Episode 10 The Beechgrove Garden

Hello and welcome to Beechgrove Garden,

back at Gardening Scotland, and from what I've seen already,

you should join us at the biggest, bestest

horticultural jamboree north of the border.

This exceptional exhibit has been inspired by the fact that

2016 has been designated the Year of Architecture, Innovation and Design,

and straightaway I think this is a novel way of displaying your plants.

This is Gardening Scotland. This is a big show.

This is where you can come and get information on growing plants

and it's affordable and it's inaccessible.

You can come and speak to the growers who have grown these

wonderful blooms and get all the information you need

to take home and grow them by yourself.

-Hello there, nice of you to call.

-Hello!

-Oh, thank you. Can we sit down?

Well, honestly, there's so much to do,

I think you should get your skates on. Get on!

-And your money out!

-Aye.

They seem to have forgotten the salt and pepper!

Just look at that behind me. How about that for a hanging basket?

# I'm gonna need somebody's hand

# I'm gonna need someone to hold me down... #

Look at this, it's an orange cauliflower!

# I'm gonna writhe and shake my body... #

It's the day before the show opens

and exhibitors have only a few hours to finish before judging.

It's still a bit of a building site but we will tiptoe around

the work in progress to bring you an exclusive preview of the show.

But first to the outside show gardens,

and I had no idea George was such a good dancer.

# Come on, let's twist again

# Like we did last summer

# Yeah, let's twist again

# Like we did last year... #

Right, that's it, that's enough, I'm fair worn out.

Of course, we're dancing to every bee's favoured tune,

which is of course by Chub-BEE Checker.

Er, Sting?

Oh, crivens!

-Well,

-I

-thought that was a good one!

But anyway, I'm here on the Scottish Rural College's garden

and I'm going to meet Joan Sayers, who's one of the students.

Joan, why am I dancing around with a bee sting attached to my bee-hind?

Well, George, you've just been doing the hive jive,

which is the theme of our garden here today.

It's based on the waggle dance that the bees do

when they come back to the hive to communicate the whereabouts

of their pollen and nectar

so the rest of the hive can go out and know exactly where it is.

So all the plants you've planted here are particularly

to attract bees, all heavy in nectar and pollen?

Over 1,500 plants have been chosen

because they're perfect for pollinators

so we've got lavender, which the bees love,

and it's just coming into flower.

-Cosmos, allium, marigolds.

-And they will just...

I mean, the bees will find this. It's amazing, isn't it?

Come in, find that, but so too will the public.

They'll SWARM to this garden.

BUZZING

# Someone to watch over me... #

Julie, it's a lot calmer here.

-Your garden called Garden for Art Lovers.

-Yes, it is.

What's the inspiration?

It's inspired by Margaret Macdonald, who was an artist in the 1890s.

She used to make jewellery and work with metal so I have taken

some of the elements of her style and made some of my own art pieces.

It looks like you've had great fun collecting and recycling.

It's been really good, yes.

That was a lamp made of mother of pearl

which became redundant in my house actually,

so I decided to turn it into this obelisk

with some meaningful words on it.

And collecting textiles?

Yeah, the planting is linked to the textiles

that Margaret Macdonald designed.

So you've got this lovely dianthus, the dotty,

floral picture is actually linked to the textile design here.

I have to say I like this there.

This is a little link with Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who was her

husband, and I've put it in this brass pot because of the connection

with Margaret Macdonald and the way that she worked metal.

The garden is actually inspired by the Willow Tearooms,

that they collaborated on together, and I've just re-interpreted it.

I think it's absolutely gorgeous. I hope you do well with the medals.

-Thank you.

-You did say Willow Tearooms. Can we have a cup of tea?

-Yep, got it ready for you, Carole.

-Great!

Well, Ali Bruce, what's Dundee and Angus College up to this year?

Well, welcome to my Heiland hame.

This year, we're doing something a wee bit different.

We're commemorating a gentleman by the name of William Gardiner,

-one of these famous but not-famous...

-Not-known persons.

-Not-known persons.

What was he well known for?

He wrote a book called The Flora Of Forfarshire,

which is really a seminal work

and is still used today.

So that's why we've got the Angus Glens at that side,

this wonderful mossy area,

and then this side,

all the rock outcrops with these fabulous willows on them.

These are cracking.

All this beautiful plant material coming from Balnaboth Estate

and it will have to be returned to Balnaboth Estate, most important.

We are very conscious of the conservation

aspect of what we're doing.

The orchids that you see here, beautiful though they be,

these are the only hybrid forms that we have in the display.

Everything else is native?

Everything else is totally native

but obviously we werenae going to be digging up any native orchids.

Talking about digging up, we've got a lot of work going on here,

a lot of stuff being done here. Have you got an awful lot to do?

Oh, we've still got a lot to do but we'll get there.

-We always do.

-Ready for the judges?

-I hope so!

# So, brick by brick

# I am breaking through... #

I'm in the Macmillan Cancer Care garden with Jenna Stuart

and the message this year, or the theme, is breaking down the walls,

so can you tell us a bit more about that message?

I've split the garden into two sections.

The desolate side is to show the isolation you feel

when you've been diagnosed with cancer.

I have the wall there which represents

the need for leaving a legacy in your will to Macmillan,

in order to transition into this lush garden, which is

the Macmillan side, which can give the care needed to all these people.

As you say, it is very lush, and some beautiful plants.

Yeah, we have a Macmillan rose actually.

One's in bloom just behind me.

Hoping the rest will come out with this sunshine.

Fingers crossed for that, but also,

I would pick out some of the alliums, the foxgloves.

I think personally, it's a beautiful garden and a very positive place.

Thank you.

Within these walls is a garden designed and created

by the prisoners of Glenochil and Cornton Vale.

Wattie is going to give me a tour.

-How are you doing?

-Nice to meet you.

Now, tell me, is rehabilitation aided

greatly by the use of gardening and horticulture?

Definitely, definitely.

We bring them in there and they've never seen a garden in their life

and get them through and teach them the skills and social interaction

to be better people when they get out.

You're obviously doing a bit of recycling as well.

Yes, most of what you see on the garden has been

-made from recycled materials.

-Yes. And it's hope?

Hope, yeah. The emphasis on that is to encourage people

not to give up hope as they go through their sentence,

that there's always that light at the end of the tunnel.

Do you get the feedback when they leave,

gardening has played a big part

and in fact they may well go on to still be involved in it?

Of course it does. We're all about transforming lives

in the prison service, and putting offenders out...to succeed

and not come back,

and gardening definitely does play a positive side to that.

You'll be saying to them, "I don't want to see you back here again"?

-That's right.

-Thanks, Wattie.

In 1915, rumours began circulating on the Western Front

about a pale yellow fog leaving a scene of death on Allied lines.

A new horror had been introduced to World War I.

A poisonous gas.

This garden is presented by the Scottish War Blinded charity

and with us to explain the theme is Jim Thomson.

The idea of this garden is to represent our World War I scene,

the Battle of Ypres, where mustard gas was used for the first time,

-so 188,000 servicemen coming home with a visual impairment.

-Ohh!

So, the idea is that the despair that that created for the servicemen

-is represented by the dark foliage at the back.

-Yes.

And, as you come forward through the bronzes,

things are starting to lighten up and brighten up,

until we get to the front, where you've got the astilbe and trollius,

which are bright colours

showing a brighter future for people with a visual impairment.

Through the charity and the work of the charity.

-And, tell me, are you still getting clients coming today?

-Yeah.

We've got clients from all theatres of war,

including Afghanistan at the moment.

-You're doing a great job, keep it up.

-Thank you.

On a very similar vein, this is Erskine Hospital in conjunction with

the West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association.

And I particularly like the way they've used this slate.

It actually represents two willow trees.

And this was the wood that was used for the limbs for the war amputees.

It's absolutely fabulous.

There's no mortar, no cement used in it at all.

And then, as we move into the garden itself,

what we have is two caring hands,

and then the heart, which is looked after by those hands.

And I know you can see this really well at the moment

because the plants aren't here.

But what a difference when the plants come in.

And, in particular, the heart - isn't it beautiful?

These lovely hydrangeas in the centre

surrounded by the subtle blue salvia.

At Gardening Scotland, you can always pick up lots of handy hints.

And we thought we'd ask some of the exhibitors for their gardening tips.

You don't have to spend a fortune to get something nice for your garden.

This has all been made with recycled wood.

People are forever throwing away stuff.

Have a look around, see what's available and be creative,

and you can produce great results.

My handy hint for the day is to recycle and upcycle.

As you can see behind me,

this planter was built from recycled pallets.

So, never throw anything away.

This is a piece of art that I've made using recycled items.

I found the mirror in the charity shop, had the jewels,

so I just put it together and have a piece of art.

One of the things that we've learned in developing this garden,

which is something that anybody can do in their own garden,

develop a concept, then develop a plan,

but don't be afraid to change that plan.

