johnniekingdom2 - You've hit the nail on the head, as they say. Every single word you've said/written is exactly as it is. I think the majority of us G.World followers do feel this way. I watched this last Fridays episode (i am trying to get into it to change my way of viewing/thinking re it etc) but i too always find my self thinking what was that all about? I get side-tracked constantly c/o numerous close-ups of perfectly hanging, wall hanging trowels, secatuers etc etc, all looking new with smears of soil seemingly rubbed onto handles etc i can only assume that these numerous close-up shots are product placements as brand names are clearly visible sometimes. If it's "programme soul" and "programme character" that the producers are tying to create, well for me it would not happen via that route. It just happens when the whole package is right. And it just isn't with Monty. That X-Factor is simply not there. Carol has it,Alan has it,Toby has it,Chris Beardshaw has it & Christine Walkendon also has it, might i add. I met her once and she is lovely. Similar to Carol Klein in enthusiasm etc. I actuslly get lost with the G.World presentation as it is now, it's lost its soul. It is about feeling right as well as the mechanics & correct instruction not just about how it looks,camera close ups on well placed items etc. On Carols gardening series the only close-ups were of her hands-on perrenial dividing,seed collecting directly from flower heads and her garden robin-no products re brands. We got to hear the wind blowing, we were walking with her on her brick walkways, we were enjoying the chilly frosty early mornings & the stunning sunsets & almost holding her tulip net bags for her as she enthusiastically planted up her tulip pots etc etc and the music that was used was just right somehow-it all worked, basically because she was right-the pivotal pin within it.So all the rest simply & beautifully followed on. Interestingly i can remember so much from her series & likewise i can also from Chris Beardshaws' Flying Gardener series, which so inspired me re my north facing back garden, in his Winter Garden episode.I faithfully recreated some of his ideas & now have a garden that i love to wander in, on cold wintery days with a hot coffee in my hands to keep me warm, as there is plenty of evergreen structure & winter perfume to enjoy. These gardeners inspire & their instruction & ideas stay in the memory. That's not happening with the current g.world & i don't think it will. Sadly i do fall asleep watching it and cannot recall anything really, only what seems either a bit odd or I find myself thinking-"surely that's not right,is it?"
I hgave been a Gardeners' World watcher back in the 90's when The late Geoff was a presenter. I started watching the program again when Toby was the presenter and I so much like his style, at last somebody who could also attract a younger audience. (He's talking about a "boys' thing last season" was great and finally my wife accepted this "boys' thing"). And now I try to get used to this Monty Don, but sorry...it's impossible. I don't like his style at all. Seems he feels as if he's the one and only who knows everything. His style of presenting is a very arrogant one, at least to me. Don't know how much longer I will be able to "cope" with him, but I'm afraid that I will stop watching the program. Don't know...he is so self confident about his superiority. I feel not comfortably when watching the program.
Only now I've started to read the other commentaries and I can only say that "307" expressed very much how I really do feel about this Monty Don...and I just know him from this years series!
Reluctantly watched GW on Friday because my husband, who is much more forgiving than I am, wanted it on. I have seen enough of the new series to decide that it is not for me.
Monty was confidently instructing us to leave daffodils to go to seed and so spread themselves. Now, every gardening programme and gardening book I have ever consulted has advised dead-heading them to ensure that the strength goes back into the bulb and isn't wasted on seed production. Maybe Monty has good reason for advising against received wisdom and established practice, but surely he should explain why and justify his opinion when doing so? A typical example of the arrogance of which so many posters have been complaining!
I thought I would just give GW a go - did not want to as i liked toby and Alys so much. How ghastly can it get? Monty is pompous and arrogant. He gives astonishingly bad advice and is all over the media like a rash. Trouble with a rash is it usually irritates and he certainly irritates me. Why on earth did they get rid of Toby and fob us off with a very bad gardener. Awful show now and i will not be watching again.Is the BBC trying to kill the show off?
