Episode 10 The Beechgrove Garden

Hello and welcome to Beechgrove at Gardening Scotland,

this diamond of a show on the Queen's Jubilee weekend.

Where better to celebrate a diamond jubilee

than at this glittering event?

The biggest gardening and outdoor living show north of the border.

There's only one word to describe it this year - paradise.

From the reds...

..whites...

..and blues...

..of the royal flush of precious petals...

..to the subtle.

And the strange.

The plants are always the crown jewels of the show.

There's much more to this gem of a show,

from the pomp and pageantry of the showy show gardens

to the tiny treasures of the Pallet Garden.

Later, we'll find out who has been growing for gold,

and see the exhibitors who have come hot-foot from Chelsea

with their gold and silverware.

We'll see if they can win again at Gardening Scotland.

From mad March's heat, followed by the snow,

then it was the wettest drought and the coldest spring.

It is an absolute testament to the exhibitors

that they can produce specimens like these regal pelargoniums.

They really are the crowning glories.

As you are sat, sitting there in your armchair,

whatever the weather, get yourself down here

to the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, just outside Edinburgh.

Enjoy this royal weekend. You'll have a ball.

We start off our romp around the show

with perfect patriotic planting as the central feature

to the Floral Hall.

This is it. I'm with show manager, Jim Jermyn. What do you think?

This is an amazing celebration of the Union Jack.

How many bedding plants are we speaking about?

4,000 individual plants here.

And such a variety, but we don't have time to talk about them all.

What about one of each of the colours?

I am loving this survivor scarlet.

Quite a well-known variety of geranium.

I think you need sunglasses for that one!

What about the blues? My favourite colour.

This upright form of salvia, Sally Fun Blue.

Outstanding.

I like that one. Finally, the white?

Since impatiens are a non-starter now,

I am liking this non-stop white begonia.

That is a number one bedding plant, because whatever the weather,

-it does really well.

-I totally agree.

-This is a real celebration of bedding plants.

-Superb.

But from inside, we now go outside, where George is in his element.

It is every boy's dream, with the first of this year's show gardens.

TRAIN WHISTLE

I'm with Colin and Peter in a very special garden.

Tell me about this.

This is a first for Gardening Scotland. It is a joint venture

between Calder's Garden Centres and the G Scale group in Scotland.

Are you responsible?

I'm one of the G Scale group.

Ten of us got together to build this railway,

and we had, really, to build it up, rather than put it in the ground.

We're trying to encourage people to come into the garden.

Houses are getting small, no longer big enough

for the original size of locomotive.

No railways in the attic now?

A super idea.

We were absolutely delighted, because railways were renowned

for having colour about their stations, and we thought it apt

that a garden railway should be at the show.

This garden is called Serenity,

created by the guys from Gardening Leave.

To tell us more about it, Ray. How are you doing?

Pleased to meet you.

Tell me about Gardening Leave.

It is a charity for ex-veterans that go down to a place called Hollybush.

It's for PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder.

Gardening Leave is a therapeutic side to Hollybush.

We do planting, pricking out vegetables.

I have been to Auchincruive, where you do some work.

-It's done the business for you, hasn't it?

-It has.

You have dedicated yourself to it?

Yeah, to raise money for the charity

for other veterans, past and present, coming through.

You're beginning to get a bit of a pot hunter,

-winning prizes in Fife, and Ayr show, as well?

-Yeah.

I took a gold last year at Ayr.

But the crucial thing is that you and your mates find that serenity,

don't you, when you're in a garden?

We find it very therapeutic dealing with the plants.

-Good on you.

-Thanks very much.

The focal point of this show garden is a yurt,

backed with a log-stack wall.

Designed by Jane Whitehead, of Ivy Maud Designs,

it is called Legacy. Jane, why is it called that?

The garden is built for Macmillan Cancer Support,

and legacies underpin the work of Macmillan.

A third of their income comes from legacy giving,

so we really wanted to take that as the title of this garden

and emphasise that through the design.

And there's lots of symbolism?

Yes, we made these paths very narrow,

because the journey through cancer is narrow and difficult sometimes.

We have a welcoming yurt at the end, and we have put words on them

that explain some of the support that is available.

Friends, family and Macmillan.

It has a nice woodland-y feel to it.

I have called it a "stylised woodland garden",

and it has these mossy areas, and the reflective pools

-to try and give a peaceful atmosphere.

-It's beautiful.

