Gardening talks and lectures on plants

Find below a list of gardening talks I currently give:

• Confessions of a plantaholic 
  Collecting, propagating and growing plants can sometime be an obsession, if not a true addiction! While making light fun of myself and the things I do for plants, I will also talk about some of my favourites and must haves.
• Plants and castles of Transylvania 
  This talk explores a land that is best known for Dracula and his castles, but also boasts an amazingly diverse flora, including woodlanders, meadow flowers and high mountain alpines.
• Romanian alpine plants
  In this lecture I will focus on the plants that live on the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains. From the North to the South, through woodlands, gorges and up on the high peaks.
• 50 shades of green - versatile foliage plants and the diversity of leaves
  A lecture that starts by exploring leaves in their diversity of shapes, sizes, colours and textures and then gives examples of how foliage plants can be used to great effect in the garden, including the display I designed at the RHS Tatton Flower Show for the Hardy Plant Society.
• An introduction to alpines
  What is an alpine plant? Where do they come from, what conditions do they need, how can one grow alpines? These and other questions (including how to build your own miniature garden) will be considered in this lecture that only just skims the surface of what is a vast subject.
• Autumn bulbs of the Peloponnese 
  Over the years, I have been fortunate to visit the Peloponnese many times. This is a hotspot of biodiversity when it comes to autumn flowering bulbs like Crocus, Colchicum, Cyclamen, Sternbergia, Narcissus and Scilla. Apart from over 40 species of bulbs I will also discuss other plants flowering in late October among beautiful scenery and archaeological sites.
• Memories of Greece - spring in the Peloponnese
  This beautiful corner of the world is not only rich in autumn bulbs, but also in spring flowers. Be prepared to be amazed by intricate carpets of annuals, bulbs and perennials that sometimes stretch as far as the eye can see. Orchids, especially bee-orchids, come in great numbers and in a dizzying diversity.
• Mix and Match. Amazing plants from years of travels
  This talk is in constant evolution as it showcases some of the plants I fell in love with while visiting the UK, Spain, France, Greece, Germany, the islands of the Atlantic, Portugal, Romania and other countries I have travelled to.
• Spring in the Abruzzo
  The Abruzzo is a mountainous area that starts only 50 miles east of Rome, but is fairly unknown. There are many national parks in the area, covering almost half its surface. This makes it one of the 'greenest' regions in Europe.
• Early summer in the western Alps
  The Alps are a hotspot for plant diversity. This talks looks at some high alpine and mountain meadow species I have come across in early June in the western Alps. 
• Wild daffodils and other Spanish gems
  Spain is always in the top 3 most visited countries in the world. While many travel for its sunny beaches and amazing food, there are also many plants to entice you to visit the Iberian Peninsula off-season.
• Snowdrops, snowflakes and other late winter flowers
  While some snowdrops have made headlines by fetching nearly £2000 per bulb at auctions, there are many varieties to consider that will bring interest in your garden in late winter. This lecture will also look at companion planting for these beautiful bulbs
• What's in a name? Demystifying botanical Latin
  One can learn so much by studying botanical plant names. This talk will sample interesting plant names by looking at history, mythology, plant morphology, geography, art, ethnobotany and many other topics. 
• Plant and gardening quiz
  I have several plant and gardening quizzes that include anagrams, ding-bats, plant questions and image clues. 
  
  
  

Watch this video to see how I plant a miniature alpine garden as part of the RHS Gardening Masterclass series

Calendar of past and future talks

2026, April 20th - Confessions of a plantaholic, Chorlton Gardening Group

2026, April 16h - TBA, Pickering Hardy Planters

2026, March 18th - TBA, Lancashire NW Cottage Garden Society

2026, February 11th - Snowdrops, snowflakes and other late winter flowers, Manley & Mouldsworth Garden Club

2026, January 11th - TBA, South Wales

2026, January 10th - Plants and castles of Transylvania, Canarvon

2025, November 12th - 50 shades of green, South Holderness Garden Club

2025, October 14th - Confessions of a plantaholic, HPS Clwyd

2025, September 29th - Plants and castles of Transylvania, Meole Brace Garden and Allotment Club

2025, September 24th - Mix and match, Plant Heritage Cheshire

2025, June 8th - Plants and castles of Transylvania, Dorothy Clive Gardening Group

2025, April 26th - Autumn bulbs in the Peloponnese, AGS Victoria Group in Australia (Zoom)

2025, April 23rd - Confessions of a plantaholic, Southport Chrysanthemum Society

2025, April 4th - Plants and castles of Transylvania, Ashwood Gardening Group

2025, April 3rd - Wild daffodils and other Spanish gems, AGS Dorset Group

2025, March 19th - Memories of Greece, Oxenhope Gardening Club

2025, March 12th - Confessions of a plantaholic, AGS Nottingham Group

2025, March 11th - Memories of Greece, Nantwich Gardening Guild

2025, March 6th - 50 shades of green, HPS East Yorkshire

2025, February 13th - Plants and castles of Transylvania, Fixby Gardening Group

2025, February 1st - Confessions of a plantaholic, HPS Herts

2025, January 30th - Plants and castles of Transylvania, Wilmslow Guild

2025, January 23rd - Gardening Quiz, Sandbach Cottage Garden Group

2025, January 15th - Memories of Greece, Lymm Gardening Group

2025, January 9th - Confessions of a plantaholic, Zoom talk




Jim Almond - Alpine Garden Society Shropshire

Patricia Bosson - Wales



Lizzie Beare - Montgomeryshire Field Society