0:00:12 > 0:00:15Well, hello, and welcome to Beechgrove
0:00:15 > 0:00:18on a typical summer's day!
0:00:18 > 0:00:20All is not gloom and doom, however.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23This wee raised bed here is earning its corn somewhat
0:00:23 > 0:00:26because most of these spaces have been filled for a second time.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29We've got lettuces, turnips, beetroot,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32the leeks have been here for a while, that's original crop,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35some pak choi and more lettuce than we ken what to dae wi'.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39But I'm here to look at some bush tomatoes growing under tunnels.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41This is a crop that puzzles me because in my eyes,
0:00:41 > 0:00:45it's an outdoor crop grown in the fields in the south,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47and when you buy these young plants,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51do you know what shape they'll be? Because we've quite a variety here,
0:00:51 > 0:00:53eight different varieties in this tunnel
0:00:53 > 0:00:55cos I think this is perhaps the way to grow them
0:00:55 > 0:00:59but we picked the wrong summer to do so - got loads and loads of flowers,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02but not a lot of ripe fruit as yet.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04But this type of plant doesn't need any trimming.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07It doesn't need any regular attention. You just let it grow.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08This one here, Red Alert,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12which you'll be familiar with, it's been around for a while,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15is beginning to ripen up and give us some young fruits here
0:01:15 > 0:01:19and here's another - Garden Pearl, the same, beginning to get some.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22These taller ones here, not a lot of fruit as yet,
0:01:22 > 0:01:24and I wonder when we will get the fruit.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26It takes me back years and years ago,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29when a chum of mine grew them outdoors, and he would wait
0:01:29 > 0:01:32until about mid-August, then he'd strip all the leaves off,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35take the canes out, lay them down on a bed of straw
0:01:35 > 0:01:37and then cover them with cloches
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and he would get a one-off pick,
0:01:39 > 0:01:43but that was for chutney and for soups, because of course,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46ripening outdoors in our climate, the skin gets very tough
0:01:46 > 0:01:50so it doesn't become really a nice salad vegetable, in my eyes.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53You might choose to grow them in baskets, like this indoors,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56and for many, that's the only way they can, the only space they have.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Well, fine, that's great, and it will work
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and I'm hoping to see these fruits, to be able to taste them.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05At the end of the day, that's the important thing. I just need them to ripen!
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Sun! Please! Now on the rest of the programme...
0:02:11 > 0:02:13I'm in the Scottish Borders
0:02:13 > 0:02:16to visit the garden that inspired this magnificent new book
0:02:16 > 0:02:18all about the changing of the seasons.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So here's my problem corner.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25What am I going to do to improve this little patch of land?
0:02:28 > 0:02:30We're back here in the decking
0:02:30 > 0:02:32and having a look at the Jubilee display.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34This has given us a display for what? Three months?
0:02:34 > 0:02:38It's worked really well. We did the diamonds in silver cineraria
0:02:38 > 0:02:40and filled it with different coloured lettuces.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42It's grown very well, with the wet weather.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44So a lot of trimming back now?
0:02:44 > 0:02:46The cineraria's actually getting really tall,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49so we'll take these down. It just redefines the shape
0:02:49 > 0:02:51- but it's lasted ever so well. - I mean, it does work well
0:02:51 > 0:02:53because look, we've redefined the two there
0:02:53 > 0:02:55and you can see the shape now,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and it means cutting back the lettuce too, doesn't it?
0:02:58 > 0:02:59- Yes.- Just taking the tops off.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01- Yeah, we've got a lot of salad here. - That's true.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04- I think that is a success story. - I agree.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- I think it worked really well. - But sadly, on the decking itself,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10one or two vegetables haven't done particularly well, have they?
0:03:10 > 0:03:11No, there's good news and bad news.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Are we going to do the bad news first?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15- Will we?- Get it out of the way?- OK.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- Where do we start with the bad news? - Behind you.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Yes, the carrots here.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22'We grew these last year
0:03:22 > 0:03:25'and the top was better than the bottom.'
0:03:25 > 0:03:26'Yes, that's true again.'
0:03:26 > 0:03:29It is true again. I think it's something to do with heat
0:03:29 > 0:03:32but look, the rain, I think they've got waterlogged.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Nothing, nothing in the bottom.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38These ones have damped off. They're really rotten.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- I'll just see if we've got anything, Leslie.- OK.- Gosh, nothing much.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- Nothing with the lettuce for a salad.- Really disappointing.
0:03:45 > 0:03:46We did the same with lettuces
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and this is a sort of a top crop,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50so the leafiness seems to be OK,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52so we have enough lettuce to keep us going here.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55- Not much difference between the heights there.- I know.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- But the peas, they're super. - Lovely!
0:03:57 > 0:04:00That's a variety called Tom Thumb
0:04:00 > 0:04:01and the pods are great,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05and this raised bed as well, this has done quite well.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- You just dug these up earlier. - Yeah, they were in a container.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- Aramis is the variety of turnip. - Beautiful.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13This is the thing, when you grow in containers -
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- completely clean, pest-free, much easier...- And keep sowing again.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- We've got radish, a second crop. - Yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21OK, moment of truth. Every year we like to do this.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Your tatties - you tried a main crop variety this time.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27This is Bounty. We have it in this stacking system.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29It wasn't terribly successful last year
0:04:29 > 0:04:31but we thought we'd have a look.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- Do you think you need a container this size?- Thank you(!) We'll see!
0:04:44 > 0:04:47We have got Rudolph.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48- Ooh, wow!- It's gorgeous!
0:04:49 > 0:04:51This one is Bonnie, I think.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57This is a new first early, Vales Emerald.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59Blue belle.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- It's got a blue...- Oh, I see. - Look, very attractive.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10So just to sort of sum that up, we've got three new second earlies.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I think the Blue belle is lovely, isn't it, with the blue eyes?
0:05:13 > 0:05:15It's very pretty.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Bonnie is next, with sort of red eyes
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- and Rudolph, isn't that a lovely colour?- That is gorgeous.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23Then we have your main crop, Bounty.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- Would you leave that? - I'm going to leave it
0:05:25 > 0:05:29as there were little potatoes coming up the stem, so I'll leave the others
0:05:29 > 0:05:32- but interesting to see what we have now.- Finally, Vales Emerald,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34which is a first early, and that's a cross
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- between Maris Peer and Charlotte. - I'm interested... They LOOK nice.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41- I'd now like to start cooking them. - Yeah, we need to taste them.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Are they going to keep their colour?
0:05:43 > 0:05:45- We'll do that later on. - Will they be flaky or waxy?
0:05:45 > 0:05:47We're going to taste them.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00I'm in Kirkcaldy and the garden of Caroline Doig.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Now, her borders are looking absolutely fantastic
0:06:03 > 0:06:07but she does have one little problem area that needs a bit of help.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19So, Caroline, tell me a bit about the problem you've got here.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23OK. We had an extension built three years ago
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and that allowed us to put some nice decking in
0:06:26 > 0:06:29and we had this area left... as a mini building site.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- It's kind of stuck between the two bits, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34But that must be a nice place to sit.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37It is, but this is a bit of an eyesore
0:06:37 > 0:06:39and I started lifting slabs,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42thinking I would make something fantastic,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45and came across... well, the soil is really compacted.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I've been trying to get rid of the straight lines
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- and so I started cutting the grass into a curve.- Right.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- But I didn't know how to edge it off best for easy cutting.- All right,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58and what kind of look or feel would you require from this area?
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- We're quite near the sea. You can probably hear the seagulls.- Yes!
0:07:01 > 0:07:04So I kind of thought a seasidey feel might be nice
0:07:04 > 0:07:06and if we could try and keep it low-maintenance, that'd help.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09So maybe some gravel, some seasidey-looking plants through it,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- that kind of thing, give it that sort of theme.- OK. Let's do it.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- Are you pulling?- I'm pulling on it! - Pull harder!
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- It's looking quite different already, isn't it?- It's amazing!
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- Just in the short time you've been here.- I know.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00We cleared all the rubbish that was here,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02we've put black matting down to keep weeds down,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05that will give you your kind of low-maintenance effect,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- so you've been out collecting driftwood, haven't you?- I have, yep.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12I came back with this one piece. Well, it was one piece this morning,
0:08:12 > 0:08:13till you got your hands on it.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- I think it looks better like that, vertical.- It does, yeah.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18We've added some boulders as well,
0:08:18 > 0:08:19just to create little features,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and then the planting - you've been out and got plants yourself.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I did. I was thinking along the blues and greys line,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27so we've ended up with a bluebell creeper.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30That's nice, isn't it? Good blue.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33And a convolvulus, and some pink would be nice to jazz it up,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36so we've come back with some sea thrift there.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Couldn't resist black-form sea thrift.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- I haven't seen that before. - It's gorgeous! Really dark, isn't it?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Yeah, it ties in nicely with the phormium you brought. Thanks.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Grasses I think are always good. There's a nice grey festuca,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50there's the blackgrass at the front here
0:08:50 > 0:08:52and I couldn't resist sea holly as well,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55so we have eryngium in the taller version,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57and little Blue Hobbit, the mini one.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59To cover the walls, we've got a Garrya elliptica.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03You've got the bluebell creeper cos that's a great big expansive wall.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- And also, I thought, because it's such a sunny site...- That's lovely.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09A wisteria will look beautiful and keep with that colour theme,
0:09:09 > 0:09:10and that will kind of grow up
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and you can train it along the side of there and along here,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- and it'll frame the whole scene. That'll look nice, I think.- It will.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20So let's plant all the plants, then we'll put the gravel on top.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49So we've left Alan finishing off all the planting there
0:09:49 > 0:09:51but I wanted to have a look at your problem hedge.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54We planted this in 2009
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and it was growing great until we noticed,
0:09:57 > 0:10:02periodically, some of the plants are dying off in very regular spacing.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04So we replaced the dead ones
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and they seem to be just dying off again,
0:10:07 > 0:10:08so I don't quite understand why.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Well, I know you had the builders in about that time
0:10:11 > 0:10:13and I suspect what's happened is,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16when they've been building, there's been cement dumped into here
0:10:16 > 0:10:20or just the run-off or the wash-off from cement boards,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23so it's a big job, but what I think you have to do is to dig out,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27like, a metre cubed round about all these plants that are unhappy,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31dig that out, get rid of it, and put nice fresh new soil in.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Put a nice new plant in, and then I suspect everything will be fine.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38- Your hedge will continue to grow as normal.- Let's hope so. OK, thanks.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Well, Alan has been busy while we've been over at the hedge
0:10:48 > 0:10:52and all the planting is now finished but we've lost the sun! Never mind.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54We'll start putting all the boulders in.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08I love it. I want this in my garden.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Well, I would certainly say
0:11:18 > 0:11:20that is what you'd call a seaside garden, isn't it?
0:11:20 > 0:11:21It has all the elements.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25You've got your driftwood, your boulders, your pebbles,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27gravel, your own personal beach.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- Absolutely.- Your seasidey plants! - It's amazing.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- You've exceeded my expectations. It's brilliant.- Oh, good.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Thanks very much. - You're most welcome.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Here in the cutting garden,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53we're been growing a range of dwarf sunflowers
0:11:53 > 0:11:55and I arranged them in order of height
0:11:55 > 0:11:59because I don't want the tall ones to be screening the shorter ones.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Florenza, here at the back, is supposed to get to five foot
0:12:02 > 0:12:04whereas Ruby Sunset gets to three.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Can't always believe what you see on the seed packets, can you?
0:12:07 > 0:12:09What we also did was,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13this side of the bed were all started off in the greenhouse in pots
0:12:13 > 0:12:14and then planted out.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17This side were directly sown into the ground.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20The ones that were started off earlier certainly are ahead,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22they have flowers on them,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24but I'm pretty pleased with the look of these.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Something like Choc Chip here and Irish Eyes
0:12:27 > 0:12:31have still got time to flower. They look good, healthy, chunky plants.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33An interesting year to choose
0:12:33 > 0:12:36to grow sunflowers, that obviously like a lot of sunshine,
0:12:36 > 0:12:37and when you see them in France,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40they're all facing in the same direction. Here in Aberdeen,
0:12:40 > 0:12:44they're all looking around to see if they can find the sun.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47The other planting that we did, which was a lot of annuals,
0:12:47 > 0:12:51was a black-and-white scheme, and both these beds contain these plants.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54The central area were pyramids of sweet peas
0:12:54 > 0:12:55and they have done really well.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59The fragrance is wafting up before I even lift the vase.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01It's just beautiful.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04One of the mixes here was called Night and Day,
0:13:04 > 0:13:06so it was a mix of purple and white,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08and this is a very interesting one here.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12This has also got flecking. This is called Wiltshire Ripple.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15It goes really, really well, and as you pick these flowers -
0:13:15 > 0:13:17we talk about dead-heading, this is live-heading,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20because the more I pick, the more flowers I'm going to get.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Now, I've been a bit relaxed, so they've grown in a tangle.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26I haven't taken off the tendrils, and they've been a bit windblown.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29They still look gorgeous. When you're arranging flowers,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31it's nice if you can choose a vase
0:13:31 > 0:13:36with colours that compliment the flower, so I'm pleased with this one.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Another selection of plants which have grown really well
0:13:38 > 0:13:42are the nasturtiums, and I seem to have gone nasturtium crazy this year.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45I quite like to use a glass container,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47so you can see when they're running out of water.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50This again is called Night and Day, so we have a lemon for the sunshine
0:13:50 > 0:13:52and a pretty sort of chocolatey purple
0:13:52 > 0:13:55for the night-time of that, and that's come away nicely.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00What has possibly been less successful is this selection.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03This dahlia, dwarf dahlia, was called Black Velvet
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and it has been a martyr to slugs.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08We've managed to get a few flowers, and teamed that up
0:14:08 > 0:14:12with this little aquilegia, which is called Origami White.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15But some of the annuals have struggled with the weather,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17whereas the perennials have done a lot better,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21and we do have a whole bed where we have achillea
0:14:21 > 0:14:23and eryngiums, and they're fine.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26This is the achillea terra cotta.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28I put it with the blue of the little catananche.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32All these will also dry. And you can make quite a lot of a little,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34if you don't want to pick a lot of flowers,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36just three rose blooms,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39this is Eglantine that I've got floating in here
0:14:39 > 0:14:40with some tea lights.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43That would make a lovely centrepiece for a dinner party.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47And, finally, fragrance is also important. This is Munstead Wood.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49We have had quite a lot of wind and rain.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53This has been flattened so I had to pick it, honestly,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55and then we can enjoy it inside.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Well, cut flower crops are not particularly interesting
0:15:00 > 0:15:03until they actually start showing their flowers.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Here we have a nice collection of chrysanthemums,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09a whole range of different varieties and different flower shapes.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Not of much interest at the moment, so we don't visit them very often
0:15:12 > 0:15:16but every now and again, you have to be on the ball. Let me describe it.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Right at the top here, we've got what we call spray, single spray.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23A spray means there are several heads at the top of the stem
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and then they're single flowers,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29like a big daisy with an open centre. Different colours here.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33The next lot are double-centred, the same sort of thing again.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34You begin to see in these plants there
0:15:34 > 0:15:37where all the different stems are coming up
0:15:37 > 0:15:39and they will produced the heads.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Then we go from double to anemone-centred
0:15:42 > 0:15:44and Lucy gets the first prize
0:15:44 > 0:15:46for being the first to flower.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48There it is, that lovely, lovely pink there.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50And you can see the shape of the head.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53You'll have a cluster of these beautiful, beautiful,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56anemone-centred. Then from here on,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59these are varieties that have to be disbudded.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02We want to reduce the number of flowers on the stem
0:16:02 > 0:16:04to just one at the top, and because there's only one,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08it's a socking great big thing, at least the size of a saucer.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Hopefully a dinner plate, but I think a saucer will do,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14so here we go. These now require a bit of attention,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18because they're starting to produce lots of side shoots
0:16:18 > 0:16:21that will take the strength away from the actual bud we're after.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Take this one, for example.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25There's the bud we want.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28The longer we leave it before we take these guys out,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32the less strength will go into that and the smaller it will be.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33So we gradually remove these,
0:16:33 > 0:16:37carefully remove these little competing buds there,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and we go right down the stem, like so.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Now, why do we start at the top and go down the way?
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Well, if for any reason we knock the head off the top,
0:16:46 > 0:16:51there's always a stem underneath to take over.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53If we start at the bottom and come up the way,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and then we knock that head out, that's a stem wasted.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58So there we go. Sadly,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00on my way earlier,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02looking round these,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04I discovered a problem.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08And it's not an easy one to solve. I've got a couple leaves here.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11And there we are.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14When you see that in a chrysanthemum,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17that zonal sort of shape there,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20here it is in a different variety, and it's a zonal shape like...
0:17:20 > 0:17:23That might be chrysanthemum eelworm,
0:17:23 > 0:17:27which affects the internals of the plant, and will affect its virility
0:17:27 > 0:17:30and you wouldn't want to propagate from plants that have this eelworm,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33so the only thing to do is destroy the stock at the end of the season.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36It won't harm the buds that are on there now.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40You CAN treat them with hot water, but it's a very specific technique
0:17:40 > 0:17:42and you need the right equipment to do it. Probably finish up
0:17:42 > 0:17:45chucking them out and buying in new cuttings next year.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49But we've got a nice lot of flowers in prospect.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08I'm here in the Scottish Borders between Jedburgh and Hawick
0:18:08 > 0:18:11to visit Laura Blackwood, who as well as being a passionate gardener,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14is also a professional illustrator and artist
0:18:14 > 0:18:16and she's just finished producing this exquisite book
0:18:16 > 0:18:19that she's painted and written
0:18:19 > 0:18:22called A Celebration Of Nature Through The Seasons.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41So, Laura, what inspired you to create this book, then?
0:18:41 > 0:18:46Well, I first realised how lucky I am
0:18:46 > 0:18:51to live in this beautiful part of Scotland in the Borders,
0:18:51 > 0:18:56which is full of a great variety of trees and birds, flowers, insects,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and I wanted to draw attention and emphasise
0:19:00 > 0:19:05why it's important to really value what we have here.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09And also, to make the point
0:19:09 > 0:19:11that in nature, everything is connected.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- Yeah.- There is an interconnectedness with everything
0:19:14 > 0:19:17and we are part of that.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And therefore, this is another reason
0:19:20 > 0:19:23why it's so important to value what we have.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Obviously, the seasons are quite important to you, then, aren't they?
0:19:26 > 0:19:31Well, yes, I think the seasons have become far less obvious
0:19:31 > 0:19:33- in our daily lives.- Yeah.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36In terms of what we eat and so on,
0:19:36 > 0:19:40and I think that we can learn a lot from the seasonal cycles
0:19:40 > 0:19:43because everything has a cycle
0:19:43 > 0:19:46and if we lose sight of that,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- this is something which governs a lot of our lives.- Yeah.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Do all these flowers come from your garden, that you've painted?
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Well, mostly, they are in this garden
0:19:55 > 0:19:57but also from the surrounding area
0:19:57 > 0:20:03and I would obviously have to wait till these flowers are in season
0:20:03 > 0:20:07to be able to paint them from life
0:20:07 > 0:20:09because each flower is different,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12even though they may, on the face of it, all seem the same,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14each one is an individual,
0:20:14 > 0:20:18so I would collect the specimen and paint it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22And how do you feel when you're actually sitting there painting?
0:20:22 > 0:20:25You could almost describe it as a meditative state.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28You become completely absorbed in what...
0:20:28 > 0:20:32You know, the specimens or the birds or whatever.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37It's a fantastically rich experience.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41It's taken you well over five years to create this book, I know.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44What kind of materials did you use for the originals?