As you can see, I'm outside. A little bit of rain.

That's good for the plants.

This is Border Aggregates,

and it is your second year you've been here, Paul.

Tell us about the inspiration for the garden.

Samantha is our inspiration this year.

To design and build a garden with the colourful flowers and materials

is a reflection of Sam's ambitions in life and in the future.

Sam, I really want to know about your story.

I was paralysed in 2010.

Which made me decide to do wheelchair racing.

I have been wheelchair racing for four months.

My first race was the London Mini Marathon, which I came second in.

That is absolutely brilliant. Meant to be!

Then I had Liverpool, last weekend. I got a first in the 200 metres.

Brilliant. What about the future?

I would like to go to the Rio Paralympics in 2016.

We wish you all the best,

and I hope you are speaking about two golds here.

Gold for you and gold for the garden.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Flaming weather! Flaming June, what is this?

It's amazing what they do in this programme, isn't it?

Steve, this is your rococo garden and a fantastic concept.

Could you explain it to us?

The idea of the garden is to highlight

the centenary of Scott's expedition to Antarctica,

and to highlight the problems with global warming

in the 100 years since his ill-fated voyage.

The possibility of plants starting to grow there,

hence the colour on that side and the white on this side,

which is icebergs, and snow and fog.

That is an idea we can use in our own garden,

this juxtaposition of different colours?

It is a good design trick to use warm colours in the foreground,

and recessive colours in the background.

It increases the sense of depth.

Super idea.

The white colours, in the twilight, really stand out, don't they?

Very much so.

You have a little bit of work to do,

so I will leave you,

as you "may be some time".

MUSIC: "Big Rock Candy Mountain" by Burl Ives

This is the bee garden and the backdrop has been provided

by the Scottish Dry Stone Walling Association.

These are a group of hobby wallers that come from all over the country.

Phil, you have a big connection with bees, don't you?

I do, I am President of the Scottish Beekeepers Association.

This is a special year?

This is our centenary, 100 years of beekeeping in Scotland.

I wasn't there at the inception, but I'm here now.

In the wall, there's these gorgeous little alcoves

with little knitted things. What are they?

They're called "skeps".

The position in the wall is called a "bee bowl".

We used to keep bees in these skeps many years ago.

Some of these are really old, aren't they?

Yes, they go back many centuries.

You are trying to highlight the plight of bees

-because they are so vital to us?

-They are.

A third of the food you eat is pollinated by honey bees,

so they are vital to our ecology.

So gardeners need to encourage them.

You have some good bee plants here -

things like the lavender and the centaurea.

And then also you have some more bee activity, haven't you?

Yes. Ayr & District Beekeepers Association

have a static and open-hive demonstration.

We will get people suited-up, and take them through boxes of bees.

They'll not recognise you with all your stuff on?

Not at all. I'll look far better then.

SHE LAUGHS

Continuing the theme of encouraging wildlife into the garden,

things like bees and butterflies, we have Elmwood College

as part of the living garden.

Sheena, this is your design, and you have things like the pond?

Yes, and bee-attractant plants with the beehive and bee log.

And over in this area, butterfly-attractant plants.

All through the garden, things wildlife would love to come to.

It is looking really colourful, and it is productive, too?

We have vegetables, fruit bushes,

under-planted with wild strawberries.

We have the orchard over here

with the James Grieve apple, introduced in 1893 to Edinburgh.

You mention it, because the Scottish theme,

you have it running through the garden?

Because it is the year of creative culture for Scotland,

and we have the dry stane dyke, the willow hurdling.

The seat is made from fallen timber.

-It looks absolutely brilliant, so the best of luck.

-Thank you.

Five of the show gardens here have been built

by Scottish horticultural colleges,

and the aim is to showcase the creativity

of the up-and-coming garden designers.

This is Dundee College garden, and it has been built on behalf

of Trellis, a charity which promotes all the benefits of horticulture.

The designer is Marie. How did you get your inspiration?

Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unusual places,

and inspiration for this garden came from a piece of carved stone

that we saw on a college trip.

It is built around the two circular ponds, with the connecting seating.

It is called a Garden of Tranquillity,

but you have some really strident oranges and peaches -

but they are put together so cleverly.

-It is very calm.

-It is.

Lots and lots of planting. You haven't done this on your own?

No, we have had a fantastic team.

Over the two weeks, it has been amazing.

Everyone has worked so hard, and created the garden we see here today.

