Deb 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 that flows through generations

• Her journey from chemistry labs to becoming one of Australia's most trusted voices in the dahlia world

• Growing a "collector's garden"

• How specialist plant and flower societies create community and belonging around shared passion

• The fascinating world of dahlia genetics, where every seed creates a unique individual

• Her approach to breeding dahlias and what makes the "cut" in her garden

• The stories behind dahlia names and the heritage she's helped preserve through research

• Pre-rational plant memories: the violets, daphne, and New Zealand natives that anchor her to childhood

• Why she believes it takes just as much effort to grow a bad dahlia as a good one

• Plus answers to burning dahlia questions from listeners

Follow Deb on Instagram @debsdahlias

Follow Cass on Instagram - @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener.

Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts

Credits:
Music: Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening
Audio Engineering: Tom Dowding
Production and editing: Cass Dowding

See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In 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 when you trust what your body tells you it needs … even when that means needing green spaces to feel grounded.

If you've ever felt called to follow an unconventional path, believe that Australian natives can be both beautiful and calming, or want to understand how childhood experiences shape the spaces we create, this conversation is for you.

Follow Jocelyn Bennett and Earthcore Landscapes on Instagram @earthcorelandscapes

Follow Cass on Instagram - @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener.

Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts

Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening.

Podcast produced and edited by Cass and Tom Dowding

See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In 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 you've ever felt called to create beautiful spaces, trusted your instincts over conventional wisdom, or believe that home is something you build rather than find, this conversation will inspire you.

Follow Linda Pottage and find out more about hiring The Potterage on Instagram and Facebook

Follow Cass on Instagram, Facebook, or Threads — @the_sentimental_gardener. Links to social pages and more are available at bio.site/thesentimentalgardener.

Read show notes about the guests and access the full transcript by clicking here or visiting thesentimentalgardener.com/podcasts

Music written and performed by Hayden Schueler from @vereyagardening.

Podcast produced and edited by Cass and Tom Dowding

See libsyn.com/tos-policies/privacy-policy for privacy information.