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grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

The Colour Guide Mini Series #7: The washed palette - Episode 269

Apr 09, 2026 Episode 269

Sarah Raven

There’s something uniquely calming about a garden washed in cool pastels – soft tones that feel like frosty mornings and freshly laundered linen.

Moving us onto the 4th and final palette in Sarah’s colour system, we explore the washed palette in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’. She takes you through the colour combinations, productive plant families, and tips for crafting a soothing, contemplative feeling in your garden.

In this episode, discover:

How to use Sarah’s washed colour palette of cool pastels to create a calm, clean and harmonious garden
Which plant families and specific varieties reliably deliver this palette from late winter to autumn
How to plan colour through the year in two‑month blocks, ensuring there’s always something in flower without breaking the palette
Simple design techniques to avoid jarring colour clashes
Why sticking to a coherent palette can make your garden feel both deeply restful and quietly bold

Products mentioned:

Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’:

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter

Narcissus ‘Avalanche’:

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus ‘Thalia’:

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-thalia

Narcissus ‘Actaea’:

sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Tulip ‘White Triumphator’:

sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-triumphator

Tulip ‘Purissima’: