Coleus scutellarioides 'Pink Chaos'Mirabilis jalapaAnagallis monellii 'Skylover'Quercus suberLobelia 'Kathleen Mallard'Primula allionii ‘Broadwell Oliver’Chionodoxa luciliae syn. Scilla luciliaeEuphorbia characias subsp. wulfeniiIxiaMoraea huttonii
After an impromptu lurgy-induced break, Talking Dirty returns to explore the wonders at East Ruston Old Vicarage this March. Alan Gray - owner of the 32-acre garden on the Norfolk coast - shares new purchases and old 'friends' which are heightening the joys of spring. Meanwhile Thordis has some very seasonal FLOMO*!*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing OutPLANT LISTAbeliophyllum distichum Roseum GroupHedera helix f. poetarumIlex 'East Ruston Gold'Magnolia 'Caerhays Belle'Pyrus communis 'Robin'Cichorium intybusEchium vulgareBorago officinalisOak leaf PolyanthusErysimum 'Winter Passion'Erysimum 'Winter Orchid'Narcissus cyclamineusNarcissus 'Rataplan'Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' Narcissus 'Firebrand'Iris 'Benton Dierdre' Iris 'Benton Olive' Narcissus 'Bath's Flame' Daphne bholua 'Mary Rose'
It's been quite a brutal start to the year, but that hasn't stopped East Ruston Old Vicarage from turning out some showstoppers this winter! From bulbs in the garden to shrubs under glass, Alan Gray shares some of the plants bringing him joy in the garden. Plus updates from behind the scenes. And, of course, some FLOMO*!*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing OutPLANT LISTFuchsia 'Lottie Hobby'Narcissus cyclamineus 'Englander'Crocus sieberi 'Ronald Ginns'Solanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape'Griselinia littoralisLathyrus grandiflorusDianthus 'Mrs Sinkins'Pittosporum tobira 'Variegatum' Pittosporum tobira 'West Acre Gold'Reinwardtia indicaScilla bithynicaPrimula meadia
Alan Gray and Thordis are feeling festive and they're celebrating with some seasonal Show and Tell from Alan's 32 acre garden on the Norfolk coast, from the plants you'd expect to be dazzling in December, to some unseasonal surprises.PLANT LISTGalanthus 'Santa Claus'Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships'Galanthus elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse'Narcissus 'Cedric Morris'Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête'Jasminum nudiflorumArum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Miss Janay Hall'Iris unguicularisLonicera fragrantissimaDaphne bholua 'Darjeeling'Viburnum × bodnantenseSarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis ‘Dragon Gate’Camellia sasanqua 'Rainbow'Camellia hiemalisCamellia 'Sparkling Burgundy'Camellia 'Sugar Dream'Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'Viburnum tinus 'Israel'Taxus baccata 'Standishii'Griselinia littoralis 'Dixon's Cream'Griselinia littoralis 'Bantry Bay'Forsythia suspensaErysimum 'Parish's'Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'Salvia curvifloraTradescantia 'Maiden's BlushFuchsia 'Lottie Hobby'Amarine belladiva 'Anastasia'Helleborus nigerSkimmia japonica 'Rubella'EuonymusRuscus aculeatus 'John Redmond'Hebe 'Simon Delaux'Abutilon 'Gerdmann'S Red'Abutilon 'Estella's Little Bird'Solanum laxum 'Album' syn. Solanum jasminoides AlbumSolanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape'Coronilla valentina subsp. glaucaCoronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina'Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart'Ilex 'East Ruston Gold'Arum pictum 'Primrose Warburg'
Alan Gray and Thordis take a look at the plants still packing a punch, even though East Ruston Old Vicarage closed to visitors last month...from fab foliage to seasonal blooms.PLANT LISTIris unguicularisIris unguicularis 'Mary Barnard'Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt'Cestrum fasciculatum 'Newellii'Viola 'Parme de Toulouse'Begonia luxuriansIlex verticillataCallicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion'Hosta 'Empress Wu'Galanthus reginae-olgaeGalanthus 'James Backhouse'Griselinia littoralis 'Dixon's Cream'Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'Buddleja davidii 'Santana'Nerine 'Hotspur'
Alan Gray and Thordis take a look at the plants stunning the visitors at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month, including some unusual foliage plants.PLANT LISTLapageria roseaPassiflora semiciliosaBougainvillea spectabilisMandevillaPleroma urvilleanum syn Tibouchina urvilleanaAbutilon 'Fool's Gold'Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima'Strobilanthes dyerianaPlectranthus ciliatus 'Easy Gold'Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'Streptocarpus saxorumCamellia sasanquaBerberis gagnepainii var. lanceifolia 'Fernspray'Acer rubrum 'Oktober Glory'Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'Salvia leucanthaDahlia 'Magenta Star'Dahlia coccinea var. palmeriDahlia 'Labyrinth'Dahlia 'Edith Jones'Dahlia 'Dilys Ayling'
Alan Gray and Thordis look back at East Ruston Old Vicarage's starring role on BBC show Gardeners' World, plus container planting, greenhouse overhauling and Hedychiums.PLANT LISTManihot grahamiiPtilotus exaltatusBegonia fuchsioidesTradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii'Ageratum petiolatumPhlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'Coleus argentatus syn Plectranthus argentatu Coleus argentatus 'Hill House'Helichrysum petiolareOsteospermumRicinus communis 'Carmencita'Dahlia 'Jomanda'Hedychium deceptumCanna brasiliensisDahlia 'Ken's Rarity'Dahlia 'Magenta Star'Dahlia coccinea var. palmeri
From the climbers impressing Alan Gray this summer to the ways he's updating container planting, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage.Talking Dirty is taking a little summer break, but we'll be back with an East Ruston Old Vicarage September Special.PLANT LISTHelichrysum petiolarePhlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'Petunia exsertaBegonia 'Erythrophylla'Geranium 'Rozanne'Streptocarpus saxorumArgyranthemum 'Jamaica Primrose'Brugmansia × candida 'Shredded White Fantasy'Sparrmannia africana 'Variegata'Lantana camaraAbutilon 'Ashford Red'Passiflora caeruleaAbutilon 'Orange Hot Lava' Punica granatumHydrangea 'Runaway Bride'Podophyllum versipelle 'Spotty Dotty'Begonia fuchsioides Red FormNeopanax laetus syn Pseudopanax laetusAbutilon 'Gerdemann's Red'Passiflora semiciliosaTropaeolum smithiiJasminum polyanthumTropaeolum ciliatumLonicera glabrata 'Damchin La'Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’Brassaiopsis mitisManihot grahamiiEnsete ventricosum 'Hiniba'Musa nagensium
Settle back and get ready for another plant extravaganza with Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants. In Part Two of his Talking Dirty appearance, he shares plants for the future, great foliage combos, beautiful bark and so much more! Your FLOMO* is sure to be off the scale!*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing OutPLANT LISTPinus engelmanniiFirmiana simplexTetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'Napaea dioicaPhlomis bourgaeiPhlomis fruticosaLindera obtusilobaLindera trilobaAcystopteris taiwanianaHedychium gardnerianum ‘Tangkhul Naga’Marsdenia oreophila (syn. Cionura)Dregea sinensisDahlia tamaulipanaDahlia imperialis Persea bracteataLagerstroemia indica 'Cedar Lane Red'Lagerstroemia subcostataIsodon (Plectranthus) effusus var. longitubusQuercus alnifoliaDendromecon rigida
This week it's a much-looked forward to episode with none other than Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants. From the extraordinary plants which have turned up on his nursery, to the ways he's testing hardiness, Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis are enthralled. More fantastic plants next week in part two.PLANT LISTPhiladelphus 'Casa Azul'Philadelphus maculatusPhiladelphus mexicanusMagnolia obovataMagnolia × wieseneriBegonia 'Torsa'Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana ‘Bells and Whistles’Begonia grandis subsp. holostyla ‘Nanjiang Silver’Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana ‘Claret Jug’Amomyrtus lumaAmomyrtus meliLuma apiculataWatsonia marlothiiIndigofera heteranthaAgave montanaAgave ovatifolia
From propagation successes to exciting new container combos, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage.PLANT LISTMitraria coccineaBeschorneria yuccoidesAgave montanaFuchsia 'Delta's Sara'Begonia grandis subsp. evansianaBegonia 'Torsa'Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange'Dahlia excelsaCampanula mediumMelica uniflora f. albidaDahlia 'Hadrian's Midnight'Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Baron'Oxalis vulcanicola 'Sunset Velvet'Oxalis vulcanicola 'Plum Crazy'Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars'Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Creme Brulee'Helichrysum petiolareBegonia 'Black Knight'Hydrangea macrophylla 'Wedding Gown'Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride'Dendromecon rigida
