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Monty Dons' Garden
BILLYC
Posts: 70
I have no doubt as a professional gardener Monty Don could, probably, tell you the Latin name of every plant growing on the planet. Not only their names but the best way to grow them. The correct PH of the soil. How to grow from seed. How to take cuttings. Transplant. Or whether they liked sun, shade, or dry or wet conditions. He's an expert.
Why is it then, when I watch Gardeners' World from his own garden, Longmeadow, does the whole place look so untidy, unkempt, overgrown and, dare I say it, decidedly scruffy?
From a, non-Latin speaking, amateur who buys most of his plants from supermarkets. Puts sun-lovers in shade, and vice versa. Doesn't possess a greenhouse. Wouldn't have a clue as to the name of most plants. Yet, for more than forty years I have managed, most years anyway, to produce an OK, some people tell me at times a rather breath taking, garden? Probably more by luck or accident!
Forgive me, all you Monty Don devotees. But, it would be interesting to find out how many, if any, people agree with me.
Opinions please!
Why is it then, when I watch Gardeners' World from his own garden, Longmeadow, does the whole place look so untidy, unkempt, overgrown and, dare I say it, decidedly scruffy?
From a, non-Latin speaking, amateur who buys most of his plants from supermarkets. Puts sun-lovers in shade, and vice versa. Doesn't possess a greenhouse. Wouldn't have a clue as to the name of most plants. Yet, for more than forty years I have managed, most years anyway, to produce an OK, some people tell me at times a rather breath taking, garden? Probably more by luck or accident!
Forgive me, all you Monty Don devotees. But, it would be interesting to find out how many, if any, people agree with me.
Opinions please!
0
Posts
However, he's a likeable person for presenting such a programme, even though there's very little to interest me, as they rarely discuss roses to any depth.
I enjoy latin names, it's important to be accurate about plants, and I find it rather debasing when the move these days is away from latin names, because they seem all a bit difficult and too much for so many. People have computers in their heads, what's the problem?...
In the sticks near Peterborough
I'm definitely in the other camp, I like mine to look tidy and manicured.
At the moment my garden is “well this collection of sticks seems to have some buds on it” as well lol.
He doesn’t have the formal training of some of the other gardening presenters (such as Alan Titchmarsh) and acknowledges that he doesn’t have professional garden design skills. He describes his garden as evolving ‘organically’ rather than building from some original design. He is also not afraid to own up to the mistakes he has made (like the rest of us).
MD usually describes himself as a writer and communicator who happens to have a passion for gardening and who is prepared to share his garden and tips and tricks he’s picked up over the years.
When he was first asked to present the programme from his own garden I believe the BBC or the production company insisted that he use extra regular help in the garden so viewers would actually see some progress with various projects and the garden would be maintained to a certain standard. Before this it was all his and his wife’s own work.
I believe it is still very much MD’s family garden and a personal space reflecting his & his wife’s personal taste. I think it’s a little rude to publicly criticise that taste. Each to his own.
Monty does make mistakes, though, and admits them, he is an expert by experience but I don't think he's a trained expert.
I agree with Marlorena, I would like a bit more about roses.
With a big garden it's very hard to keep it neat all the time. Mine is a mess now but it has it's moments. I hope it will be tidy in June when I open it for charity. Even Bressingham Gardens can look untidy and have weeds sometimes. Parts of Great Dixter can look scruffy and overflowing, part of its charm.
I like the use of Latin names as it's a universal language and I live in France.