This is Dactylorhiza Lydia. It's a terrestrial orchid.

There are lots and lots of beautiful new varieties on the market.

They cost a wee bit more, but you get what you pay for.

# Don't worry, be happy. #

# You would not believe your eyes

# If ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep... #

In the Living Garden section of the show,

we've got a brand-new exhibit, it's absolutely stunning.

Keep Scotland Beautiful challenged Eco-Schools across Scotland

to create a One Planet Picnic on a pallet garden.

And I can tell you the inspiration they've shown is wonderful.

They had three objectives.

One, we have to feed ourselves and be healthy.

Two, we have to look after nature and keep it healthy.

And, three, we have to avoid waste, and recycle as much as we can.

Have a look at the interpretations. They are absolutely stunning.

# I'd like to make myself believe that Planet Earth turns slowly. #

When you come into the Floral Hall, the first thing you see

are the gardens which are designed by Keith Jackson and John Wheatley.

Full of ideas. John, what's the story behind the gardens this year?

This is about architecture and innovation, George.

We've used some ideas using architectural plants

and different forms of recyclable material

that people can use at home.

-So, take-home ideas?

-Generally, yes.

And there are some fabulous take-home ideas here.

Have a look at this thing round the corner here which I saw earlier.

This is absolutely brilliant.

What I like about this, what I really like about this,

is the way in which the colour which is on the bottom,

this wonderful magenta, flows through into the kangaroo paw there,

and the rusty metalwork right up there,

into the area where the ferns are.

Superb. Have a look in your garden and try and get this to work.

Over here, which is... John designed this as well,

we've got these wonderful yellows. Look at that.

There's Hosta June at the corner, quite subdued.

All of a sudden, we get excited and we get bouncing as we go along here

with the yellows and the bronze foliage.

It's even into the sweetcorn that comes round there.

But, look what happens. He takes it up.

So the yellow goes up

into this wonderful little piece of architecture,

and brilliant way of displaying the plants.

But then you come to this corner.

This is where things start to change.

What we're changing here, we're bouncing colour.

We've got yellows and oranges at this end.

We come through into whites and bronze foliage. Pure white here.

Ending up, look at that, with something which is quite unusual.

Here's a piece of Swiss chard in a pot. Again, beautifully displayed.

# Blow me a kiss from across the room

# Say I look nice when I'm not

# Touch my hair as you pass my chair

# Little things mean a lot... #

This is innovation on a completely different scale.

I feel rather Gulliver-like

with my friend Lesley from New Hopetoun Gardens.

-All about miniature gardening?

-It is.

This is called Hopetoun Hollows, and it's four seasons in miniature.

We've got summer with the beach scene.

This is springtime in a little village.

-Looking so fresh, the spring.

-Isn't it, with the nice colours?

This is all about using dwarf conifers and alpines,

and making it look realistically scaled.

It takes me back to my childhood,

because you've got to use your imagination,

you've got to get the right plants. These are lovely.

That is a little orchard with Salix boydii.

You say about being a child - it's a lovely way

of getting children interested in gardening. They really enjoy it.

And the little containers, gosh.

Such fun with this. The more you look at it, the more detail you see.

Over in autumn is my favourite little corner,

with the tree root and the gardens framed there.

And it's very natural, there's toadstools and gourds.

-I think I even see a rabbit, Lesley.

-Oh, I'm afraid so.

All is not well in fairyland.

It's a lovely way of using the conifers as well.

So many different colours on dwarf conifers.

-Then you move into a much colder theme.

-Yes, we've got the ski slope.

It's all very twinkly here in our snowy village.

It's absolutely gorgeous.

I know you've built so many show gardens before.

The number of plants, maybe more.

I think this is as many plants as we've ever used.

-I think the public are going to love it.

-I do hope so.

The latest recruit to the Beechgrove team is Brian Cunningham

from Scone Palace Gardens.

He's been tasked with revamping our alpine garden.

Well, he's been let loose here

to see if he can find a few more gems to add to the planting.

# Listen, baby, ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low

-# Ain't no river wide enough, baby

-If you need me... #

I've packed my sandwiches, and I'm back on the mountain trail.

And here I am at the top of the mountain.

I'm really loving the way these houseleeks

are following these natural-looking crevices.

And how about that for a colourful display of lewisias?

On top, we've got the daisy flowers of the New Zealand celmisias.

They look just like the sunshine.

# Cos, baby, there ain't no mountain high enough... #

At the bottom of these mountains, we have screes,

which, in time, collect the soil and become a more grassy environment.

