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SLOW DESIGN, THOUGHTFUL PLACES, ANDREW FISHER TOMLIN





Planting design is an essential skill in garden design writ large, for the health and beauty of a site–functionally, environmentally, and psychologically.


Andrew Fisher Tomlin is widely acknowledged as leading the development of a distinct professional career path in planting design through his own work and as a Director of Environmental Design at the London College of Garden Design in London and Melbourne. There, he has mentored some of the most exciting new designers coming out of the UK and Australia over the past 20 years. His work bridges design, education, and industry, and he is especially known for his planting design skills and experience on outstanding landscapes over his 30-year career.


A synthesis of his understanding and teaching about planting design to date, Andrew’s new book, “The Modern Professional Planting Designer”, was published by Rizzoli, New York, in September of 2025.


In March of this year, Andrew received the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest honor, the RHS Elizabeth Medal of Honour, an award conferred on "those of any nationality who have significantly impacted the advancement of the science, art, or practice of horticulture for the benefit of all generations and the environment.”


Sometimes we know when we are designing something – we set out to do so, we have an intention, a hope, an end goal in mind. But even without intent and a goal, all of our cultivating of place does in fact contribute to how the world around us and because of us is ultimately "designed." Andrew Fisher Tomlin is a designer by trade and by nature and he understands the importance of it, as placemakers but also as professionals, including how professionals influence the household variety placemakers they influence.


Andrew joins Cultivating Place this week to share more. Listen in!


Follow Andrew online:

and on Instagram:


All photos courtesy of Andrew Fisher Tomlin, all rights reserved.


If you enjoyed this program, you might also enjoy these


JOIN US again next week: A pathway for all is all about making our way together and including everyone more fully in that way. A pathway for all is the newest element

of the Reeves Reed Arboretum and Gardens in Summit, NJ tending to nature, nurturing people and place connection, and striving to ensure this is open to more people no matter their physical abilities as we grow toward a greener future. That's right here, next week. Listen in!



Cultivating Place is made possible in part by listeners like you and by generous support

from

in honor of Bailey Shaw


supporting initiatives that empower women and help preserve the planet through the intersection of environmental advocacy, social justice, and creativity.


We are also made possible through support from HEIRLOOM, a fabulous source for roses and so much more to cultivate the garden of your dreams.






Thinking out loud this week...


Hey, it's Jennifer—


I want to share a story with you from my last six weeks, six weeks in which I moved out of my home and sanctuary garden of the past 12 years and (yes, finally) merged home and garden life with John in our now joint canyon garden; six weeks in which my sisters and I, and my eldest daughter, held our aunt's (great aunt’s) hand as she ended her time here on this generous planet at the age of 91; six weeks in which I gave several talks to wonderful garden groups in various places.


So much has shifted, the way life does: sometimes quietly, sometimes

seismically, and yet here is the story I really want to share with you. At one of my talks this past six weeks, I found myself in front of a room of dedicated life-long gardeners, and at the end of standing in front of them, at least three of them were crying.


Why were they crying you might ask? Was my talk sad?


The answer is, of course no, my talk was celebrating the amazing power of the gardeners among us, who have always been among us growing plants, and places and people together, and growing all of these things better.


The sad part is, and was for these gardeners, how affirmed and seen they felt. And, simultaneously how challenging it remains that our mainstream culture affords so little value to these same people, and how demeaning and exhausting that is.


What a sad, sad statement on the values of a world that does not recognize and revere its growers….


which is exactly why I am here, why Cultivating Place is here and why we are grateful you’re here too…I believe with every plant in my garden, with every plant story shared here, that advocating for Gardeners, and understanding their inherent value, and seeing ever more clearly their inherent contributions to our world, is the greatest calling of Cultivating Place.


With that in mind, in three weeks we will open registration for our first ever in person symposium–delving into, exploring, and celebrating all of this.


MARK your calendars to join us for the inaugural bi-annual Cultivating Place Symposium September 25th & 26th, 2026:


THE POWER OF GARDENERS: SOUTH BEND co-sponsored by Botany & Co in South Bend, IN


Cultivating Place sustaining supporters, who make a recurring monthly gift of $10 or more, or an annual gift of $120 or more will receive their Cultivating Place- supporter-only early-bird invitations to register on August 1st.


We can’t wait to gather together for this catalyzing two-day gathering


We are more than halfway through this calendar year, which seemed like exactly the right time to thank you again for listening. Listening is supporting, it is taking part.


Thank you as well to those of you have the capacity and have felt called to support this growing work with financial contributions. Trust me when I say, we could not grow this program and all that it is now tending without your help.


For recurring donors of 10 dollars a month or more, $120 dollars a year, I very much hope you received your invitation to our first, and sustaining-supporter-only invite to the Friday July 10th Preview screening of Episode One of The Power of Gardeners.


We are thrilled that so many of you can make it–this preview is one way we encourage your participation and can thank you in word and deed for being here growing along!


See you there.

WAYS TO SUPPORT CULTIVATING PLACE

Cultivating Place is a co-production of North State Public Radio, licensed to Chico State Enterprises. Cultivating Place is made possible in part listeners just like you through the support button at the top right-hand corner of every page at Cultivating Place.org


The CP team includes producer and engineer Matt Fidler, with weekly tech and web support from Angel Huracha, weekly communications support by Sheila Stern and Carley Bruckner, and regular hosting by Founder, Jennifer Jewell, as well as Abra Lee in Atlanta, Georgia, and Ben Futa in South Bend, Indiana. We’re based on the traditional and present homelands of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria. Original theme music is by Ma Muse..


SHARE the podcast with friends: If you enjoy these conversations about these things we love and which connect us, please share them forward with others. Thank you in advance!

RATE the podcast on iTunes: Or wherever you get your podcast feed: Please submit a ranking and a review of the program on Itunes! To do so follow this link: iTunes Review and Rate (once there, click View In Itunes and go to Ratings and Reviews)

DONATE: Cultivating Place is a listener-supported co-production of North State Public Radio. To make your listener contribution – please click the donate button below. Thank you in advance for your help making these valuable conversations grow.

Or, make checks payable to: Cultivating Place Foundation EIN #33-1665277

PO Box 37

Durham, CA 95938


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