Sick of Sarah Raven.. she has no idea..literally

[BlueAce73]

I’ve worked so hard in horticulture & agriculture.. her advice is crap

[Shinyandnew1]

@Trethew

I have to say, I think it is pretty shabby of OP to hurl insults at somebody and fail to even give an example. I too have worked extremely hard in horticulture for the last 22 years and would be profoundly upset if somebody told the the world I had no idea and my advice was crap. Such a peculiar and aggressive post.

Completely agree.

[Tsandjdarethrbest]

Emma Bridgewater is a star. She opened a factory in Stoke-on-Trent and created jobs for people. The heritage of the potteries is something we really need to bring back to prominence so we’ll done Emma. I quite like her products and try to support what she’s doing.

[SarahAndQuack]

@Trethew

I have to say, I think it is pretty shabby of OP to hurl insults at somebody and fail to even give an example. I too have worked extremely hard in horticulture for the last 22 years and would be profoundly upset if somebody told the the world I had no idea and my advice was crap. Such a peculiar and aggressive post.

What do you mean?

The OP hasn't been back, and there could be any number of reasons why, but this is a discussion forum - it's not as if she marched into Sarah Raven HQ and yelled at her.

I should think anyone, working in any job, would be upset to be told they'd done badly. But what has that got to do with anything? If you haven't met expectations, and you work in a customer-facing job, of course people are going to say so, and sometimes, in forums you can read.

[SarahAndQuack]

@FuzzyPuffling

I "looked after" Emma Bridgewater at a charity event and she was lovely. Really quite shy and very pleasant.

I'm so glad she was nice! A while ago my mum bought my DP one of her mugs, and when it came it had spelling/grammar errors on it, and my mum was mortified and thought it must be a second. We emailed her, and she explained it's her dyslexic husband who does the writing for the mugs, and that's why they sometimes have mistakes. I was a bit on the fence whether I thought this made sense or not, I will admit, but since we're a dyslexic family I kind of want to give her the benefit of the doubt.

[BooseysMom]

I'm so glad she was nice! A while ago my mum bought my DP one of her mugs, and when it came it had spelling/grammar errors on it, and my mum was mortified and thought it must be a second. We emailed her, and she explained it's her dyslexic husband who does the writing for the mugs, and that's why they sometimes have mistakes. I was a bit on the fence whether I thought this made sense or not, I will admit, but since we're a dyslexic family I kind of want to give her the benefit of the doubt.

How odd! They could have run it through a spell check before sending it off to the factory! 🤔

[Shinyandnew1]

That seems an odd division of labour to give someone who struggles with letters, the job of overseeing the letters!

I really LOVE Emma Bridgewater stuff-it’s so pretty.

[whataboutbob]

Gosh, is she the next Boden?!
I usually enjoy putting the boot in, but I’ll be balanced here.
She has good taste (in my opinion) so her catalogue is a shortcut to well curated plants which you can buy elsewhere for less.
Havent tried her seeds. I have bought many dahlia plants off her over the years because she stocks them in bright colours I love and only one failed to thrive. Currently have plug plant tomatoes of hers in my backyard and they are going strong.
Her garden centre style ornaments etc are just silly prices.

[SarahAndQuack]

@Shinyandnew1

That seems an odd division of labour to give someone who struggles with letters, the job of overseeing the letters!

I really LOVE Emma Bridgewater stuff-it’s so pretty.

Isn't it?! I was all ready to be judgy, but then I thought about and and thought it's actually rather nice that she seemed to think earnestly explaining that was perfectly normal and it'd all make sense.

And they are very pretty mugs.

[newnamethanks]

I've had 2 or 3 plants from her and none have thrived. Not a fan.

[LydiaGwilt]

I was very pleased with the tulip bulbs from Peter Nyssen this year after a recommendation in the Guardian for insecticide free growers: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/sep/11/how-to-grow-next-years-tulips

[WishILivedInThrushGreen]

@FuzzyPuffling yes, SR is married to Adam Nicholson whose grandparents were Harold Nicholson and Vita Sackville West.
The family home is Sissinghurst in Kent.

SR did some sort of kitchen garden there , years ago but didn't take off if I recall.

There was a programme, years ago, about the National Trust needing to revamp its cafes and SR was approached to help develop them.
She didn't come across very well and I think some staff were unhappy with her.

Regarding her website and books etc... I think it's a case of style over substance.

[FuzzyPuffling]

I used to live very close to Sissinghurst and was a frequent visitor there. It was interesting what was promoted and what was glossed over, both in terms of the garden and other things going on. It is an absolutely beautiful place though. Really lovely.

[Maggiethecat]

So OP has posted and run. Was mudslinging the intention?

[newnamethanks]

Hang on to it Sarah , a collector's item of the future.

[Letsrunabath]

After buying bulbs from her a few years ago with great success, I started to buy plug plants, absolutely rubbish, even with the utmost attention they have failed to thrive.
I now buy my bulbs from farmer gravy and will not give her another penny.

[Maggiethecat]

Hang on, I hadn't realised that the OP first posted on 16/6 (thought it was today) and hasn't been back once in 2 weeks, after posting a negative one liner, no details of her grievance, and 5 pages of replies later! Very fishy 🤔

Where are you @BlueAce73 ?

[GiantKitten]

I’d never heard of Sarah Raven until a sale ad popped up on FB recently.

On the back of that I ordered 3 x 5 “rooted cuttings” (= plug plants?), 5 “young plants”, 1 9cm potted perennial and some willow stakes (which were probably over-priced but look much nicer than bamboo canes).

They all arrived very quickly, well-packaged and in good condition - probably a bit leggier than earlier in the season but they’re all doing very well so far and the odd blue flowers which have appeared seem true to the website images. (Orange not so much)

If I remember I’ll take pics when they’ve grown a bit - still in small pots atm.

[SeaRabbit]

I was introduced to anagallis and that convolvulus by SR and they are fabulous plants. I now grow anagallis from seed myself.

[Shinyandnew1]

@SeaRabbit

I was introduced to anagallis and that convolvulus by SR and they are fabulous plants. I now grow anagallis from seed myself.

Someone on here introduced me to Anagallis when I was on a hunt for blue flowers and they are absolutely stunning!

[GiantKitten]

I’d never heard of anagallis before this, either!
I do have some lithodora, which are almost as vivid a blue but get leggy and woody very quickly and then I don’t know what to to do with them.

[Eddielizzard]

Yes, I bought one of her pot collections with anagallis in, and it's absolutely stunning.

[Maggiethecat]

I’ve bought her crimson flowering broad beans and the flowers are very pretty. waiting to see what the crop will be like.

[Anjo2011]

Farmer Gracy all the way. I will never buy another thing from the beautiful glossy Sarah Raven catalogue. Their customer service is dire. They shouldn’t be advertising items that they can’t deliver.

[CrossroadsWasGood]

Yes @Anjo2011
Farmer Gracy sent the very freshest specimens which all took when planted.

SR supplies pretty things which cost a fortune and don't often live up to her reputation.

[Anjo2011]

@CrossroadsWasGood , absolutely. I’m just looking at their winter tulip bulbs ready to put my order in. I have only ordered from FG once previously but everything was excellent hence ordering again for this year. It’s a shame it’s I like to support UK businesses but every penny counts and Sarah Raven don’t offer value for money, that’s if you are lucky to get any goods at all!