grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
The Colour Guide Mini Series #1: My life in colour - Episode 261
Feb 12, 2026
Episode 261
Sarah Raven
Welcome to the first in a brand new miniseries of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, as Sarah delves into the world of colour, and how to use each colour palette to its absolute maximum potential in the garden.
In this week’s first episode, Sarah shares how the colour system used at Perch Hill came to be, the theories behind mixing certain palettes, and the difference between calm and chaos when combining colours.
In this episode, discover:
- How Sarah’s experiences as a florist, gardener and colour-obsessed child shaped her approach to garden colour
- How the colour palettes underpin every border at Perch Hill
- Why misuse of colour can make some gardens feel chaotic
- The six key colours within each palette, from citrus brights and Venetian velvets to café-au-lait pastels and cool silvers
- Why no colour is truly “wrong” in a garden, and how the right combinations and contrasts can make even challenging shades sing
Products mentioned:
Tulip 'Mariette': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-mariette
Tulip 'Sarah Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-raven
Tulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawa
Tulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro
Tulip 'Copex Cairo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairo
Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-waltzing-mathilda
Dahlia 'Schipper’s Bronze’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronze
Dahlia 'Tom's Choice': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-toms-choice
Dahlia 'Molly Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-raven
Dahlia 'Perch Hill': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-perch-hill
Dahlia 'Lou Farman': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farman
Cosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-rubenza
Cosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzler
Cosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-xanthos
Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
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Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest