grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

The Colour Guide Mini Series #4: The luminous palette - Episode 264

The luminous palette - a rich, stained glass collection of citrus, scarlet and pinky-purples - is the first of Sarah’s colour combinations that we’ll walk through in depth for this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series.Sarah explains the six key colours, which ones to use together throughout the year, and the flower families which she considers the most prominent and productive as they pass the colour baton through the year.In this episode, discover:How to use Sarah’s luminous palette without overwhelming your gardenThe key plant families and varieties that reliably deliver bold, stained‑glass colourSarah’s favourite colour combinations and how to place ‘shouty’ colours so they look intentionalA simple season‑by‑season planning method using two‑month blocks and the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gatecrasher’ idea to keep colour going from March to OctoberProducts mentioned:Euphorbia ceratocarpahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-ceratocarpaTulip 'Ballerina'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ballerinaTulip 'Black Parrot'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-black-parrotTulip 'Rococo'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-rococoTulip 'Go Go Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-go-go-redTulip 'Mariette'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-marietteTulip 'Purple Heart'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purple-heartLunaria annuahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annuaCrocosmia 'Lucifer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/crocosmia-luciferPhlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradiseDahlia 'Thomas A. Edison'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-thomas-a-edisonSweet Pea 'Blue Velvet'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-blue-velvetSweet Pea 'King Edward VII'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-king-edward-viiSweet Pea 'Matucana'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucanaSalvia 'Jezebel'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebelFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The Colour Guide Mini Series #3: Turning a palette into a planting plan - Episode 263

Colour is best when it’s tangible, and if you’re planning a patch in your garden then this episode of the Mini Series is perfect to help you bring your plans to life.In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah dives into the practical side of using colour as the backbone of your garden design - from using candles to visualise colour combinations, to the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher’ structure that’ll help guide you towards an ensemble that works in harmony.In this episode, discover:How to choose a garden colour palette based on the feeling you want to create (washed, velvet, comforting or luminous)A simple “bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher” recipe for combining plants in harmonious yet lively colour schemesPractical ways to test and refine palettes using coloured candles, mood boards and real flowers in your hand or in a vaseHow to plan colour in succession by breaking the year into seasonal chunks and identifying plants that “carry the baton” across monthsReal planting examples and border ideas drawn from Sarah’s own garden, including her vase-to-border comforting palette schemeProducts mentioned:Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-katAlchemilla mollishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollisClematis viticella 'Etoile Violette'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-viticella-etoile-violetteCosmos bipinnatus 'Sonata Carmine'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-sonata-carmineSalvia viridis 'Blue Monday'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blueDahlia 'Peaches'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-peachesCampsis x tagliabuana 'Indian Summer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/campsis-x-tagliabuana-indian-summerPhlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-brideAbelia x grandiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandifloraHydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGMhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelightStipa giganteahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-giganteaFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The Colour Guide Mini Series #2: Understanding colour theory - Episode 262

Each colour palette in the garden creates a unique atmosphere, and you don’t need intricate knowledge of the colour wheel to combine them cohesively in the garden.In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah talks us through why her colour palette system works to create stunning arrangements which work with each other, rather than against each other, and how to transition between palettes within neighbouring spaces.In this episode, discover:How Sarah’s four core colour palettes each create a distinct mood in the gardenWhere each palette works best at Perch Hill, and where they might be most suited in your own spaceHow to avoid a cluttered, chaotic feeling by thinking of colour palettes in ‘visual fields’How to use bridge plants and universal colours to link different palettes seamlesslyWays to work with trickier colours so that they enhance your space, rather than overwhelm itProducts mentioned:Dahlia 'Molly Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenTulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawaTulip 'Apricot Foxx': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-apricot-foxxPhlox paniculata 'David': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-davidErysimum 'Winter Orchid': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/erysimum-winter-orchidPhlox drummondii grandiflora 'Cherry Caramel': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-cherry-caramelTulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedroGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The Colour Guide Mini Series #1: My life in colour - Episode 261

Welcome to the first in a brand new miniseries of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, as Sarah delves into the world of colour, and how to use each colour palette to its absolute maximum potential in the garden.In this week’s first episode, Sarah shares how the colour system used at Perch Hill came to be, the theories behind mixing certain palettes, and the difference between calm and chaos when combining colours.In this episode, discover:How Sarah’s experiences as a florist, gardener and colour-obsessed child shaped her approach to garden colourHow the colour palettes underpin every border at Perch HillWhy misuse of colour can make some gardens feel chaotic The six key colours within each palette, from citrus brights and Venetian velvets to café-au-lait pastels and cool silversWhy no colour is truly “wrong” in a garden, and how the right combinations and contrasts can make even challenging shades singProducts mentioned:Tulip 'Mariette': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-marietteTulip 'Sarah Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-ravenTulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawaTulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedroTulip 'Copex Cairo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairoDahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-waltzing-mathildaDahlia 'Schipper’s Bronze’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronzeDahlia 'Tom's Choice': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-toms-choiceDahlia 'Molly Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenDahlia 'Perch Hill': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-perch-hillDahlia 'Lou Farman': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farmanCosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-rubenzaCosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzlerCosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-xanthosDigitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricotFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Huw Richards: Learn to grow brilliant veg in a single bed - Episode 260

In this episode, Sarah is joined by YouTube phenomenon Huw Richards to talk about his journey from smallholding childhood to seven-acre experimental plot, and the ideas behind his hit book Veg in One Bed. They’ll also cover exactly what to sow in late winter, and what’ll perform best when sown later – from chillies and aubergines to peas, onions and tomatoes. In this episode, discover:How Huw Richards went from helping on his parents’ Welsh smallholding to building a seven-acre experimental food-growing siteThe story behind Huw’s first book, Veg in One Bed, and the sheer potential in a single 10x4ft bedHow Huw blends creativity with just enough science to keep things productiveExactly what Huw is sowing in late winter, and why timing mattersHow Huw’s now using his land to grow for education, biodiversity and foodEpisode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason IngramProducts mentioned:Pepper 'Padron'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pepper-padronCourgette 'Black Beauty'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-black-beautyAubergine 'Slim Jim'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubergine-slim-jimSpring Onion 'North Holland Blood Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spring-onion-north-holland-blood-redTomato 'Sungold'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungoldTomato 'Tigerella'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-tigarellaTomato 'Honeycomb' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-honeycomb-f1Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest