A really interesting thread. I do note that it's the people who I have found help me out the most on this forum with their excellent advice are the ones who don't enjoy the program as much, which is probably not surprising.
I really like the programme. Me and my 9yo boy sit down together and watch it in a couple of sessions. Much of it goes over my head but I know there will come a time when those bits will be more relevant to me. In the mean time I marvel at the gardens, big and small, and try and take inspiration from them.
A really interesting thread. I do note that it's the people who I have found help me out the most on this forum with their excellent advice are the ones who don't enjoy the program as much, which is probably not surprising.
I really like the programme. Me and my 9yo boy sit down together and watch it in a couple of sessions. Much of it goes over my head but I know there will come a time when those bits will be more relevant to me. In the mean time I marvel at the gardens, big and small, and try and take inspiration from them.
I think many of us like it but, its not as good or as informative as it has been in the past or could be now. The program in my mind seems to have lost its way, its purpose, its reason for being. Its surely needs to do more of the basics on how to grow, what to grow and when, propagation, care and nurturing. Its all too broad in explanation no detail or how to's or follow ups on previous plantings/propergations.
As much as I think Monty seems to be a decent chap and has his own way of presenting he just does not do it in enough detail. The late Geoff Smith was someone to watch the drive, passion and explanations he gave in detail on every subject he approached was mesmerising.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
@Kili it's so interesting and (without making any assumptions but apologising in advance for any offence caused 😀) perhaps it is a generational thing. Not that I'm young, I'm mid 40s but I grew up with the internet and for specifics of how to do something I'll Google it or ask in a forum such as this one. I can never see myself going back to watch Monty do it.
On the other hand, and perhaps this reflect more on my personal circumstances, I currently need to be inspired. I have a fairly bare garden that I am struggling to design. I have a feeling of what I want but don't know what plants I should use or how I should combine them, for example. I'm not sure I get that specifically either from the slow but I do get inspired. For example again, I loved the guy this week with the edible meadow. That's really made me think about getting rid of my 3 square raised beds and having an edible border with a path going through it. Up until I saw that I always though that edibles grow in blocks and straight lines and it opened my eyes to other alternatives.
@London_to_Latimer, I think there's some truth in that. When I was a beginner gardener the internet was in its infancy, home computers were unusual, and GW was presented by the late, great Geoff Hamilton. I learned so much from him (supplemented by books from the library) and to my mind that era of GW was the best. I still enjoy it but there seems to be less emphasis on the nitty-gritty of gardening and more on human interest pieces. Perhaps that's deliberate and draws a wider audience.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@Kili it's so interesting and (without making any assumptions but apologising in advance for any offence caused 😀) perhaps it is a generational thing. Not that I'm young, I'm mid 40s but I grew up with the internet and for specifics of how to do something I'll Google it or ask in a forum such as this one. I can never see myself going back to watch Monty do it.
On the other hand, and perhaps this reflect more on my personal circumstances, I currently need to be inspired. I have a fairly bare garden that I am struggling to design. I have a feeling of what I want but don't know what plants I should use or how I should combine them, for example. I'm not sure I get that specifically either from the slow but I do get inspired. For example again, I loved the guy this week with the edible meadow. That's really made me think about getting rid of my 3 square raised beds and having an edible border with a path going through it. Up until I saw that I always though that edibles grow in blocks and straight lines and it opened my eyes to other alternatives.
Non taken as I'm only 21 . Mid forties makes you positively ancient.
You grew up with the Internet I was at the dawn of the internet and IT. I started in IT when hard drives where the size of a small desk, then the 5.5 and 3.5 inch floppy disk came along and its been a technology rollercoaster ever since. the www didn't exist, mobile phones didnt exist. The Silicon chip changed the world for ever. The technology changes are never ending. I've just retired from managing a 400 station network and multiple servers. All soon to be gone and moved to the cloud. Job losses now are nothing to whats coming when AI goes mainstream.
However I digress. I too use the Internet for research but, many people myself included like to watch Gardening programs and they are a good source of information but, many of the younger generation see Youtube as their gardening channel/s and there's some great content there but you cant beat a good knowledgeable horticulture/agriculture experienced or trained presenter who knows what they're talking about because they have studied the subject in depth.
