Talking Dirty

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

We're back for another East Ruston Old Vicarage special. From the plants Alan Gray is growing from seed this year to the secrets of his Brugmansia success, this is a quick look at what's going on in his wonderful garden this May.Ps It's possible our recording time was restricted by a tiny human ;)PLANT LISTBrugmansia × candida 'Grand Marnier'Ipomoea lobata syn Mina lobataZinnia 'Benary's Giant Purple'Centaurea montana 'Bella'Catananche caerulea 'Alba' Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer'Stachys byzantinaEuphorbia × martini 'Ascot Rainbow'Amaranthus cruentus 'Velvet Curtains'Borago officinalisBegonia grandis subsp. evansiana var. alba hort.Schizanthus x wisetonensis 'Dr. Badger's Hybrids' Mix Persicaria orientalisPapaver commutatumPapaver rhoeas 'Shirley Poppy'Tulipa 'Purple Doll'Tulipa 'Doll's Minuet'Rosa 'Pompon de Paris'

Last week he wowed us with Anemones! Now Ben Preston shows us some of the other treasures he's stocking up at Cliff Bank Nursery, from Luzula to Euphorbia to Paris.PLANT LISTDelphinium requieniiLuzula pilosa 'Igel'Primula vulgaris subsp. sibthorpiiHakonechloa macraViola hederaceaViola 'Molly Sanderson'Euphorbia rigida 'Sardis'Euphorbia myrsinitesEuphorbia epithymoidesCrocus tommasinianus 'Yalta'Phlox subulata 'Fort Hill'Papaver rupifragumLunaria annua 'Somerset Marble'Syneilesis aconitifoliaChionochloa rubraDatisca cannabinaParis polyphyllaParis incompletaParis quadrifoliaEpimedium 'Winter's End'Baptisia australisBaptisia 'Dark Chocolate'Baptisia 'Dutch Chocolate'Miscanthus 'Lady in Red'Miscanthus sinensis 'Silver Charm'Miscanthus sinensis 'Dreadlocks'Hebe x fairfieldensis syn fairfieldiiArum italicum 'Chui'

He's back! The last time we caught up with Ben Preston he was departing York Gate Garden (where he was Head Gardener) and heading for his own nursery. Now Cliff Bank is up and running and selling a crop of exquisite plants! This week we take a look at the Anemones he's been building a collection of. Next week more planty treats in part two!PLANT LISTAgrostemma githagoAnemone ranunculoides 'Kai' Anemone ranuculoides 'Prinz Eugen'  Anemone flaccida Anemone ranuculoides 'Golden Dream'Anemone nemorosa 'Explosion'Anemone ranunculoides ‘Sirje’Anemone ranuculoides 'Kreet'Anemone ranuculoides 'Dagerōt'Anemone ranuculoides 'Leida’Anemone nemorosa 'Salt and Pepper'Anemone nemorosa 'Thekla' Anemone nemorosa 'Vestal' Anemone nemorosa 'Flore Pleno' Anemone nemorosa 'Jummer's Fienrood' Anemone nemorosa 'Denmark' Anemone nemorosa 'Virescens' Anemone nemorosa 'Viridescens'Iris 'Russian Kavelguard'

This week one of the nicest men in horticulture is back on The Talking Dirty Podcast. Joe Whitehead is Head Gardener at Burghley House on the Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire border. He talks Alan Gray (East Ruston Old Vicarage) and Thordis through some of the changes which have been going on in the garden, and shares his favourite shade plants of the moment.PLANT LISTCatalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'Paulownia tomentosaCornus kousa 'Milky Way'Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontiiDodecatheon meadia syn Primula meadiaLonicera involucrataTulip bakerii 'Lilac Wonder'Tulipa sylvestrisLunaria annua 'Chedglow'Lunaria annua 'Somerset Marble'Smilacina racemosa syn Maianthemum racemosumArum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Monksilver'Lamium orvalaEpimedium 'Amber Queen'Epimedium 'Sphinx Twinkler'Epimedium pubigerumOmphalodes cappadocica 'Cherry Ingram'Lamium orvala 'John Foster'Lunaria annua 'Corfu Blue'Digitalis purpurea 'Pam's Choice' Taraxacum pseudoroseumCrepis rubraToona sinensis 'Flamingo'Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' Ficaria verna 'Brazen Hussy'Ficaria verna 'Double Mud'Helianthus annuus 'Teddy Bear'Erysimum 'Parish's'Erysimum 'Ruston Copper Knob'Campanula medium

Time to return to one of our happy places. The garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage on the Norfolk coast is bursting with plants at every time of year, but in April seed-sowing is underway in earnest and there are treasures to behold everywhere you look! In this week's episode the garden's owner Alan Gray shares just some of what's going on with Thordis.PLANT LISTTulipa 'Yellow Crown'Tulipa sprengeriAmaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits'Amaranthus cruentus 'Velvet Curtains'Anemone coronaria 'Bordeaux'Smyrnium perfoliatumTropaeolum tricolorTropaeolum pentaphyllumTropaeolum hookerianumPlumbago auriculataRosa 'Iceberg'Rosa 'The Generous Gardener'Abutilon vitifoliumAbutilon vitifolium 'Album'Drimys winteriHyacinthoides non-scripta ‘Silver Cobalt’Agapanthus 'Queen Mum'

Our gardens are full of them at this time of year, but the Tulip actually originates in Central Asia. These species Tulips are varied in height, colour, foliage and the ease with which we can grow them at home and so this week on Talking Dirty, Cambridge University Botanic Garden - who hold the National Collection of Species Tulips - are along to share some of their favourites and recommendations for which to grow, and how. Plus stories of their latest adventures in Kyrgyzstan where they've been finding and protecting new varieties.So join Alan Gray, Thordis and Simon Wallis and Kathryn Bray of the Botanics for a tantalising tour of their collection!PLANT LISTTulipa sprengeriTulipa tschimghanicaTulipa toktogulicaTulipa greigiiTulipa creticaTulipa 'Negrita'Tulip bakerii 'Lilac Wonder'Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfeniiTulipa acuminata syn. Tulipa cornutaTulipa montanaTulipa heweriTulipa bifloraTulipa turkestanicaTulipa regeliiTulipa tardaTulipa saxatilisTulipa linifoliaTulipa undulatifolia syn Tulipa eichleri Tulipa clusianaTulipa clusiana 'Peppermint Stick'Tulip clusiana var. chrysanthaTulipa aucherianaTulipa sylvestrisTulipa orphanideaTulipa kaufmannianaTulipa fosterianaTulipa praestans 'Shogun'Tulipa 'Apeldoorn'Tulipa 'Ballerina'Tulipa 'Heart's Delight'Trollius lilacinusIris acutilobaTulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane'

With a spring in our step we bring you the March Special of our Talking Dirty series on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage. From the Magnolias Alan Gray wakes to see out of his bedroom window, to the Tulips he's been spending a pretty penny on, here are some of the highlights from the garden this month.PLANT LISTMagnolia 'Caerhays Belle'Magnolia 'Genie'Magnolia × soulangeanaRosa 'Rambling Rector'Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate' Rosa 'Mme. Alfred Carrière' Rosa 'A Shropshire Lad'Dahlia 'Hollyhill Serenity'Narcissus 'Jetfire'Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'Tulipa sprengeriTulipa orphanidea 'Flava'Narcissus 'Turncoat'Narcissus 'First Born'Narcissus 'Actaea'Hedychium 'Tara'Narcissus 'Articol'Narcissus 'Rataplan'Narcissus 'Mrs Langtry'Tropaeolum majus 'Gleam Salmon'Tropaeolum tuberosum var. lineomaculatum 'Ken Aslet'Syringa vulgaris 'Princess Sturdza'