And then these become homes to plants like these.

We've got meconopsis, orchids, primulas and narcissus.

And in a display like this can create a lush carpet of colour.

# Oh, no, darling

# No wind, no rain or winter's cold can stop me, baby... #

Coming down the mountain, below the tree line,

and we're looking at plants that like a bit of shade and moisture.

And this display is as natural as it gets.

And I do love the way they're using these stumps as features.

Not only that, they're growing the plants in them.

This epimedium is perfectly at home here.

And I love its dainty white flowers which look just like bishops' hats.

# My love is alive way down in my heart

# Although we are miles apart

# If you ever need a helping hand... #

I've had a walk, and I'm back home.

I've got the crampons off and I've eaten all my sandwiches.

And if you're short of space in your garden,

it's not just these traditional stone troughs that you can use.

We've got buckets, and how about this wicker basket?

I think this colourful display would look nice at my front doorstep.

# Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough... #

Gardening Scotland is always a riot of colour

and I'm going to look at just one, which is often described as

bold, passionate and fiery.

It is, of course, the colour red.

# But I see your true colours shining through... #

Now, this is a really hot border.

Just look at that wonderful scarlet dahlia,

which works really well with the orange and yellow dahlias

because they're next to one another on the colour spectrum.

And it also gives a feeling of movement.

We've even got a touch of a red in the banana.

Who would have thought? Bananas in Scotland!

# True colours are beautiful like a rainbow... #

However, one of the most striking combinations

is red and green, because it's complementary.

And you know what they say, opposites attract.

Of course, it doesn't just have to be about the plants.

You can introduce red in a container,

a piece of furniture, or how about an ornament?

# I see your true colours shining through

# I see your true colours, and that's why I love you.. #

This Begonia rex display is all about the foliage,

the different textures and the many shades of deep red.

There's crimsons, there's rubies, there's maroon.

And how about the aptly named Begonia Vesuvius?

# Beautiful like a rainbow... #

And, finally, how about this peony?

It's a real wow factor, it brings me joy. I think it's so vibrant.

If you've got a really long garden,

think about using a red plant like this

right at the end, because it's a focal point.

And the name of it? It's called Red Red Rose.

I would love a bunch of them. I think it's truly romantic.

# And I see your true colours shining through... #

Phew! Hot stuff there.

But you know what that kind of talk leads to, Carole.

What I'm proposing to you, Carole,

is having weddings at the Secret Herb Garden.

-So, this is why you've created such a romantic garden, then?

-Yes.

Herbs actually lend themselves to being romantic anyway.

They have such lovely, soft colours,

the blues, the greens, the purples and the pinks.

So, you can get married in the glasshouse,

or outside, obviously, weather depending.

-Lovely weather today, haven't we?

-Yeah, definitely.

What about one or two combinations, just pick them out.

I love the chervil, and the Roman chamomile,

the sweet rocket, the chives, the rue.

Things that you wouldn't normally consider

but actually look very romantic.

-Don't you think it works?

-I do.

# I do, I do, I do, I do, I do! #

Are you thinking what I'm thinking, George?

It's a wee bit weird!

Well, I would put it down as ugly.

I can hardly believe nature would produce something like that.

When you think of what the other alliums are like in the same group,

look at that, absolutely spectacular plants, Jim.

You don't see a lot of them in Scotland.

No. Some gardens, they'll do well.

Where we've got a sandy soil and a bit of heat,

then they do really well. These are stunning.

-There's a lot to see.

-Go on.

# Imagine me and you, I do... #

I love Primula vialii, the Red Hot Poker primula.

But look, here's a white form, Alison Holland.

Stunning, unique, absolute belter of a plant. One for the future.

# I can't see me loving nobody but you... #

We don't see many roses at the show these days.

But this little collection is quite nice

and there are two of them that I've picked out in particular.

This one, Blue For You, catches the eye.

I think that's rather pretty.

And this one here is For Your Eyes Only.

The attraction here is that, as the flower ages,

it changes in colour. Really nice.

# Me and you, and you and me... #

This is an interesting plant.

This is a thing called Plectranthus amboinicus.

The Mexican mint.

It smells quite strong.

What do you do? You put this in the glasshouse with your tomatoes

and it keeps the whitefly away!

I just love fuchsias.

And I go home having bought a new one every year,

without a shadow. I think they're fantastic.

There's a situation this year I'd like to draw your attention to.

Here are the young plants for sale, absolutely stunning.

But a bit leggy. Think about what happened.

