Kim Murray | The Sarah Raven Collective

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“I’ve been buying from the Sarah Raven catalogue for years. I’m an amateur gardener but I love that Sarah makes it seem possible that anyone can create something really spectacular in their garden with her guidance”

Kim Murray’s Cromlix Tulip Collection

"At Cromlix, we use a lot of bold and botanical prints inside the hotel in fabrics and wallpapers, so I wanted to choose bright, vibrant tulips for my Sarah Raven collection to reflect that. I love the strong colours, particularly of the Black Hero tulips which can range from a kind of deep maroon to almost black. They contrast beautifully with the pinks and oranges of the rest of the collection and, when they all come together, they are the perfect compliment to the house’s interiors"

YOUR GARDEN STORIES WITH

Kim Murray

HOW DID YOU FIRST MEET SARAH?

I’ve been admiring Sarah from afar for a long time and have had her catalogues delivered for years, but we met properly last year, when I was a guest on the Sarah Raven podcast.

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO GARDENING, AND WHEN?

My mum – she is pretty green fingered, and loved growing things and cutting flowers when we were young. She really encouraged us to be outdoors as much as possible and I think that’s where my appreciation of gardens and gardening has really stemmed from.

WHERE DO YOU GARDEN?

I am lucky to have a beautiful garden at home, and try to get out there as much as possible, although our children and new puppy do as much as they can to sabotage that! When I’m at Cromlix, I always make sure I seek out our new Head Gardener, Kathy to chat to her about what she’s doing and what she’s growing. She has a wealth of knowledge on both flowers and vegetables and is doing a wonderful job in creating our new Gourmet Garden at the hotel to supply our kitchen with fresh ingredients for the restaurant.

WHAT DOES GARDENING DO FOR YOU, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY?

I find everything always feels better when you step outside and my garden is my ultimate retreat; it is both an inspiration and a challenge. I love the cyclical nature of the seasons and enjoy nothing more than planning for the year ahead in the garden and seeing those plans come to life.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE X 3 DESERT ISLAND PLANTS - WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Sweet peas for their nostalgic fragrance and Nasturtiums for their joviality (plus I could eat them!). Tulips too, of course.

WHAT IS THE GARDENING/ FLORISTRY TOOL YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT, AND WHY?

A ball of string in my pocket for tying in, all summer long.