-Are you going to have a well-deserved hot bath?

-I am.

THEY LAUGH

George, I would like you to meet Anna, from Finland.

She is a student at the Scottish Agricultural College,

and designer of this stand.

What is the idea behind it?

It is a cornucopia, a horn of plenty.

My tribute to the abundance of northern nature.

-To which I include Scotland, as well.

-Very kind of you.

-Berries, and that sort of thing?

-Health-full berries.

You have some strange ones,

-because on the corner is the cloudberry.

-Exactly.

Where did that come from?

-All the way from Finland.

-Is it a native here?

Only on the top of Ben Lawers, I think.

I have never seen it before.

We could talk for hours, but we have to move on.

Ciao!

Next one.

This one has travelled further.

-This is from SAC.

-Another one?

This came all the way from Chelsea. It has been down there.

You have seen it before?

It has been on the back of two lorries, but it is back here now.

I don't think it's travelled all that well!

It is just as though the man has left,

and this is all the stuff he's collected,

put into his little garden.

In here are all the delightful little plants he has found.

The more you look, the more you see.

There's gems in here. Absolute stoaters.

If you were designing a border,

you wouldn't necessarily put all these things next to one another.

-They don't really match.

-This is a holding place for them.

The skill of these designers is such that it makes it look just right!

It's aye been. It looks as though it's aye been

and they have planted it to look like that.

I think it is brilliant.

-No wonder they got a prize at Chelsea.

-No wonder.

MUSIC: "Desert Island Discs"

There's a man taking pictures. Shall we spoil it?

Desert Island Discs. 70th Anniversary.

Elmwood College, Cupar, Fife.

There is the island. The banana tree, the palm.

Typical tropical planting. The Bible.

Do you know, in its 70 years, what has been the most popular

non-classical piece of music requested?

Je Ne Regrette Rien.

MUSIC: "Je Ne Regrette Rien" by Edith Piaf

-# Ni-ni-ni-ni. #

-You're on your own now.

MUSIC: "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

One of the first stands you see as you come into

the Floral Hall is Binny Plants,

and, Adam, you guys have done it again, my boy.

-Thanks very much, Jim.

-An absolute belter.

What's the inspiration for it?

Well, we really wanted a real jungle feel to the stand, you know.

This could be somewhere where you can actually sit, out of the sun

with a nice hot plantain over here, going all the way through

into a nice wet stream running through,

and giving loads of nice wet plants going through

-into the shady area that goes right round the back.

-I don't know how you do it.

It's absolutely stunning.

Of course, the plants are the stars, aren't they?

And that little trollius, to me, is the best thing I've seen.

Yeah, it's fantastic. That's Trollius New Moon,

it's a brand new one this year.

And it's got nice subtle shade. It's got nice wee tinges round the edge.

-And I've fallen in love with that wee primula. What's the name?

-Primula Apple Blossom.

Really subtle as well, it's not too in-your-face.

My eye just keeps catching things, but I'm going to have to leave you,

-I'm away to see your partner in crime.

-Okey-doke. Thanks very much.

Billy, this is the other major strand to your business,

and that's the peonies. Tell us a little bit about this collection.

This year, Jim, we're showing off some of the new generation peonies.

Yes. And there's a bit special here,

because I see they've got special labels.

Yes, this is the mother and the father,

and this is their offspring in the middle.

This has never been seen before in the UK.

Really? But along here, I understand this is the star of the show.

Yes, this is one of the new hybrids,

between a tree peony and a herbaceous peony,

-and this is called Barcela.

-Never been seen before?

Well, it's been around a few years, but it is fairly new.

But it's the setting that is so stunning.

Yeah, it's inside a Japanese tokonoma, which is a way

-of showing off your prized possessions.

-Yeah. It's real class.

Well, from peonies we go to poppies and Perennials On Parade,

and that's with Poppyscotland and our dear friend Beryl from Macplants.

Tell us first of all a little bit about the charity, Poppyscotland.

Well, it provides for our heroes, our ex-servicemen

who require some support.

And by supporting this charity, we at Macplants feel it's very worthwhile.

And we've put on what we hoped were poppies.

It's been a bit difficult this year.

Yes, for example, like the Himalayan poppy, how difficult was that?

Very difficult. A fortnight ago, beautiful.

But since then we've had really... It's been too hot.

-So they went over really quickly?

-Very, very quickly.

And very hard to get flowers on the ladybird poppies.

-But they are gorgeous, aren't they?

-Yes.

-But again, a timing issue.

Yes, and catching the eye is the important thing.

And then what about the Oriental poppies?

Almost impossible. We usually have them for Gardening Scotland.

-This year I've managed to get ONE!

-Well, at least you've got one!

But I mean, you've got some gorgeous perennials here,

and a wonderful sort of display.

Thank you. We've worked hard to get some good colours,

and that's the important thing. People like to see the colours.

Keeping on the theme of the P, I think it's an absolute picture.

Thank you, Carole.

I'm glad I have tracked you two guys down, Keith and John,

because this really intrigues me.

Keith, tell me what this is all about.

Well, what we have here, Jim, is some unusual sculptures,

surrounded by good-quality plant material.

And what we hope is that the sculptures will attract your eye

and you'll go from one to the other.

And of course, we hope that visitors will go away with some ideas for their own garden.

It's absolutely stonking. John, what's your part in this?

I've grown most of the plants in Somerset. Transported them up.

I'm quite proud of their association with Gardening Scotland.

We've also been able to bring up a brand new dahlia from the National Collection in Cornwall.

Oh, would you care to tell us what you're going to call it?

We're going to call it Gardening Scotland.

Well, I wish you all the very best,

and I think the people will be intrigued by this. It's a smasher.

Thank you very much.

This garden in the Floral Hall, it's called Blossoms and Butterflies.

Peter, you're the designer. I think it's a great title.

So what's the connection?

Both Mike and I are former trustees of the British Thyroid Foundation.

And one of our members, Anna Knights, the renowned botanical artist,

suffered from thyroid cancer in 2008.

And in gratitude for the help we gave her,

she's painted this gorgeous painting

of Peacock Butterfly On Apple Blossom, because the thyroid gland

in your neck is butterfly shaped.

That's absolutely beautiful. And then, what about the garden?

Because, Mike, you've been heavily involved with that.

Yes, the Dalgety Bay Horticultural Society. We sourced the grass, artefacts, some of the plants,

the butterfly circle.

A lot of our members have volunteered. They've been fantastic.

-And you do have a lot of members, about 400, don't you?

-400.

OK, now this is another new plant at the show.

Yes, this seedling red hypoxis occurred on my nursery in 2005.

And last year we ran a competition in the BTF newsletter for a name for it.

And the winning entry, chosen by Gay Search, was Butterfly Wings.

And the person who put that entry in was Pauline, Mike's wife.

-Now that's a lucky coincidence, isn't it?

-Isn't it just!

-Hoyland Plant Centre, what a wonderful display again.

-Fantastic.

I love these plants. They've got a new one called Queen Mum.

-Oh, nice.

-I would like to be able to grow agapanthus.

But listen, there's a lot of new stuff about, isn't there?

And one or two new exhibitors too. I think we should split up.

-Let's go and find them.

-Go!

One of the new exhibitors is Oska Copperfield from Rothley

in Leicestershire.

Delighted to welcome another chrysanthemum grower.

They are stunning. I've always loved them as a cut flower.

Just look at that. A belter.

This new display is really cool and calm,

because it's all about white plants. Absolutely stunning.

And it's from Brian Young from Holmes Farm Plants.

And you can't get any higher than Allium Mount Everest.

# I'll tell you what

# What I have found

# That I'm no fool

# I'm just upside down... #

And I'm warming up with Warmenhoven, alliums and hippeastrums,

drumsticks and trumpets.

Ideal for those who suffer from OCD.

Pitch perfect.

# Watching people scurry by

# Rushing to and fro

# Oh, this world is such a crazy place

# It's all about the go, go, go... #

Well, this is Picture Perfect with Pretty Ugly Plants.

And what a pristine display. It's all about carnivorous plants

and other plants that like a boggy situation.

# I don't care

# I'm halfway there

# And I'm just soaking up the magic in the air... #

No bugles here, Coronets Of Colour,

golden nugget and black star, Calla lilies from brighter blooms.

# Ain't got no cares

# Ain't got no rules

# I think I like

# Living upside down... #

From bright, we go to shade, to ferns, which fascinate me.

From Bentleys of Salisbury,

who on the way up here managed to pick up a gold medal at Chelsea.

These are stunning. The beauty is in the detail.

# Ain't got no cares

# I ain't got no rules

# I think I like

# Living upside down. #

As Gardening Scotland show manager,

I have to say, it's great to see something really fresh here.

