Garden Gab Podcast

Garden Gab Club 020: Remembering Planting Designer Nigel Dunnett

Welcome back, garden gabbers. This episode is a little more reflective as Molly and Tessa remember Nigel Dunnett who was a giant in ecological planting design and someone whose work deeply shaped both of their own work as designers. In the wake of his passing at the end of April, it only feels fitting to pay tribute to a man who deeply influenced so many.  Molly shares stories from her time working with Nigel in Sheffield, and together the girls unpack what made his work so powerful... planting that brings the feeling of wild, immersive, and living landscapes into urban spaces—for people! From Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the Barbican in London to countless other project across the UK and the world, Nigel’s legacy is everywhere. In light of his passing, the conversation turns a bit deeper... why does this work matter? And can we do it here, where we are? It also only feels fitting to wrap the episode with a bit of Garden Busts, noting that sometimes we hold the weight of hope of where we want to go and what we are still learning with joy. Thanks for joining the gab! Don’t forget to subscribe to the show Substack HERE [https://substack.com/@gardengabclub] and share the show with a garden friend!   Show Notes: + Gardens Illustrated Talking Gardens interview [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-gardens/id1675312085?i=1000658537726]with Nigel + To read more in depth about Nigels work, check out his books The Dynamic Landscape [https://amzn.to/4fzQ7Xa] (written with James!) and Naturalistic Planting Design. [https://amzn.to/4dEqH8s]  + Read more about the Heemparks in the Netherlands [https://www.visitamstelveen.nl/en/discover-amstelveen/nature/botanical-gardens] that Nigel discusses in the podcast linked above.

Garden Gab Club: Chelsea Draft Picks #3

The time has finally come! Tessa and Molly discuss the final three Main Avenue show gardens for the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show… and let’s just say this last batch has some big expectations on their shoulders! Can Tom Stuart Smith raise Best in Show once again? Will Kazuyuki Ishihara defend his 2025 sweep of Best in Show AND People’s Choice Award? The girls also unpack what it takes to get a gold medal at Chelsea, and even more, what sets a Best in Show apart. But most importantly, Tessa and Molly make their picks for top honors as well as possible dark horses in other categories. What are you most excited to watch at this year’s Chelsea? We would love to hear! Thanks for joining us for this special Chelsea Flower Show hype!! Stay tuned for our follow up with Don and Janice (Molly’s parents) who will be at the show on opening day!! Thanks for joining the Gab!!

Garden Gab Club: Chelsea Draft Picks #2

Garden Gabbers… did we forget to tell you that we are going to have on the ground correspondents at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show?! It’s not Tessa…. and not Molly… IT’S DON AND JANICE, Molly’s beloved parents. Although it is rude they are not taking Molly with them, we can put that aside and live vicariously. So stay tuned for a post show recap with our boots on the ground. The girls review the next round of gardens which are all centered around worthy causes including raising awareness for preserving the countryside of England, giving children peaceful havens in nature, and advocating for teens to find careers in the green industry. There are Chelsea veterans alongside newer names, all coming to bat for a gold medal this year! Stay tuned for our third round of Chelsea Flower Show draft picks where we will also make our picks for Best in Show, People’s Choice Award, and our Dark Horse thoughts!

Garden Gab Club 019: The Art of the Shagginess Metric

Welcome back Garden Gabbers for Episode 19, our final episode in our teenage years! And let’s just say in the words of Tessa Pinner, mama’s hot! The girls jump straight into the woes of a hot and dry spring, which has Tessa pinning for… a plunge pool baby!  You know it's officially the kick off are gardening season with talk about drought, strawberry picking, and the ever-present feeling of being just a little behind in the garden. Speaking of plunging, the girls dive straight into what makes something art versus craft, and how that question shows up in both creative work and garden design. The two introduce a new concept—the “Shagginess Metric”—to explore where gardens fall on the spectrum between wild and perfectly buttoned-up, and how client preferences shape that balance. Are you more of the ballerina bun type, or do you let your hair down a bit?? Do let us know! Buckle up for some bonus stories this episode include a strawberry freezer disaster, a memorial Japanese maple, and why April might just be the best month in the garden. Thanks for Joining the Gab!   Show Notes: * * If you like Tessa are pinning after a cool down, may we direct you here to long after these beautiful Plunge Pools [https://www.vesselpools.com/]   * * We have mentioned the Pastoral Gardens [https://montgomerypress.co.uk/products/pastoral-gardens] book a few times because, I mean… can you even with these pictures... not to mention the beautiful words!    * * Out of an abundance of caution, we highly recommend Kindle readers (especially those who read at night while drifting into sweet slumber… like Molly) invest in a Kindle Case with a handle [https://thebookishgoods.com/products/lazy-hazy-stripe-kindle-case?variant=44246114304191&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2022-08-16&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18067829173&gbraid=0AAAAAo2qJPCD96n_jxS2eZUSiMMnj9swr&gclid=CjwKCAjw5NvPBhAoEiwA_2egfse4g4zMcGHOhYAP_1BQveWufpLdtDtScn0zEota1tsfn0L2MbYZRxoCAZgQAvD_BwE]! Protect your face!

Garden Gab Club 018: Still in Our Spring Basking Era

Hello Garden Gabbers!! Tessa and Molly are back with more plant talk and hope that you are joining with them by basking fully in the glory that is spring!! The girls dive straight into all things Down Home and Out-and-About including fairy garden parties, strawberry picking and a new way of spending park time. After a quick horticultural hormone check-in (let’s just say the girls are feeling botanically frisky), it is time for a surprise trip to a dream spring destination!!! But you will have to listen to see where… The show wraps with another Bloom Report (think viburnums and native azaleas…) and of course DOOR PRIZES!!! The travel talk has Tessa and Molly reflecting on their own hopes for taking both a domestic and international Garden Gab adventure, and they want to hear from you!! Be sure to subscribe to the show Substack HERE [https://substack.com/@gardengabclub] to stay in the know on all things Garden Gab, and email us thoughts, questions and ideas at gardengabclub@gmail.com [gardengabclub@gmail.com]. Thanks for joining the gab! Show Notes: * Are you in your 30’s and also realizing it is time to stop avoiding fate and just dive head first into birding now… first step is the Merlin app [https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/]! * This is our third time to link to this podcast interview [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-women-grow/id1659885168?i=1000757253815] of Milli Proust with Alice Vincent and WE STILL LOVE IT! * As we say on the show WE ARE SAT for the first Great Garden Show [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXQ68t8DAqv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] at the Newt!