The Herald - The Herald Magazine
The best virtual gardens, podcasts and expert advice
IF you’re yearning for all the gardening shows that have been cancelled, you can still be inspired by exploring gorgeous virtual gardens now and throughout the summer, from the comfort of your armchair. Not only is the first ever ‘virtual’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show being held through the RHS website (rhs.org.uk), which will host an abundance of free, inspiring content from the great and the good of the gardening world, from May 18-23, but a plethora of famous TV gardening faces are getting involved in a number of different virtual platforms too. Here’s what to look out for...
EXPLORE OPEN GARDENS - INCLUDING CELEBRITY ONES
You can get a glimpse of gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh’s Hampshire garden through the National Garden Scheme (NGS, ngs.org.uk), which is sharing advice and videos from many of those who would have otherwise opened their gardens to the public this year to raise money for the NGS.
The NGS funds nursing and health charities, and is encouraging us to enjoy a series of gardens ‘virtually’ this year. Filmed mainly by garden owners, the ‘virtual garden visits’ sees owners introduce their garden, explain the highs and lows of its creation, and reveal their favourite plants. Every Thursday, the NGS will release a new collection of virtual garden visits, mirroring how new gardens open every week for the NGS in normal times. You can find them – and the full collection – at ngs.org.uk/virtualgarden-visits.
They are asking us to donate to their ‘Help Support Our Nurses’ appeal – website donations are making up for loss of income while the gardens are closed. Follow the NGS on Instagram @ nationalgardenscheme.
HAVE A CHAT WITH DIARMUID GAVIN
Join Irish favourite Diarmuid Gavin – currently isolating with his family in Co Wicklow – and his gardening pal Paul Smyth, for gardening chat and entertainment on Instagram Live, weekdays at 7pm and weekends 11am, at @garden_conversations.
TAKE GARDENING ADVICE FROM TV FAVOURITES
Leading gardening personalities, including Chris Beardshaw, Arit Anderson and Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek, are proudly wearing flower crowns for this year’s virtual celebrations in support of Garden Day 2020 (gardenday.co.uk) on May 10.
There’s still just time to get involved – visit the website to download a toolkit with hints and tips on how to celebrate. Follow @GardenDayUK on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Candide, and share your Garden Day celebrations on social media, using #GardenDayUK.
FIND ANSWERS IN A PODCAST
There’s a plethora of free podcasts to listen to.
The Plant Based Podcast (theplantbasedpodcast.net) puts the spotlight firmly on plants, with influential hosts Michael Perry (aka Mr Plant Geek) and Ellen Mary.
On The Ledge podcast (janeperrone. com/on-the-ledge) with indoor plant expert Jane Perrone, covers a fresh topic each episode with special guests. Gardening doesn’t mean you have to be outdoors – use Perrone’s advice to bring the outside in.
HUWS NURSERY (YOUTUBE)
With 15 years’ experience, expert grower Huw Richards shares his top tips to help gardeners harvest the best organic produce from their own gardens. New videos are added each week.