Shows
The Sentimental GardenerDeb Collett on dahlias, the sport of flower competitions and designing a garden with memoriesDeb Collette is a dahlia grower, exhibitor, floral art judge, and dahlia show judge based in Victoria. She grew up in rural New Zealand, where she gained early experience in gardening and exhibiting flowers. An active member of the Dahlia Society of Victoria and regular contributor to its magazine, Deb focuses on breeding new dahlia varieties, maintaining heritage lines, and supporting competitive exhibiting. She has won multiple championships and mentors new growers. In this episode you'll hear: How Deb's great-great-great-grandfather carried dahlia tubers from England to New Zealand in 1841, starting a family tradition th...
2025-08-151h 03The Sentimental GardenerJocelyn Bennett on Australian native garden design, tulip trees and dreaming of French gardensIn this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with landscape designer Jocelyn Bennett from Earthcore Landscapes about designing award-winning Australian native gardens, why she lasted only six weeks in engineering, and how her "Re-Set" garden proved that texture-first design can make even Australian native plant sceptics fall in love. Though Jocelyn grew up collecting flower cuttings with her mum and playing the tulip tree spotting game with her arborist father, she never expected to become a landscape designer. Her winding path from horticulture diplomas to winning first place at Melbourne International Flower Show shows what happens...
2025-07-2451 minThe Sentimental GardenerLinda Pottage on making beautiful pictures, building a new 'old' house and intuitive designIn this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with photographer and creator Linda Pottage about building an "old house" that looks like it's always been there, and creating gardens as extensions of interior design, inspired by a childhood of reading fairy and woodland tales. Though Linda grew up in 1950s suburban Bentley surrounded by neat rows of orange marigolds, her soul longed for something "more flowing and messy and organic." A pivotal trip to England at age 11 made her feel she'd found where she belonged, thinking, "this environment is right. This is where I belong." If...
2025-07-0336 minThe Sentimental GardenerEmma Cutting on street gardening, the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor and a bag of MaltesersIn this inspiring episode of The Sentimental Gardener, host Cass Dowding speaks with Emma Cutting, founder and CEO of Heartscapes. This Melbourne organisation connects, strengthens, and deepens urban communities of humans, flora, fauna, and fungi through regeneration and conservation. Emma shares her story of overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome and developing Australia's (possibly the world's) first urban wildlife corridor, the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor. Cass and Emma discuss Emma's early memories of gardening on her family's farm, her journey through chronic fatigue syndrome, and how street gardening became a transformative force in her life. They also delve into the...
2025-06-231h 18The Sentimental GardenerSandra Schwarz on the study of green spaces, her book titled Restore and silver birchesIn this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with landscape architect and author Sandra Schwarz about her journey from teaching teenagers to researching how green spaces heal us. Though Sandra grew up in German apartments with railway allotment gardens, her relationship with plants began quietly until a career-changing moment in her classroom. Watching her students' eyes light up when she suggested rooftop gardens, then hearing a designer talk about turning concrete channels back into rivers, Sandra knew she had to change careers. In this conversation, Cass and Sandra talk about: Growing up with German railway...
2025-06-131h 28The Sentimental GardenerRhiannon Dowding on her father the chemist, painting gum leaves and not being much of a gardenerIn this episode, host Cass Dowding talks with writer and artist Rhiannon Dowding (also her mother-in-law) about a lifetime of garden stories from Wales to Victoria. Though Rhiannon says she's "not much of a gardener," her life has been shaped by the plant lovers around her, from grandparents with berry patches to her chemistry professor father who filled their first Australian garden with native trees. In this conversation, Cass and Rhiannon talk about: Growing up in Wales surrounded by berry patches and her grandfather's famous "poo tea" experiments Her father's love of Australian native p...
2025-05-2533 minThe Sentimental GardenerHayden Schueler on being a "closeted gardener", Japanese topiary and caring for other people's gardens In this premiere episode, Cass Dowding speaks with Hayden Schueler, who went from studying music composition at the Victorian College of Arts to running Vereya Gardening in the Dandenong Ranges. His story comes full circle, now living just over the fence from his childhood home, on land where he once played as a boy collecting chestnuts and climbing trees. In this conversation, Cass and Hayden discuss: His journey from a "closeted gardener" while studying music to embracing gardening as a career The chestnut trees and camellias that connect him to childhood memories How following your passion...
2025-05-0842 min
The Sentimental GardenerThe Sentimental Gardener (Trailer)Join Cass Dowding, an enthusiastic everyday gardener, as she has conversations with fellow plant lovers about the gardens and plants that shape our stories and connect us to what matters most. The show launches end of April 2025. Click subscribe now so you never miss an episode! Theme music is by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening See https://libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy/ for privacy information.
2025-03-3103 min