Gardening Talks

130
Royal Horticultural Society
Gold Medals

Gardening Talks

We are always delighted to be asked to speak at a local club. Peter Savage is entertaining and generates great enthusiasm about hostas, ferns and other plants – how to show them at their best and exactly what is involved in running a prestigious plant nursery.


 Well Town Hall
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
Peter Savage and friends with
Hostas at Whichford Pottery
June 2017
Peter Savage at Wells and District
Gardening Club
April 2017
Peter Savage and friend at
Brodsworth in Bloom
Doncaster June 2018

Sessions will feature an entertaining talk and may include plants for sale, an excellent slideshow including the design and build of gold medal winning displays, and an always popular question and answer session. Guests will enter a prize draw when they sign up to receive our special offers by email. 

To arrange a talk or enquire about fees for your location, please email talks@bowdensnursery.com or call Bowdens on 01837 849367.

Current Bookings
 Time and Date  Venue  Topic
  Plants for Sale
 7:30pm Wednesday 7 Feburary 2024
  Wiveliescombe Garden Club
 Wiveliscombe Community Centre, West Street, Wiveliscombe TA4 2JP 		 Hostas  
 7:30pm Monday 13 May 2024
  Bow and District Gardening Club
 Station Road Bow 		 Hostas  Plants available for sale

"Thank you for giving us a great talk last night. We have had many lovely comments. Your tips were very welcome. Thanks again and I would like to think we may visit you soon."
Teresa - Benson Gardening Club, Feb 2024

"Wow, your talk on Hostas was first class covering all we could possibly wish to know. Your presentation and illustrations were excellent and thank you for the plants for sale too. I know the all our members thoroughly enjoyed the evening."
Pamela - White Horse Gardening Club, May 2023

"Thank you so much for doing your talk today we really enjoyed it, it was most informative and I am sure that many people will be enthused to plant Hostas in their gardens."
Patti - Ashbourne U3A Group, virtual meeting, March 2021

"Thank you for last night. I thought the session went well and the group enjoyed it. This was our first virtual session and it was good to see some of our members after 6 months away."
Chairman Weston Village Gardening Club, virtual meeting, October 2020

"We have donated £50 to the NHS Charities. [We] had lots of positive feedback so thank you so much. Many thanks and maybe we may visit you in Devon one day – who knows what the future holds."
Irene Page - Middleton Cheney Garden Club, virtual meeting, May 2020

"Many of us have known little about them and only had one or two in our gardens up to now. Once you get the bug however it’s clear there is a world of lush green plants that can be enjoyed in our gardens - especially now that our climate is changing. Thank you for debunking the myths that I and I’m sure others held about needing lots of shade, which means I can head over to your online shop to start exploring them more this summer."
Julie - Nocton Gardening Club, virtual meeting, May 2020

"Thank you so much for your talk; members really enjoyed it. I think it worked really well, and we really appreciate your time and hard-work putting the talk it was really interesting. As far as the technology, we are all in the same boat and learning together. For us as a group it brought us together and we are definitely thinking that it may be a way for us to meet going forward with whatever happens with lockdown. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending you to other clubs. We are making a donation to NHS Charities Together."
Shepton Horticultural Society virtual meeting, May 2020

"Thanks Peter, that was excellent - you were great and I'm delighted that it looked as if most of us managed to master the strange technology. We will join the 21st century one way or another!"
Jilly - Upton Pyne Gardening Club virtual meeting, April 2020

"Thank you for your talk with all the lovely pictures last Thursday. Just wanted to pass on to you how much people enjoyed it and found it informative."
Exminster Gardening Club, February 2020

"Just to say how much we enjoyed the talk you gave us last night, it was full of useful information and delivered in a professional manner and with a great sense of humour.many thanks"
Lorraine Sutton - Tresillian Gardening Club, March 2019

"Thank you so much for the engaging and enthusiastic talk you gave to Moorland Flower Club on the history of Bowdens yesterday afternoon. It was most enjoyable and informative; a real treat."
Moorland Flower Club, March 2018

"Thank you so much for speaking at our club night last evening. Our members thoroughly enjoyed your talk and slides. We are grateful you travelled such a distance."
Glenys – Bidborough Gardening Association, January 2018

"On behalf of all our members, I should like to say a big ‘thank you’ for a most interesting and informative talk on hostas. You have certainly reawakened my desire to add some striking hostas to my garden and I shall be visiting Bowdens very soon."
Tricia Colenso-Wright – Grampound with Creed Gardening Club, April 2017

"Just a little note to say thank you so much for a very enjoyable talk last Thursday evening to Crewkerne Gardening Club. Your talk was very interesting and the most interactive talk we have had in about the 8 years I have been a member. I have had some lovely comments from the members."
April Chant – Crewkerne Gardening Club, March 2017

"What a lovely evening we had! Thank You so much for the witty and informative talk and  film show. I honestly have to say I believe it was probably one of the most professional presentation we have had."
Mrs U  – Georgeham and Croyde Flower and Vegetable Society, October 2016

"Much enjoyed your excellent and entertaining talk at Dulverton the other evening; thank you."
Dulverton Gardening Club,  May 2016

"Thank you very much for coming to Meavy - we enjoyed your talk. You entertained us very well and gave us a varied and interesting account of Bowdens and hostas. The bit about Chelsea was lovely too. It was a good evening - thank you again."
Anne – Meavy Gardening Club, April 2016

"Very many thanks for your excellent talk with illustration last evening  - everyone enjoyed your visit and went home hopefully much more knowledgeable about all the qualities of ferns (and a few hostas as well!). The behind the scenes at Chelsea was also most enlightening - what a challenge!"
Mrs E Copus – Lapford Gardening Club, February 2016

"Thank you so much for your very interesting talk for the garden club. It was very entertaining and informative."
Deborah Dryer -  Bridestow Gardening Club, October 2014

"Thank you very much for a most interesting and entertaining talk on Thursday. Our members seemed very enthusiastic so you must have inspired them."
Christine Rutter  - Buckland Brewer Gardening Club, March 2014

"Many thanks for your entertaining talk on Wednesday, several of the members present expressed their interest and commented on how much they had learned about Hostas."
Bill Wrighton - Milton Dameral Gardening Club, November 2013


The 1892 book Ferns and Fern Culture is sometimes referenced in our talks. It is available here as a free eBook download.