This summer, BBC Gardeners’ World visited Cambridge University Botanic Garden (CUBG) to film a special feature on the science behind how flowers produce colour – and how they use it to attract pollinators.
The episode, which features CUBG’s Director, Professor Beverley Glover, and presenter Nick Bailey, takes viewers behind the scenes to explore the clever tricks and techniques flowers use to stand out in nature.
“It was fantastic to have the chance to share some of the extraordinary science behind flower colour with Gardeners’ World. It’s a subject that combines the wonders of the natural world with some really clever biology, and I hope viewers will come away seeing flowers in a whole new light.”
Although this summer has been hot and dry, the day of filming arrived with torrential rain. However, the downpours didn’t dampen the team’s spirits, and filming went ahead beginning inside the Botanic Garden’s beautiful Glasshouses.
Beverley introduced Nick to a couple of plants from the Garden’s living collections which she and her team use in their research at the University’s Department of Plant Sciences. The film explores the remarkable ways that flowers create colour – from pigments to microscopic structures that reflect light as well as optical illusions which trick visiting pollinators.
“It was fantastic to have the chance to share some of the extraordinary science behind flower colour with Gardeners’ World,” says Beverley. “It’s a subject that combines the wonders of the natural world with some really clever biology, and I hope viewers will come away seeing flowers in a whole new light.”
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the day of filming.
The Gardeners’ World crew brought enthusiasm and curiosity to the day, despite the weather and it was a pleasure to have them visit.
If you’re wondering why Beverley is looking at a flask full of red cabbage in a film about flower colour, you’ll have to tune in to find out!
Catch the full story on BBC Gardeners’ World, airing on BBC Two, Friday 3 October 8pm.