I've just finished reading some of the blogs since mine went in at (315). I can't comment on the programme content since my wife and I haven't watched GW since the first episode but it is obvious from what is being written that MD is still as unpopular as ever. I'd like to know how long the contract is between the BBC and MD. With luck it is for one year only, in which case we will see an end to this amateur in the not too distant future. If it's a two or three year contract, then at least we will have Alan to watch on ITV very soon. Chins up chaps. Enjoy the summer.
I would like to try and find out where Monty Don acquired his trench tool for planting potatoes. I have found one or two old relics of a similar nature in antique centres but will have one made to measure if i can establish the dimensions.
can we PLEASE have a series of programs based on improving a regular garden ... i have a 101 questions regarding developing our garden ... just spent £3k on basic (boring)structure now need to infill ... plants are expensive ... growing from plugs/seeds. need someone to walk through it and answer my questions. spent £20k on last garden so would like to inject unusual plants in this reconditioned one. a tv prog like Gardener's Question Time on BBC4 is what i need!
Posts
Every single word you've said/written is exactly as it is. I think the majority of us G.World followers do feel this way.
I watched this last Fridays episode (i am trying to get into it to change my way of viewing/thinking re it etc) but i too always find my self thinking what was that all about? I get side-tracked constantly c/o numerous close-ups of perfectly hanging, wall hanging trowels, secatuers etc etc, all looking new with smears of soil seemingly rubbed onto handles etc i can only assume that these numerous close-up shots are product placements as brand names are clearly visible sometimes. If it's "programme soul" and "programme character" that the producers are tying to create, well for me it would not happen via that route. It just happens when the whole package is right. And it just isn't with Monty. That X-Factor is simply not there.
Carol has it,Alan has it,Toby has it,Chris Beardshaw has it & Christine Walkendon also has it, might i add. I met her once and she is lovely. Similar to Carol Klein in enthusiasm etc.
I actuslly get lost with the G.World presentation as it is now, it's lost its soul. It is about feeling right as well as the mechanics & correct instruction not just about how it looks,camera close ups on well placed items etc. On Carols gardening series the only close-ups were of her hands-on perrenial dividing,seed collecting directly from flower heads and her garden robin-no products re brands. We got to hear the wind blowing, we were walking with her on her brick walkways, we were enjoying the chilly frosty early mornings & the stunning sunsets & almost holding her tulip net bags for her as she enthusiastically planted up her tulip pots etc etc and the music that was used was just right somehow-it all worked, basically because she was right-the pivotal pin within it.So all the rest simply & beautifully followed on. Interestingly i can remember so much from her series & likewise i can also from Chris Beardshaws' Flying Gardener series, which so inspired me re my north facing back garden, in his Winter Garden episode.I faithfully recreated some of his ideas & now have a garden that i love to wander in, on cold wintery days with a hot coffee in my hands to keep me warm, as there is plenty of evergreen structure & winter perfume to enjoy. These gardeners inspire & their instruction & ideas stay in the memory. That's not happening with the current g.world & i don't think it will. Sadly i do fall asleep watching it and cannot recall anything really, only what seems either a bit odd or I find myself thinking-"surely that's not right,is it?"
I will return when they put a proper gardener on again.
Monty was confidently instructing us to leave daffodils to go to seed and so spread themselves. Now, every gardening programme and gardening book I have ever consulted has advised dead-heading them to ensure that the strength goes back into the bulb and isn't wasted on seed production. Maybe Monty has good reason for advising against received wisdom and established practice, but surely he should explain why and justify his opinion when doing so? A typical example of the arrogance of which so many posters have been complaining!
How ghastly can it get? Monty is pompous and arrogant. He gives astonishingly bad advice and is all over the media like a rash. Trouble with a rash is it usually irritates and he certainly irritates me. Why on earth did they get rid of Toby and fob us off with a very bad gardener. Awful show now and i will not be watching again.Is the BBC trying to kill the show off?