Talks

An experienced and popular public speaker, Philip has given practical demonstrations, lectures, guided garden tours and talks, for thirty five years. With a professional, conversational and highly entertaining style, his audiences – which have ranged from just four people to two and a half thousand – always remember Philip’s talks as interesting and inspiring but most of all, great fun.

The simplest recommendation for event organisers and speaker’s secretaries is that, after each talk, Philip is asked back every time. You are most welcome to enquire about a private event or with your organisation’s details with any requirements you may have. Below are some of his most popular titles.

For further information on Talks telephone 01297 444 501 or contact us via this website.

Illustrated Talks

 “Developing Colour in the Garden”

Using the rainbow and the colour wheel to explore planting combinations and inspire your design ideas.

“Colour in the Garden Without Flowers”

Developing the range of foliage, bark and berry you can grow, matched with the colours of garden features, floors and materials to improve all year round impact.

“Before and After”

How the Pecorama Millennium Garden at Beer in Devon was built, planted and established.
This talk is often followed by groups visiting the Millennium Garden, where you can be accompanied on a guided tour and enjoy a further talk in the Pecorama Lecture Theatre during your visit.

“Organic Gardening”

The principles & practice with an update on the most recent developments.

“Hanging Baskets and Container Gardening”

Hints, tips & inspiration for your success with everything not planted in the ground. Planting ideas, time savers, fun containers and food crops.

“The Gardens of South West England, UK”

A visual feast of features, vistas, plants & plantings to show the stunning diversity of designs & atmospheres in this glorious part of the world.

“Autumn Colour”

A fresh look at ways of developing planting ideas to make the most of the natural beauty of autumn. Also available as Guided Garden Walks at selected gardens.

“The Herbaceous Border”

A year round journey through the work & the wonders you can enjoy building this challenging but rewarding classic garden feature.

“Plant Combinations and Associations”

From glorious to ghastly. An adventure in taste. Ideas & examples to help develop your options & increase your excitment for plant grouping. More than just colour.

“Garden Design Ideas in Pictures”

Inspiration a-go-go! If you weren’t thinking of improvements you’ll think again.

“Architectural Plants and Foliage Texture”

Improving your garden’s drama & impact. Developing stucture & form with foliage. Exploring the potential of using more leaves.

Practical Demonstrations

N.B. Outdoor demonstrations are obviously only suitable for groups of 10-15. An audience of up to 40 can enjoy the propagation demo indoors using an arc of seating.

“Propagation”

  • Seed
  • Soft cuttings
  • Semi-ripe cuttings
  • Hardwood cuttings

“Pruning Trees and Shrubs”

Make sense of the diagrams. See the wood through the trees. What to do, how and when. Stress free pruning is not only possible, it’s available here.

“The Care, Pruning and Training of Top and Stone Fruit”

Apple, pear, peach, apricot, cherry. You name it. Fine tuning fruit for the very best of health, aesthetic form & yield. Remember, you can’t kill a tree with secateurs. Relax.

“The Care, Pruning and Training of Climbers and Wall Shrubs”

Untangle the confusion. Attention to detail is the key. Once you’ve seen this you’ll be confidently able to present perfectly trained climbers covered in flowers.

“Lawn Care”

Bowling green, wild flower meadow, moss patch or an edible lawn. The choice is yours. Everything you need to know to grow the lawns you dream of.

“Making Better Compost”

Myths & magic, advice & hearsay, all play their part, but need to be helped along with practical techniques to help prepare the best possible compost for your plants. The answer doesn’t lie in the soil – it is the soil.

IMG_0290Audiences always enjoy the wide variety of Philip’s photographs and how they illustrate the many aspects and delights of gardening.