The dream garden of low‑maintenance abundance is all about picking the plants that need hardly any input, just the lightest touch of editing, and they’ll give you months of shifting colour.

In the third episode in this theme with Arthur, we dive into the self-seeding annuals and biennials that bring abundant colour to the garden with very little effort.

From forget-me-nots and violas to cerinthe, cosmos and quaking grasses, they share their favourite ‘volunteer’ plants, how to manage them, and simple ways to use them in borders and cut-flower arrangements for a truly low-maintenance, flower-filled garden.

In this episode, discover:

• How to use self-seeding annuals and biennials to create a low‑maintenance, flower‑filled garden that largely looks after itself
• Inspired plant recommendations, from forget‑me‑nots and violas, to grasses, nasturtiums and Californian poppies
• Practical tips on managing self‑sowers - when to let them run, and when to thin them out
• Ways to weave self‑seeders into borders, pots and even cracks in paving for long‑season colour, movement and structure

Products mentioned:

Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue

Heart's Ease (Viola tricolor)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-heartsease

Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anthriscus-sylvestris-ravenswing

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzler

Ammi majus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Panicum miliaceum 'Violaceum'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/panicum-violaceum

Briza maxima (Greater Quaking Grass)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grass

Nicandra physalodes

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicandra-physalodes

Persicaria orientalis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/persicaria-orientalis

Nasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-rose

Nasturtium 'Bloody Mary' (Tropaeolum minus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-bloody-mary

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

For months of scent throughout the sunnier months, there are a whole host of nostalgic stalwarts and surprising new picks that are impossible to ignore.

Every garden deserves a perfume as captivating as the 12 plants at the top of Josie and Sarah’s list this week, as they laud the dozen best flowers to sow for unbeatable aroma from April through to October.

In this episode, discover:

• How to choose standout scented plants that really earn their place for perfume and looks alike
• Which specific varieties Sarah and Josie regularly rely on, and what makes each one special
• Practical when-and-how tips for sowing, planting, and positioning scented plants to get fragrance from spring right through to autumn
• Ways to use these plants as cut flowers, including vase-life tricks and how to make small bunches scent whole rooms
• How to layer scent through borders, climbers, containers, and shrubs so that every corner of the garden offers a different perfumed moment

Products mentioned:

Trachelospermum jasminoides

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/trachelospermum-jasminoides

Sweet Pea 'Matucana'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucana

Narcissus 'Actaea'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Matthiola incana 'Pillow Talk'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/matthiola-incana-pillow-talk

Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lonicera-periclymenum-graham-thomas

Acidanthera murielae (syn. Gladiolus)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/acidanthera-murielae

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Every year, we venture out to the Netherlands in search of the most captivating dahlias, each worthy of a spot in your garden to liven up the late-summer months.

Tom Stimpson joins us again on the podcast to share their current ‘cream of the crop’, from reliable classics like ‘Molly Raven’ and ‘Adam’s Choice’, to gorgeous growers like ‘Strawberry Cream’ and ‘Princess Nadine’.

Join us for an episode packed with garden inspiration for any colour palette, and a glimpse into how we choose our standout favourites from a field of hundreds and thousands.

In this episode, discover:

• How Sarah and Tom select stellar dahlias from Dutch trial fields, and the characteristics that make truly exceptional plants
• Varieties that are pollinator-friendly to bring a buzz of life into the garden
• How to condition your dahlias for mighty vase life

Products mentioned:

Dahlia 'Princess Nadine'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-princess-nadine

Dahlia 'Skyfall'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-skyfall

Dahlia 'Café au Lait'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-cafe-au-lait

Dahlia 'Adam's Choice'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-adams-choice

Dahlia 'Polka'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-polka

Dahlia 'Strawberry Cream'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-strawberry-cream

Dahlia 'Honka Pink'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-honka-pink

Dahlia 'Molly Raven'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-raven

Dahlia 'Labyrinth'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-labyrinth

Dahlia 'Lou Farman'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farman

Dahlia 'Break Out'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-out

Dahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidian

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Shane Connolly is a master of many arts, and one that he exhibits throughout the year is how to use sustainable floristry to create a sense of charm often reserved for the tiniest of tables.

That’s why he’s in such high demand - we talk through his exciting, varied year of arranging in this week’s podcast, with a look at the festive season, and a few tips to serve your own arranging in the festive season, taking inspiration from Shane’s wondrous wedding displays.

In this episode, discover:

• How Shane approaches weddings, intimate dinners, grand public events and royal occasions
• Why he favours seasonal, British-grown flowers and how he builds close relationships with growers and suppliers
• The behind-the-scenes logistics of big museum dinners and public events, from long tables to thousands of tiny vases and candles
• How Shane creates sustainable, glitter-free Christmas magic, including his Marie Antoinette-inspired V&A tree and reusable decorations

Products mentioned:

Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/convallaria-lily-of-the-valley

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Whether you're nurturing a bustling city plot or a country border, there’s a spot in everyone’s gardens, pots and borders for beautiful, productive perennials throughout the year.

