Jonathan Drori, Sarah Raven and Tim Smit on the stories of plants | 5x15

Often beautiful, sometimes deadly, but constantly ingenious, plants are the source of life and delight, myth and mayhem.

Jonathan Drori CBE is the author of the acclaimed Around the World in 80 Trees, which sold 120,000 copies worldwide, an Ambassador for the WWF, fellow of the Linnean Society and the Royal Geographical Society, and a former Trustee of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. His new book Around the World in 80 Plants takes readers on a trip across the globe, bringing to life the science of plants by revealing how their worlds are intricately entwined with our own history, culture and folklore. From the seemingly familiar tomato to the eerie mandrake, via the history of beer and early contraceptives, to the plants that destroy telephone wires, he will take us on a botanical journey of beauty and brilliance.

Sarah Raven is the author of numerous bestselling books on both gardening and cooking, and is a regular on the BBC’s Great British Garden Revival and Gardener’s World. Her new book A Year Full of Flowers is a guide to gardening in all seasons, which reveals the hundreds of hardworking varieties that make the garden sing each month, together with the practical tasks that ensure everything is planted, staked and pruned at just the right time. This is passionate, life-enriching gardening built around colour and scent; it’s also simple, adaptable and can work for you. Sarah has made the garden central to her life – and she will show you how you can too .

Sir Tim Smit is best known for his achievements in Cornwall. He ‘discovered’ and then restored ‘The Lost Gardens of Heligan’ with John Nelson, which is now one of the UK’s best loved gardens having been named ‘Garden of the Year’ by BBC Countryfile Awards. Tim’s book The Lost Gardens of Heligan won Book of the Year in 1997. Tim is Executive Vice-Chair and Co-founder of the multi award-winning Eden Project in Cornwall. Since its opening in 2001, 20 million people have come to see a once sterile pit, turned into a cradle of life containing world-class horticulture and startling architecture symbolic of human endeavour. Tim is also Executive Chairman for Eden Project International which aims to have an Eden Project on every habited continent by 2025.

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each.

[psdeakin]

Fun and Interesting conversation. I don’t have a garden but I love looking at all the beautiful plants while out walking. After 18 years living in the U.A.E., it’s what I missed most.

[sohrabkalhor]

Mrs. Raven's knowledge of flowers is astonishing.