And it's the Country in A Basket Competition,

which embraces 23 eco schools. They've each been given a mentor,

a basket, compost, £50,

and they've developed their own country.

Looking at France here, this was a school that I mentored,

and it was great fun speaking to the kids there.

But some of them are really involved here.

Tanzania across here.

I've noticed that the judging is going on and the results are just amazing.

-Some old favourites.

-Less of the old, George.

It's interesting that you very quickly develop favourite themes, don't you?

I mean, I love this border bells mix. It's just lovely.

-Mm, it's a great combination, but will we find some more favourites?

-Let's do that.

# You won't find him drinking at the table

# Rolling dice and staying out till three... #

Well, now, here's something I've never seen before.

A little bonsai fuchsia, by the name of Lottie Hobby.

She's a wee cracker.

# You won't find him trying to chase the devil

# For money, fame, for power Out of grief... #

This tiny streptocarpus called White Butterfly is rather delicate

and really unusual.

Whereas this is the type we're more familiar with.

This is a new variety called Sweet Menace.

And it's got a perfume. Now the jury's out for me.

You'll just have to come to the show

and make your own mind up.

But my mind's made up, with the Scottish Rock Garden Club.

From a little lilium to the comparative giant

of a meconopsis in full bloom.

Not so blowsy here, it's all about foliage.

Bowdens are back, not just for the hostas and ferns, but grasses too.

And what a novel way to display them. Grasses in a basket.

Toasting majestic planting in the glorious gardens of Argyll.

From the bottlebrush to the giant echium.

And last but not least,

first impressions are so important

when you look at these little stands.

And this one from Tinnisburn really caught my eye.

I love the balance and perspective of it.

And the constant reminders of the need to encourage wildlife

in the garden.

I've been in since early this morning, judging the Pallet Gardens.

Now these are absolutely brilliant. They'll bring a smile to your face.

So come and see them.

A Right Regal Crown.

A Jubilee Tea Party.

A Day At The Seaside with starfish and sand.

From the Very Hungry Caterpillar,

to a Bumblebee Bistro,

with Peony Punch and Allium Surprise.

A gift for all - look what they've done to the grass!

A Pause For Reflection, and Flushed With Success.

The Pallet Gardens are just braw!

-Primula!

-Yes!

A silver medal, Sheila. Are you chuffed?

I'm really excited. First year, first attempt and here I am

with a silver medal.

-And there's a lot of work goes behind that.

-There certainly is.

-Well done, you.

-What did you get?

-A silver.

-Are you pleased?

-I am, yes.

I think that is absolutely brilliant for your first time.

Can I congratulate you on your gold?

-Thank you.

-I take it you're quite, as we would say, chuffed.

-Yes, we are.

-Are you pleased?

-Aye, brilliant. Absolutely superb.

Silver gilt, so the judges agreed with George and I.

It's a belter.

# Hey, soul sister

# Ain't that Mr Mister on the radio

# Stereo The way you move ain't fair, you know

# Hey, soul sister

# I don't wanna miss a single thing you do

# Tonight

# Hey

# Hey... #

Well, as we wait for the next train back to Beechgrove,

can we reflect on what we've been seeing over the last hour or two?

When you consider the kind of weather we've had this spring,

and these people have come from all over the UK to exhibit,

and to show off, and they've produced a miracle of a show, but think about it...

I was frozen earlier on, but a wee bit warmer now.

-Have you got the icing sugar off your moustache?

-Just about.

I think it has been a brilliant show, and so many newcomers,

-which is wonderful.

-The outside gardens go on getting better,

particularly the Colleges, which I think is really heartening.

It's been wonderful, and we have had time to shop, haven't we?

-Yes.

-This is my little primula, Apple Blossom.

I just love the colour and the delicacy of it.

Not so little, rather bold, but it's a royal occasion, isn't it,

this weekend?

And this is a Vanda orchid and it's called Royal Blue.

Absolutely stunning.

Well, for the Jubilee weekend, I've got a Regal pelargonium.

It's called Royal Surprise, and it's purple.

No surprise there, then. And this one is for my darker side.

-Is that for your wife?

-No, my darker side. It's Black Star,

-but it's absolutely outstanding. A Calla lily.

-Stunning.

There you go. Well, listen, the weather forecast for the weekend

is brilliant. Get yourself down here and have a ball. Until next time...

ALL: Bye!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media