The image is courtesy of Jonathan Shepherd
Cosmos National Collection Holder Jonathan Sheppard (@thejsheppard) will be exhibiting a variety of Cosmos Bipinatus, including the brand new variety of Thompson & Morgan’s breeding program: Cosmos “Fondant Fancy”, deep pink, and soucel-shaped blooms at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. With a passion for sustainability, all his plants are grown in the home without peat or pesticides. Despite the deeper preparations, this eco-friendly grower has secretly peeked at what’s going on behind the scenes.
Please tell us about preparations for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Grow huge numbers of spaces for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Image courtesy of Jonathan Shepherd
This year’s Chelsea Flower Show will showcase my National Plant Collection, cultivated peat and various cultivars of Cosmos bipinnatus without pesticides. This is the second time the Cosmos Collection has visited Chelsea following my debut at the show last year.
I started sowing seeds in mid-January in a row. Due to the relatively small display stand, we sowed and potted about 4,000 plants in the hopes of 70 reaching the show. This is the kind of work that many British growers have spent introducing the plants they are passionate about.
What are your favorites at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show?
Cosmos won his RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut in Jonathan’s stands in 2024.
Image courtesy of Jonathan Shepherd
For me, the biggest part of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is that I can talk to the public about the plants I am passionate about. All the effort is worth wearing a display that can be replicated at home. I also enjoy meeting and talking with other growers who have worked hard to grow their plants.
What are your main inspiration when gardening?
Jonathan’s Relaxed Cottage Garden Style Patch Offers a Heaven for Wildlife
Image courtesy of Jonathan Shepherd
Wildlife prioritization is a key element of how I try to get my garden into my garden. Not all human interventions are negative, so gardening is something I always strive to achieve to create an ecosystem that works with nature rather than oppose it.
Formal gardening never happened to me. Partly because they prefer a more relaxed cottage garden style. Also because I think wildlife would prefer a little more clutter.
What are you most proud of?
Jonathan grew the plants for Queen HM and was excited to meet her at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Image courtesy of Jonathan Shepherd
I am truly proud to be the first person to photograph a Cosmos collection at the RHS Flower Show. As an amateur grower in a single band, it is a pleasure to be accepted for years by fellow growers who have worked in horticultural work. It’s similar to the Chesterfield Football Club winning the FA Cup! Growing plants for hm was also pretty cool.
In the future, we want to keep pushing the gardening show to reward the way plants grow, rather than rewarding the perfect specimen, no matter what the cost of the environment. This means compost that is more peat-free and reduces the use of pesticides and other things.
Top Gardening Tips for Beginners
My number one tip for beginners is to grow what brings you joy. Try growing something from the seeds. One of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is spreading small seeds and seeing beautiful things come back to life. Don’t be afraid to fail. Even the most experienced gardeners make mistakes – that’s how we all learn. Also, try something new. I don’t know where to lead me.
Growing up like Jonathan
These incredible pink saucers bloom from June to October
Image: Thompson & Morgan’s cosmos “Fondant Fancy” (© Jonathan Sheppard)
One of the stars of Jonathan’s Chelsea Display is the Cosmos “Fondant Fancy.” This is a new variety of Thompson & Morgan. Its rich pink saucer-shaped flowers and airy leafy leaves add a cottage garden charm to both the border and the bouquet. This long flower universe, a pollinator magnet, is sure to continue to be bustling with bees and butterflies throughout the summer.
If you want to grow up like Jonathan, this is a handy starting point.
I hope you enjoy learning more about Jonathan Sheppard from @thejsheppard. For even more inspiration, check out our full attention gardener for a highly knowledgeable grower worth following.
The Thompson & Morgan Horticultural team produces a wealth of content on gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalogue was released in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown into one of the UK’s largest mail-order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and running an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products that money can buy.
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