Part Two of our latest podcast with Steve Edney of the No Name Nursery continues with tales of the Chelsea Flower Show. Plus Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis spy more special plants in the polytunnel!PLANT LISTPersicaria virginiana Variegated GroupPersicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette'Tinantia pringleiCuphea 'David Verity'Polyscias sambucifoliaChlorophytum saundersiae 'Starlight' Astelia nervosa 'Westland' Astelia chathamicaAstelia 'Red Devil'Farfugium japonicum 'Wavy Gravy'Trifolium pannonicum
Partially recovered from taking the No Name Nursery to the Chelsea Flower Show, Steve Edney shares some of his favourite jungle plants from their display with Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis.PLANT LISTAbutilon 'Ashford Red'Aesculus wangiiAesculus californicaSchefflera rhododendrifoliaSchefflera taiwaniana syn Heptapleurum taiwanianum Brachychiton populneusBegonia scharffiiFuchsia 'Lechlade Marchioness'Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum'Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'Boehmeria platanifoliaBoehmeria kiusiana Farfugium variegatumFatsia japonica 'Variegata'Fatsia polycarpa 'Green Fingers'
We're back for another East Ruston Old Vicarage special via a bit of belated Chelsea Flower Show chat, including some plants which caught our eye in the pavilion.PLANT LISTTropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff'Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long'Anthyllis vulneraria 'Dark Red form'Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii 'Albiflorum'Bupleurum ranunculoidesGeranium nodosum 'Fielding's Folly'Rhododendron ‘Daviesii’Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillère'Astelia chathamicaMyosotidium hortensiaMelica uniflora f. albidaRosa 'American Pillar'Rosa 'Jubilee Celebration'Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas' ThalictrumAquilegiaIris germanicaCedrus atlantica 'Glauca'Crinodendron hookerianumCrinodendron hookerianum 'Ada Hoffmann' Crinodendron hookerianum 'Alf Robbins' Lycianthes rantonnetii syn Solanum rantonnetiiHeliotropiumArgyranthemumOxalisLysimachiaSenecio polyodonMeconopsis betonicifolia
Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery returns for part two of his latest Talking Dirty appearance with Rose inspiration, lovely Lunarias and thoughts on botanical nomenclature!PLANT LISTGeranium 'Rozanne'Geranium 'Jolly Bee'Salvia rosmarinus 'Joe's Goldie'Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' Erysimum cheiri 'Harpur Crewe'Maianthemum racemosum syn Smilacina racemosaSarcococcaLonicera caprifoliumOmphalodes nitidaOmphalodes vernaOmphalodes luciliaeRosa x odorata 'Semperflorens' Syn. Miss Wilmott's double crimson china Rosa x odorata 'Crimson Bengal'Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis'Rosa 'Parsons' Pink China' syn Rosa 'Old Blush'Rosa 'Peace'Rosa 'Masquerade'Rosa 'Bermuda Yellow Mutabilis'Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge'Veronica orientalis 'Purity'Hemerocallis fulva 'Golden Kwanso'Astilbe 'Chocolate Shogun'Lunaria redivivaLunaria rediviva 'Partway White'Lunaria rediviva 'Honour BrightDeutzia gracilis 'Variegata' Fritillaria acmopetalaPaeonia tenuifoliaFritillaria pallidiflora
Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery returns to Talking Dirty to wow Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis with a stunning selection of plants, from Rhodiola to Lamprocapnos to Geraniums and Erysimums.More next week in part two!PLANT LISTUvularia grandifloraChrysanthemum 'Esther'Chrysanthemum 'Dixter Orange'Pelargonium 'Mr Wren'Ribes sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet'Ribes sanguineum 'Little Pink Buttons'Cypripedium calceolusBuddleja crispa 'Stone House Cottage'Viburnum rhytidophyllumLamprocapnos spectabilisErysimum 'Ruston Royal'Erysimum 'Ruston Copper Knob'Helleborus nigerLathyrus vernusRhodiola roseaRhodiola wallichianaRhodiola kirilowiiAnemone nemorosa 'Vestal'Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'White Gold'Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Cupid' Geranium maculatum 'Copper Tiger'Geranium maculatum 'Espresso'Geranium maculatum 'Elizabeth Ann'Agrostemma githago