As I say its an ever changing world not sure its all for the better but, its happening nonethelesss.
Grow where you can/want is my motto. I always grow lettuce alongside plants in my flower beds as I don't have a large garden. you'll never be satisfied with your garden just go with the flow and do what pleases you at the time and let it grow organically over time. Pull out plants put new ones in it never ends plants die dont do so well in one position but do in another a garden is an ever evolving thing just be relaxed about it and experiment overtime and eventually you may reach that point at one moment in time when you think to your yourself wow! my garden looks great then winter arrives and the cycle starts again.
Enjoy, have fun with your garden.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
I loved the clarity and detail of Geoff Smith’s programmes but they were from another era. Detailed, instructional videos belong on YouTube and would not draw in viewers at peak time on Friday evening.
It’s the variety on GW that appeals to me from basic advice to sumptuous gardens, out of the ordinary gardens, historical gardens and the people behind them. Add into the mix plant profiles and viewers’ videos and there should be enough there to keep the bulk of the viewing public quite content. Admittedly some aspects of the programmes I find dull but, as this thread shows, our tastes are quite different. I am truly baffled on some other gardening websites at the gushing admiration which follows the posting of some photo with jarringly uncomplementary colour schemes but it would be a dull world if we all thought the same.
Hey, if you all hate it so much why are you on the ( pause ) GARDENERS WORLD SITE🤔
I haven't seen anybody saying they hate GW. It's perfectly reasonable though for people to comment on what they do and do not like about the programme in general or specific parts of a particular episode.
In the past I have preferred Beechgrove but this year it really hasn't been at anything like its best. I know they are working in very difficult circumstances.
I really liked one London cabbie some years ago. I needed to get from St Pancras to Paddington and he told me I would be better off walking as he hadn't moved more than about 100 yards in the previous 10 minutes. He was serious, and I did walk it, but he could just as easily have seen me as a licence to print money as the meter keeps turning even when the wheels don't.
I always had a bit of a soft spot for London cabbie Mason McQueen who did that programme with Terry Wogan. They travelled around the UK basically stuffing their faces with the finest food the region could offer. Now there's a job. Back on topic, some bits of GW l like, some bits l'm not that fussed about, and others l just fast forward through. Think that covers it
Posts
As much as I think Monty seems to be a decent chap and has his own way of presenting he just does not do it in enough detail. The late Geoff Smith was someone to watch the drive, passion and explanations he gave in detail on every subject he approached was mesmerising.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
You grew up with the Internet I was at the dawn of the internet and IT. I started in IT when hard drives where the size of a small desk, then the 5.5 and 3.5 inch floppy disk came along and its been a technology rollercoaster ever since. the www didn't exist, mobile phones didnt exist. The Silicon chip changed the world for ever.
The technology changes are never ending. I've just retired from managing a 400 station network and multiple servers. All soon to be gone and moved to the cloud. Job losses now are nothing to whats coming when AI goes mainstream.
However I digress. I too use the Internet for research but, many people myself included like to watch Gardening programs and they are a good source of information but, many of the younger generation see Youtube as their gardening channel/s and there's some great content there but you cant beat a good knowledgeable horticulture/agriculture experienced or trained presenter who knows what they're talking about because they have studied the subject in depth.
As I say its an ever changing world not sure its all for the better but, its happening nonethelesss.
Grow where you can/want is my motto. I always grow lettuce alongside plants in my flower beds as I don't have a large garden. you'll never be satisfied with your garden just go with the flow and do what pleases you at the time and let it grow organically over time. Pull out plants put new ones in it never ends plants die dont do so well in one position but do in another a garden is an ever evolving thing just be relaxed about it and experiment overtime and eventually you may reach that point at one moment in time when you think to your yourself wow! my garden looks great then winter arrives and the cycle starts again.
Enjoy, have fun with your garden.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
Back on topic, some bits of GW l like, some bits l'm not that fussed about, and others l just fast forward through. Think that covers it