Talking Dirty

With apologies for long absence, Alan Gray and Thordis return for more planty joy - with some 'Show and Tell' of what's looking great at East Ruston Old Vicarage at the moment! PLANT LIST Rosa 'Climbing Pompon de Paris' Rosa 'Guy de Savoy' Rosa 'La Rose de Petit Prince' Rosa 'American Pillar' Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' Clematis 'Tie Dye' Fuchsia arborescens Fuchsia procumbens Plumbago auriculata...

A new year and plenty to talk about. Join Alan Gray as he takes you and Thordis on a 'wander' through the plants wowing at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month. PLANT LIST Clianthus puniceus ‘Kākā King’ Lachenalia rubida Fuchsia 'Wapenveld's Bloei' Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff' Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long' Tropaeolum majus 'Darjeeling Gold' syn 'Darjeeling Double' Phlebodium aureum 'Davan...

It's been a little while. Thank you for your patience. Alan and Thordis wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2026. PLANT LIST Anemone pavonina Agave montana Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty‘ Punica granatum var. Nana Cordyline australis 'Charlie Boy' Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' Galanthus 'S. Arnott' Arum pictum Arum maculatum Arum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Monksilver' Musa sikkim...

September already and East Ruston Old Vicarage is as bursting with colour as you might expect! Alan Gray brings just a few favourites for Show and Tell, while Thordis is FLOMO*ing over a very 'Alan' container she spotted on holiday! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out PLANT LIST Brugmansia 'Shredded White Fantasy' Brugmansia × candida 'Grand Marnier' Tagetes ex 'Cinnabar' Great Dixter...

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 LIST Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars' Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Crème Brûlée' Dahlia coccinea var. palmeri Tagetes 'Cinnabar' Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscui...

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 LIST Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillère'  Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride' Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits' Amaranthus cruentus 'Foxtail' Lantana camara Ficus carica 'Whi...

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 Out PLANT LIST Eucomis pole-evansii Eucomis pole-evansii 'Dark Desire' Rosa x beanii Verbascum roripifolium Iris tectorum Berkheya radu...

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 LIST Tulipa 'Yellow Crown' Narcissus 'Painted Desert' Narcissus 'Irish Linen' Tropaeolum smithii Piptanthus laburnifolius syn. Piptanthus nepalensis Bupleurum fruticosum Pelargonium 'Dark Secret' Malus hupehensis Paulownia tom...

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 LIST Magnolia 'Vulcan' Magnolia sieboldii Delosperma Cyrtanthus elatus syn. Vallota speciosa Watsonia Sparaxis tricolor Hippeastrum Tigridia pavonia Podranea ricasoliana Abutilon 'Fool's Gold' Clianthus puniceus Helichrysum petiolare...

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 Out PLANT LIST Abeliophyllum distichum...

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 Out PLANT LIST Fuchsia 'Lottie Ho...

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 LIST Galanthus 'Santa Claus' Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' Galanthus elwesii 'Peter Gatehouse' Narcissus 'Cedric Morris' Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête' Jasminum nu...

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 LIST Iris unguicularis Iris unguicularis 'Mary Barnard' Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt' Cestrum fasciculatum 'Newellii' Viola 'Parme de Toulouse' Begonia luxurians Ilex verticillata Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii...

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 LIST Lapageria rosea Passiflora semiciliosa Bougainvillea spectabilis Mandevilla Pleroma urvilleanum syn Tibouchina urvilleana Abutilon 'Fool's Gold' Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima' Strobilanthes dyeriana Plectranthus ciliatus 'Easy Gold 'Tra...

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 LIST Manihot grahamii Ptilotus exaltatus Begonia fuchsioides Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush' Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii' Ageratum petiolatum Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars' Coleus argentatus syn Plectranthus arge...

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 LIST Helichrysum petiolare Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Sugar Stars' Petunia exserta Begonia 'Erythrophylla' G...

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 Out PLANT LIST Pinus engelmannii Firmiana simplex Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' Napaea dio...

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 LIST Philadelphus 'Casa Azul' Philadelphus maculatus Philadelphus mexicanus Mag...

From propagation successes to exciting new container combos, here's our latest special on the garden at East Ruston Old Vicarage. PLANT LIST Mitraria coccinea Beschorneria yuccoides Agave montana Fuchsia 'Delta's Sara' Begonia grandis subsp. evansiana Begonia 'Torsa' Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange' Dahlia excelsa Campanula medium Melica uniflora f. albida Dahlia 'Hadrian's Midnight' Pennisetu...

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 LIST Persicaria virginiana Variegated Group Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette' Tinantia pringlei Cuphea 'David Verity' Polyscias sambucifolia Chlorophytum saundersiae 'St...

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 LIST Abutilon 'Ashford Red' Aesculus wangii Aesculus californica Schefflera rhododendrifolia Schefflera taiwaniana syn Heptapleurum taiwanianum Brachychiton populneus Begonia scharffii...

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 LIST Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff' Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long' Anthyllis vulneraria 'Dark Red form' Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii 'Albiflorum' Bupleurum ranunculoides Geranium nodosum 'Fielding's Folly' Rhododendron ‘Dav...

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 LIST Geranium 'Rozanne' Geranium 'Jolly Bee' Salvia rosmarinus 'Joe's Goldie' Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' Erysimum cheiri 'Harpur Crewe' Maianthemum racemosum syn Smilacina racemosa Sarcococca Lonicera caprifolium Om...

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 LIST Uvularia grandiflora Chrysanthemum 'Esther' Chrysanthemum 'Dixter Orange' Pelargonium 'Mr Wren' Ribes sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet' Ribes sanguineum...

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 LIST Brugmansia × candida 'Grand Marnier' Ipomoea lobata syn Mina lobata Zinnia 'Benary's Gian...