The Colour Guide Mini Series #1: My life in colour - Episode 261

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

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
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Episode Artwork The Colour Guide Mini Series #1: My life in colour - Episode 261 31:55 Episode Artwork Huw Richards: Learn to grow brilliant veg in a single bed - Episode 260 32:37 Episode Artwork Josie Lewis: Hellebores for reliable winter colour - Episode 259 26:51 Episode Artwork A Year of Cut Flowers: Behind the writing of Sarah’s new book with Milli Proust - Episode 258 37:14 Episode Artwork Arthur Parkinson: The 12 top self-seeding annuals and biennials - Episode 257 31:34 Episode Artwork Josie Lewis: 12 standout scented plants for perfume through April to October - Episode 256 30:10 Episode Artwork Tom Stimpson: The 12 best dahlias to enhance the late-summer garden - Episode 255 33:16 Episode Artwork Shane Connolly: How to bring intimate, floral charm to large, extravagant spaces - Episode 254 27:54 Episode Artwork Arthur Parkinson: The 12 best low-maintenance perennials for easy garden impact - Episode 253 33:36 Episode Artwork Arthur Parkinson: The 12 top self-seeding perennials for an effortless garden - Episode 252 36:47 Episode Artwork Josie Lewis: The 12 best container plants for a showstopping summer display - Episode 251 22:28 Episode Artwork Josie Lewis: The 12 best container plants for winter scent and spectacle - Episode 250 29:21 Episode Artwork Tom Stimpson: 12 top plants for superb structure in the garden - Episode 249 41:55 Episode Artwork Tom Stimpson: The 12 best dried flowers for glamorous Christmas decorations - Episode 248 28:31 Episode Artwork Brenna Estrada & Arthur Parkinson: Exploring the undiscovered magic of violas and pansies - Episode 247 28:13 Episode Artwork Josie Lewis: How to protect your garden from deer - Episode 246 24:21 Episode Artwork Sarah’s guide to why you should treasure the beauty of brown tulips - Episode 245 11:30 Episode Artwork Sarah's top tips for bringing spring closer and celebrate the garden year-round - Episode 244 23:04 Episode Artwork Sarah's top picks for wonderful winter flowers to grow in the greenhouse - Episode 243 15:29 Episode Artwork Sarah Raven: Squirrel-proofing your bulbs with ornamental pot toppers and edibles - Episode 242 16:21 Episode Artwork Sarah Raven: Brilliant bulbs for a succession of colour - Episode 241 17:44 Episode Artwork Mark Diacono: Finding ‘Abundance’ in every season - Episode 240 37:03 Episode Artwork Arthur Parkinson: Capturing the garden’s beauty with dried seedheads - Episode 239 20:01 Episode Artwork Raymond Blanc OBE: Michelin Star inspiration for the kitchen garden - Episode 238 58:11 Episode Artwork Pressed flower magic for bringing nature into the home with Arthur Parkinson - Episode 237 15:29