CHANGE.

On Friday 30 September, I will be leaving my job at Thompson & Morgan after 18 (EIGHTEEN) years.

I have had a brilliant time at the company (affectionately known as T&M), and it has changed me from a somewhat shy teenager to a confident plantsman with a nice side car of marketing skills.

Over 18 years, I must have introduced more than 1,500 plants into the UK- from wacky plants such as the TomTato and the Egg and Chips plant to more sensible, practical inventions such as Climbing Geranium ‘Skyrocket’!

I am so grateful for all the experiences that the company has encouraged me to try- and succeed in, and with particular credit to Mr Paul Hansord for giving me those pushes!

I have really enjoyed my extremely varied job role! I’m not sure which other job could get you onto The One Show in a peasant outfit, revealing the potatoes at the base of a TomTato plant to the actress Sarah Parrish off of TV show ‘Cutting it’!

From my very early days hand-pollinating Verbascum ‘Copper Rose’ at the breeding site to numerous long drives from QVC Italy in Milan back to England, stopping for cauliflower-shaped Swiss cheese at most of the service stations…

From my claim to fame (leaning over Lulu to get my shirt) to playing vending machine roulette after a long tiring day in the QVC studios…

From wearing suits that are too tight on press days to the introduction of the fabled Goji Berry…

From my wobbly moment on The Titchmarsh Show (where I tried to talk posh) to my regular squealing noises of excitement about plants..

It has all been rather fun!

So, here’s a ‘This is your Life’ style montage to celebrate the best of times! (Over the next few weeks, I may even delve into my archives at home and find some more shameful plant geek moments to share!)

: Where it all began; my parents garden and some awful red trousers

: With the Young Hort movement at RHS Wisley

: The TomTato, an introduction that got worldwide acclaim!

: Displaying some of the latest plant trends back last summer

: I was very lucky to be invited to talk at Barakura garden in Japan, thanks to my T&M connections

: The team at Barakura in Japan

: The time I unveiled my Hydrangea ‘Love’ tattoo to the breeder of the variety

: (Probably) forgetting my lines on shopping TV

: Trying to avoid snowdrops whilst posing!

: Chilling at a German trade fair

: Peter and I were convinced we had a winner with this Fuchsia at RHS Chelsea Flower Show!

: With Jimmy Doherty celebrating the show garden partnership with T&M

: Our mad dash to Chelsea with some Foxgloves!

: The Egg and Chips could have been the craziest plant introduction??

: I gave a stimulating presentation at RHS Chelsea, even using the words ‘holy crap’!

: In full flow on a T&M press day

: The Fuchsia Berry was a shock to many- they thought the berries of fuchsia were poisonous!

: Telling bad jokes at Essen trade fair in Germany

: I was super lucky to be asked onto ITV’s This Morning to give an orchid lesson!

: Huge yuccas on the QVC show one week!

: With my sidekick Lorna at the QVC studios

: I came across many new plants which I knew the public would cause a revolt about..

: Teaching everyone how to eat begonias!

: One of many lift selfies at QVC- this time with some handsome Sweet Peas!

: The T&M garden at Jimmy’s Farm

: Of course, it rained on the festival weekend!

: Exercising my creative side!

: That time I was on ITV’s This Morning to show everyone how to get the ‘Chelsea look’ for less!

: Being a plant geek, as ever!

: And.. on to a new era

Where am I going? I am going to travel ! If you refer to my previous article, stuff, you’ll find out that I’ve been on a life diet over the last few months, in order to switch things up a bit. Please follow my adventures, either through this blog, or by clicking on the social media sites button on my homepage.

Special mention goes to Jonathan Ward for the featured image on this blog.