0:20:44 > 0:20:49Well, the paper, I was lucky to get a batch of it from my family,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52who made hand-made watercolour paper.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54It's Whatman paper.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57This paper, I saw from the watercolour mark,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01- was made in 1911 and 1912.- Gosh!
0:21:01 > 0:21:06And this type of paper was used by people like Turner and Cotman,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- who painted on it.- Wow!
0:21:08 > 0:21:10The paints that I used...
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- This was my father's travelling watercolour box.- That's gorgeous!
0:21:18 > 0:21:22- And the whole book came from this one box of paint.- That's amazing!
0:21:22 > 0:21:26It's amazing what you can do with something so small and so compact.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29To create this wonderful book with all these pictures, really lovely.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01So, Laura, a big chunk of your garden is on a very steep slope.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Do you find that a challenge?
0:22:03 > 0:22:08Not really, because the effect of the terracing
0:22:08 > 0:22:13enhances the light effects with the plants on each one,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17being lit in the morning from below and in the afternoon from above,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20so it creates quite a dramatic effect.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22And what about mowing? You've quite a lot of grass as well!
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Well, that's hard work.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28The other thing I like about your garden is that you've got mown areas
0:22:28 > 0:22:30but there's lots of wilder areas
0:22:30 > 0:22:33and you've mown through, so there's always a little vista
0:22:33 > 0:22:36that makes you want to walk around a corner or through into the woods.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38It's a good way of doing it.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42Well, I think it's a fantastic thing that one can do
0:22:42 > 0:22:48to create a sense of mystery, that one might want to follow that path
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- to find out what's hidden around the corner.- The element of surprise.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54That's right, and hopefully there's a nice view,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57a seat to sit and enjoy it at the end of it.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00And it must mean you've got a lot of wildlife
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- that comes into your garden.- We do.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08We have a tremendous variety of birds, including migrating birds
0:23:08 > 0:23:10and a woodpecker.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13We have otters in the river...
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- Lovely.- ..and deer, badgers,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19but perhaps best of all is...
0:23:19 > 0:23:22we have red squirrels here.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26- Oh, marvellous!- And this is a great privilege to have them.
0:23:26 > 0:23:33We nearly lost them to the grey squirrels, which carry a virus.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35However, a lot of work has been done
0:23:35 > 0:23:38and the population has increased of the red squirrels.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42- Oh, that's good.- And we now have several that come to the bird table.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- It's such a joy to have them in your garden.- It's a great privilege.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48So, thank you for showing us around your garden.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51It's absolutely beautiful, and been a real privilege to be here.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09About a couple of weeks ago, I stood by this very birch tree,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13explaining that there had been something happening.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Trees were losing leaves everywhere.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17We were getting reports from all over
0:24:17 > 0:24:21and I explained that I thought it was the warm March,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24cold, wet April, May, the trees had been conned
0:24:24 > 0:24:27and they were now going into leaf-fall.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30But do you know, I hadn't actually convinced myself!
0:24:30 > 0:24:33That was my theory, you see, so I spoke to one of the senior advisers
0:24:33 > 0:24:35at the Royal Horticultural Society.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38He says, "Go back, pick up a few of the dead leaves,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40"and you'll see what the problem is."
0:24:40 > 0:24:43There it is. It's a fungal leaf spore that has affected the birch,
0:24:43 > 0:24:48brought about by these weather patterns that we've had earlier.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50He says they'll recover, it's not a killer,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52and as you can see, actually,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55the trees, and I've had reports from others to say, the trees are fine
0:24:55 > 0:24:58and they're leafing out again.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Well, now is the chance to taste the tatties, Lesley.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05We've got five varieties. Will we start off with the first early,
0:25:05 > 0:25:06- Vales Emerald?- Yes, lovely.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10We'll look at texture and see if they're floury or waxy.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13And that's what it looks like when it's washed, so it's quite yellow.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15I've got a huge bit.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Mmm.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19That's got a very nice...
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- Nice.- ..earthy flavour?- Mmm. - That's nice, it's got a good flavour.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25That is good. Now, I love the colour of this one, Rudolph.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28It's beautiful, and it keeps its colour a bit, hasn't it?
