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Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson return with a look at the plants causing a sensation at East Ruston Old Vicarage this September, after a long and droughty summer. PLANT LIST Brugmansia × candida 'Shredded White Fantasy' Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima' Begonia 'Richmondensis' Begonia grandis Prunus 'Tai-haku' Bupleurum fruticosum Amsonia Ceratostigma willmottianum Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Petunia exserta Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii' Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' Tragopogon balcanicus

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 Zantedeschia 'Kiwi Blush' Phygelius capensis Kniphofia rufa Punica granatum 'Flore Plena' Salvia 'Tropicolor Sunrise' Salvia 'Amistad' Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' Abelia chinensis Erigeron annuus Tagetes 'Cinnabar' (Dixter Strain) Laurus nobilis 'Aurea' Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush' Dianthus 'Chomley Farran' Lathyrus odoratus 'Henry Eckford' Echium vulgare Dianthus carthusianorum Lonicera etrusca 'Michael Rosse'

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 'Davana' Viola hederacea Carex buchananii Galanthus plicatus 'Wandlebury Ring' Iris unguicularis Iris lazica Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' Narcissus 'Pueblo' Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' Malva arborea 'Variegata' Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' Arum 'Hungarian Rhapsody' Galanthus 'Wasp' Galanthus 'Glimmer of Gold' Galanthus plicatus 'Golden Fleece' Galanthus 'Primrose Warburg'

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 sikkimensis 'Bengal Tiger' Lagerstroemia indica Weigela ‘Wings of Fire' Euphorbia mellifera Iris unguicularis Iris unguicularis 'Peloponnese Snow' Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt' Fascicularia bicolor Dicksonia Antarctica Viola hederacea Begonia luxurians Ilex aquilifolium ‘Nellie R Stevens’ Cyclamen persicum 'Dragon Deep Blue' Plumbago auriculata Bomarea caldasii

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 form Ageratum petiolatum Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India' Lobelia tupa Salvia regla Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii' Salvia involucrata 'Mulberry Jam' Salvia involucrata 'Joan' Salvia 'Tropicolor Sunrise' Solanum laxum 'Crech ar Pape' Catalpa fargesii Begonia sutherlandii Begonia sutherlandii 'Saunders' Legacy' Cuphea 'David Verity' Cuphea llavea Lotus berthelotii Salvia oxyphora Chrysanthemum 'Julia Peterson'

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 Biscuits' Ageratum petiolatum Eutrochium maculatum syn. Eupatorium purpureum subsp. maculatum Clerodendrum bungei Cleome spinosa Crinum moorei Helichrysum petiolare 'Limelight' Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush' Oxalis vulcanicola 'Plum Crazy' Iresine herbstii Iresine herbstii 'Aureoreticulata' Tithonia rotundifolia Clematis addisonii Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides Bomarea multiflora syn. Bomarea caldasii

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 'White Ischia' Plumbago auriculata Leonotis leonurus Fuchsia 'Delta's Sara' Fuchsia procumbens Tagetes patula 'Konstance' Erythrina crista-galli Punica granatum Malus transitoria Salvia darcyi

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 radula Berkheya purpurea Puya × berteroniana Beschorneria yuccoides Agave montana Phoenix canariensis Podophyllum versipelle 'Spotty Dotty' Abutilon 'Red Tiger' Desmodium yunnanense

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 tomentosa Paulownia fortunei 'Fast Blue' ('Minfast') Smyrnium perfoliatum Melanoselinum decipiens Echium pininana Echium 'Candyfloss' Nemophila menziesii Primula auricula ‘Swanton Cuckoo’

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 Fremontodendron californicum Tithonia rotundifolia Coleus scutellarioides 'Burgundy Wedding Train' Coleus scutellarioides 'Pink Chaos' Mirabilis jalapa Anagallis monellii 'Skylover' Quercus suber Lobelia 'Kathleen Mallard' Primula allionii ‘Broadwell Oliver’ Chionodoxa luciliae syn. Scilla luciliae Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii Ixia Moraea huttonii

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 Roseum Group Hedera helix f. poetarum Ilex 'East Ruston Gold' Magnolia 'Caerhays Belle' Pyrus communis 'Robin' Cichorium intybus Echium vulgare Borago officinalis Oak leaf Polyanthus Erysimum 'Winter Passion' Erysimum 'Winter Orchid' Narcissus cyclamineus Narcissus 'Rataplan' Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' Narcissus 'Firebrand' Iris 'Benton Dierdre' Iris 'Benton Olive' Narcissus 'Bath's Flame' Daphne bholua 'Mary Rose'

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 Hobby' Narcissus cyclamineus 'Englander' Crocus sieberi 'Ronald Ginns' Solanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape' Griselinia littoralis Lathyrus grandiflorus Dianthus 'Mrs Sinkins' Pittosporum tobira 'Variegatum' Pittosporum tobira 'West Acre Gold' Reinwardtia indica Scilla bithynica Primula meadia

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 nudiflorum Arum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Miss Janay Hall' Iris unguicularis Lonicera fragrantissima Daphne bholua 'Darjeeling' Viburnum × bodnantense Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis ‘Dragon Gate’ Camellia sasanqua 'Rainbow' Camellia hiemalis Camellia 'Sparkling Burgundy' Camellia 'Sugar Dream' Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty' Viburnum tinus 'Israel' Taxus baccata 'Standishii' Griselinia littoralis 'Dixon's Cream' Griselinia littoralis 'Bantry Bay' Forsythia suspensa Erysimum 'Parish's' Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve' Salvia curviflora Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush Fuchsia 'Lottie Hobby' Amarine belladiva 'Anastasia' Helleborus niger Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' Euonymus Ruscus aculeatus 'John Redmond' Hebe 'Simon Delaux' Abutilon 'Gerdmann'S Red' Abutilon 'Estella's Little Bird' Solanum laxum 'Album' syn. Solanum jasminoides Album Solanum laxum 'Crèche du Pape' Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina' Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' Ilex 'East Ruston Gold' Arum pictum 'Primrose Warburg'

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 'Profusion' Hosta 'Empress Wu' Galanthus reginae-olgae Galanthus 'James Backhouse' Griselinia littoralis 'Dixon's Cream' Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' Buddleja davidii 'Santana' Nerine 'Hotspur'

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 'Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush' Streptocarpus saxorum Camellia sasanqua Berberis gagnepainii var. lanceifolia 'Fernspray' Acer rubrum 'Oktober Glory' Salvia involucrata 'Bethellii' Salvia leucantha Dahlia 'Magenta Star' Dahlia coccinea var. palmeri Dahlia 'Labyrinth' Dahlia 'Edith Jones' Dahlia 'Dilys Ayling'