These propagated cuttings get some wonderful light,

they've got food and water beneath them and they go like the clappers.

And they're growing well. Then somebody puts the light out.

You've a fortnight of really dull weather.

And they're raring to go, so they push to get up,

and they get a wee bit leggy. Not a problem.

Just nip them back. Use them as cuttings.

Now, there's a good use for an old tin bath. A hot tub of hostas.

# Me and you, and you and me... #

The versatility of begonias has never ceased to amaze me.

Here on this stand of the Scottish Begonia Society,

we've got non-flowering pot plants,

we've got the absolutely staggeringly beautiful

large-flowered pot plants,

right down to bedding plants.

And we go down through the ages. We've had the old flamboyance

and now we're beguiled by these Nonstop flowering begonias,

one of the most reliable bedding plants you can ever have.

Whether it's a wet summer or a dry summer,

it doesn't matter, they always perform.

You know, it'd be a funny old world if we all thought the same thing

and we all liked the same plants.

So, we've been out and about around the show

asking exhibitors what's their favourite plant on show.

My plant of the show - it has to involve purple -

is this little veronica called Lilac Time.

It's got lots of little flowers on it,

and I love the way it just tumbles over these rocks.

This is my favourite plant of the show, Magenta Star.

A single-flowered dahlia from New Zealand, with dark foliage.

And, wow, it goes so well with begonias.

Well, this is my favourite plant, this carnation.

It's got a beautiful spicy scent, a lovely deep red colour,

and, appropriately, it's named Passion.

I just love this miniature little fir.

It's so soft with its new creamy growth.

What people don't know is that, when they're quite young,

you can just prune conifers just to keep them to shape

and they come to no harm.

This is a part of Gardening Scotland that I really love.

This is the Pallet Gardens.

Built by societies and colleges and schools, a garden on a pallet.

Full of excitement and colour and inspiration.

Let's see how they've evolved this year.

I'd like to attract some frogs to the garden,

so I may try Freddie's Frozen Fantasies.

But I'll need to heed the notice,

because I wouldn't want to be "toad"!

# Let's dance

# To the song they're playing on the radio... #

Now I remember where I parked my bike with a basket of goodies.

# Let's sway! #

Top marks for this pallet garden. I might even give it...180!

Raspberry ripple, vanilla, strawberry,

my favourite, which is chocolate.

But you cannae lick this pallet garden.

It's early morning on the opening of the show day,

and the exhibitors nervously arrive

to find out if all that hard work has paid off

and what medal, if any, they have,

and find out if it is indeed a lovely day.

# Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day... #

Wow! That's brilliant. Brilliant!

-What did you get?

-A premier gold medal!

# Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day

# Lovely day, lovely day... #

We never thought we could ever do it.

And here we are, picking up a silver medal. Fantastic. Superb.

# Seemed impossible to face... #

Oh, wow!

This is really good. This is a gold medal on my first attempt

at the Show Garden at Gardening Scotland.

To be our first time here

and to come away with a silver gilt is absolutely fantastic.

Congratulations to everybody else who was here.

# Lovely day, lovely day... #

And, finally, it's all come together

and the show is open to the public.

# Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day

# Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, lovely day... #

Well, Jim, have you enjoyed yourself?

I have indeed. I've had a wonderful time.

And, do you know, as well as all the wonderful plants and gardens we see,

I love to meet the people I haven't seen for a year.

You can hardly get from A to B quickly.

-You're stopped and talked to.

-Absolutely. Great fun.

As you say, it always is a friendly show, but loads of plants as well.

So, we have been picking one or two.

-What have you bought?

-A rather strange plant, I think,

but, for my 8x6 greenhouse, kangaroo paw.

-You'll have to keep the window shut.

-Yeah! What have you got?

Well, I always try to take something home to add to our collection.

I was waxing lyrical earlier about begonias.

So, here we have Begonia rex L'Escargot.

They are amazing. And they got a premier gold, didn't they?

-They did, yes.

-I bought something which previously I have killed.

So, I want to try and make a better job of it this time,

and grow this thing.

It's a little alpine from South Africa, I think,

called rhodohypoxis. An absolute stunner. Look at that.

Do you know how you're going to keep it alive this time?

No, I'm working on it, though! I'll keep you posted.

I think the enthusiasm that we all feel for it,

it transmits itself to the viewer.

So, if you're sat out there, folks, get here tomorrow.

-Because it's a wonderful show.

-And the sun's going to shine, I think.

And next week we're back in garden again.

Until then...

-ALL:

-Goodbye!