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It has on the skin, hasn't it? These were all second earlies?
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- These were second earlies.- OK.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36- That's more waxy.- It is.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38It's quite mild. There's not too much flavour to that.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42- That one's better at the moment. - It's just sort of potatoey.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- Got to keep track. Blue Belle. - Gorgeous blue eye.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Do you not think that would look lovely on an exhibition table?
0:25:47 > 0:25:50It's on the skin, even after it's been cooked. Nice yellowy potato.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- Ooh! Dropped it!- For goodness' sake! - I can't find my mouth!
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Nice texture. Quite creamy.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- Mild.- In between the two, I think.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- Still going for that one. - Right, I quite like that Blue Belle.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06- This is Bonnie.- Bonnie, with the pink bits.- It is bonny!- It is.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08They're all nice and waxy, I have to say,
0:26:08 > 0:26:10which is the sort of potato I prefer.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Mmm-hmm.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17- Not quite so much flavour.- I think I've eaten too much potato.- I know!
0:26:17 > 0:26:22After a point, you think, "Help!" One more. This is your main crop, which I think was the best crop.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26- Quite a lot, wasn't there? Yes, a very clean look.- Very pale.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28It's got very white flesh.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30And... Mmm.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34That's actually got a very earthy sort of flavour to it.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- Don't like the flavour so much of that one.- OK.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38I'm going to go Blue Belle, I think.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40I like that one, so I like Bounty
0:26:40 > 0:26:43and I like...Vale Emerald. Very good.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Bit of butter, though, don't you think?- Oh, definitely!
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Well, Jim, we're waiting for flowers on the chrysanthemums
0:26:55 > 0:26:56but aren't these lovely, the carnations?
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Absolutely stunning.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01They look beautiful, and the fragrance wafting over.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Oh, the perfume! I think this is a gorgeous colour, fuchsia pink,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07that cerise rosey Barbara.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Bright magenta. What's the difference between the two bags?
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Well, we're meant to have the spray and perpetual...
0:27:11 > 0:27:15I'm a little concerned whether we have the right varieties there
0:27:15 > 0:27:20- but they are gorgeous.- So spray - lots of flowers, these one single... - You can disbud them, can't you?
0:27:20 > 0:27:24- Like with the chrysanthemums.- We did a bit to get a bigger single flower but I like these bi-colours.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28- They are nice.- Absolutely stunning. - That one's Xenia and that one's Spectro, I think.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32- It's like a Spanish dress! Gorgeous. - I think she's been rehearsing these names!
0:27:32 > 0:27:34I've got a list in my back pocket!
0:27:34 > 0:27:37This training system here, we'll get them right up.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Yeah, they will grow up, and it's a new system.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42I'm pretty sure they should last for a couple of years.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45- It works well, doesn't it? - Yeah. They're looking good.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48- The vegetables are looking good too. Fruit and veg.- I know, as ever.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Well, absolutely super.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53- Lovely, lovely harvest.- Even though we had losses on the decking, this is brilliant, isn't it?
0:27:53 > 0:27:57And I noticed that there are peaches present this week.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Does that lead me onto the factsheet while you eat a peach?
0:28:00 > 0:28:01I won't do it all dribbly!
0:28:01 > 0:28:04If you'd like any more information about this week's programme
0:28:04 > 0:28:05it's in the factsheet
0:28:05 > 0:28:09and the easiest way to access that is online. All that information,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11maybe about your cut flowers or the chrysanthemums.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- Yes, of course.- And don't forget,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15we're also on Twitter and Facebook.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Now, next week, I'm going to be having a look at the results
0:28:18 > 0:28:22of all the seeds which we saved last year and sowed in the trials bed.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Interesting results there, and a look at some of the annual climbers.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28- Some surprises? - Yes, there are, actually.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30We look forward to that.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Well, if the weather behaves itself,
0:28:32 > 0:28:36I'll be putting some autumn fertiliser on the big lawn,
0:28:36 > 0:28:38- so until next time, goodbye. - Bye-bye!- Bye-bye.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd