episode 187 | show notes & advice
episode description
Andy Monaghan’s background as a dancer alongside his gorgeous work with flowers gives him such a unique, inspiring outlook on crafting a horticultural style.
Andy joins Arthur Parkinson this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as he shares the combined influence of the two creative careers, how they guide his gardening on his beautiful land in Hampshire, and the joys of bringing homegrown bouquets to the Royal Opera House.
In this episode, discover
- The creative nature of both Andy’s careers, and how they guide and influence each other
- How Andy came to have such a gorgeous Hampshire space and his huge experimentation with dozens of different varieties of roses
- Floral design techniques, and the value in having an open mind in gardening
links and references
Order Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Pots
Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers
Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Veg
Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook | Sarah Raven
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website
Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Episode 187 advice sheet
Balancing the creative nature of dancing and floral endeavours (2:40)
What makes Andy’s perspective on the gardening world so unique is his background in dancing, and the combination of these creative disciplines springs into life through the gardening he’s able to experiment with in his space in Hampshire.
The pride in bringing flowers to the Royal Opera House (6:50)
As a dancer, the Royal Opera House holds such a special place in Andy’s heart, which made it so joyous that he was able to bring some of his homegrown bouquets to the venue itself. Andy describes that proud moment, and then shares how he learned to condition the flowers to keep them looking their finest.
Andy’s 38 varieties of roses, and which are the standouts in his garden (14:25)
The land in Hampshire that Andy’s able to use is perfect for exploring which varieties of a particular flower are his favourites - that’s why he’s got a ‘ballet of roses’, and Andy talks through what he’s looking for in the perfect roses to keep, and why this is his first opportunity to truly experiment.
Other plants that Andy’s planting which thrive on clay (19:25)
Andy’s wisely choosing the flowers that he plants in the clay of Hampshire’s soil, and he shares with Arthur some of the best shrubs and perennials which best suit his lifestyle, followed by a glimpse into the bulbs he’s planting this autumn to bring next spring to life.