Following on from last week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Arthur is with us again to focus this time on perennials that are light-touch and bountiful for those of us putting together a low-maintenance garden.

In this episode, discover:

• Perennials, shrubs, and self-seeding annuals that provide long-lasting beauty with minimal care
• Personal stories, hands-on tips, and garden-tested wisdom to help you with your plant selection and garden upkeep
• New and improved varieties bred for reduced invasiveness, greater disease resistance, and extended flowering seasons
• Plants that attract bees and other wildlife, showcasing how low-fuss gardens can support biodiversity too

Products mentioned:

Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aster-x-frikartii-monch

Salvia x jamensis 'Nachtvlinder'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-nachtvlinder

Phlox paniculata 'David'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david

Geranium 'Rozanne'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-rozanne

Geranium wallichianum 'Bloom Me Away'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-wallichianum-bloom-me-away

Pennisetum macrourum

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pennisetum-macrourum

Chasmanthium latifolium

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifolium

Stipa gigantea

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The ideal garden for our busy daily lives has a border bursting with colour, without the need for hours spent toiling to achieve it.

This week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is the perfect antidote to fussy flowers - Arthur Parkinson returns to laud the best self-seeding perennials for a low-maintenance garden brimming with lasting impact and scent.

You’ll hear inspiring ornamentals and edibles to sow, how best to maintain their beauty with minimal effort, and which varieties are most tolerant of tricky soil.

In this episode, discover:

• The beauty and resilience of self-seeding, low-maintenance perennials in creating effortless gardens
• How personal stories and childhood memories shape our gardening choices and appreciation for certain plants
• Practical tips for encouraging thriving gardens with minimal intervention, including soil, watering, and deadheading advice
• Enhancing gardens for wildlife by choosing plants that support pollinators through every stage of their life cycle

Order Arthur’s new book - Hen Party:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459749/hen-party-by-parkinson-arthur/9780241674703

Products mentioned:

Alcea rosea 'Giant Single Mixed'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hollyhock-giant-single-mixed

Euphorbia oblongata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongata

Helleborus argutifolius

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifolius

Papaver rupifragum 'Orange Feathers'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rupifragum-orange-feathers

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/centranthus-ruber-coccinea

Alchemilla mollis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollis

Verbena bonariensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensis

Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-officinalis-var-grandiflora-bampton

Aubrieta deltoidea 'Cascade Mix'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubrieta-deltoidea-cascade-mix

Lychnis coronaria (Rose campion)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronaria

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Following on from last week’s wintry themed episode on containers, this week we’re setting our sights on the summer ahead, on what’ll bring colour to your pots at the season’s peak.

Josie’s absolute burning passion is containers, and this week she gives her plant picks for pots taking us through summer and autumn.

Join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as we delve into the ‘thriller, filler, pillar, spiller’ method for arranging containers, which combinations have stood out in their trials, and how to gently treat your flowers for maximum impact.

In this episode, discover:

• The “thriller, filler, pillar, spiller” secret to building showstopping containers that brim with colour and texture right through summer to autumn
• Sarah and Josie’s favourite plants that promise to lift your pots from simple to spectacular
• How to keep blooms coming with gentle, tried-and-true maintenance tips, from deadheading tricks to overwintering
• Plant pairings and playful combinations, perfect for either grand displays or tiny terraces

Products mentioned:

Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-white

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Thunbergia alata 'African Sunset'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thunbergia-african-sunset

Ipomoea lobata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipomoea-lobata-mina-lobata

Salvia 'Peach Melba'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melba

Nemesia 'Lady Ruby'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nemesia-lady-ruby

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The garden’s magic needn’t be seasonal - containers can be the heroes of hue in even the coldest months.

It’s time to assemble your winter containers ready to keep the scent and colour peaking, carrying us through till spring, with 12 inspiring varieties from Sarah and our Head Gardener, Josie Lewis.

Join them on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a plethora of plants perfect for containers of any size, and how to keep them all looking their very best.

In this episode, discover:

• Which container plants will keep your garden brimming with colour, texture, and even scent through the quiet months of winter and into spring
• How to outsmart common pests like vine weevil, and pick up clever, low-fuss tips for keeping containers healthy and happy
• Inspiration for staging and arranging winter pots, transforming even a small balcony or windowsill into a cheerful display

Products mentioned:

Helleborus x glandorfensis 'Ice N' Roses Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensis

Helleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-red

Viola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1

Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-white

Heuchera sanguinea 'Leuchtkafer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-sanguinea-leuchtkafer

Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarcococca-hookeriana-winter-gem

Narcissus 'Moonlight Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensation

Dutch Yard Narcissus Collection

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-yard-narcissus-collection

Wallflower 'Fire King'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-fire-king

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bay

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest