I think the problem over the years has been lots of interest in the media re: garden design, with little thought about actually gardening and the two need to be separated.
Popular property shows in the 80's and 90's led to lots of interest in gardens, which IMO got people wanting nice gardens visually, but led to vacuous gardening and getting your hands dirty. IMO.
Think you've hit the nail on the head Greg4 - so many gardening programmes (and garden shows) are driven by the marketing of hard landscaping and similar.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I would love programmes to give advice about regional gardening in the UK- how useful to be given information but also be educated about the gardening possibilities around the UK
Catnip I agree with you. My mothers garden and plants are two weeks at least a head of us so when we're told to plant in early February I never know if thats right for my mother or right for me.
I found a lot if programmes like to produce a finished "ta da" effect which is terribly impressive but they never tell you what to plant so it looks that nice all year round.
Gardens never look the same year round which is why we're advised to plant a variety to give year round interest. The focus will naturally shift through the seasons starting with early spring bulbs and blossom through the exhuberance of early summer flowers, autum colour and winter evergreens and coloured stems and, if you're sheltered enough, some scented winter blooms.
I confess I fast forwarded through Dirmuid's glasshouses as my greenhouse is far too small for exotics to be given space when I need it to shelter treasures in winter. It also gets far too cold for all that tender stuff and heating is not an option.
The shrub part wasn't bad but why, oh why, do these people have to shout and harangue with unnatural emphasis on every other word? Why can't they talk to as though we're just having a conversation and exchanging information and views. I find it very tiring. Must be something the producers or directors ask for as even CB has started doing it and Monty Don's phrasing has gone all awry latterly too.
As others have said, more info on how, when and where would be good. There are all sorts of plants I can't grow because my soil is too alkaline, though deep and fertile, and others I can't grow because it's too wet or too exposed or too cold in winter. Must be the same for others maybe gardening on chalk or sand or high up and exposed or in frost pockets or mild and balmy..
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
obelixx, I think presenters are asked to speak with this kind of enthusiasm. Producers seem to think us minions will prick up and take notice more, or gardening's going the same way as much TV these days, LOUD and BRASH.
Posts
I think the problem over the years has been lots of interest in the media re: garden design, with little thought about actually gardening and the two need to be separated.
Popular property shows in the 80's and 90's led to lots of interest in gardens, which IMO got people wanting nice gardens visually, but led to vacuous gardening and getting your hands dirty. IMO.
Think you've hit the nail on the head Greg4 - so many gardening programmes (and garden shows) are driven by the marketing of hard landscaping and similar.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Dovefromabove, Yes even Chelsea is guilty here, I thought it was called Chelsea flower show not I'm a designer show.
I will probably be shot down now, Oh well.
I think there are several people here who will agree with you
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I would love programmes to give advice about regional gardening in the UK- how useful to be given information but also be educated about the gardening possibilities around the UK
How do you mean catnip? Are you talking about varying weather conditions or soil types or something else?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Catnip I agree with you. My mothers garden and plants are two weeks at least a head of us so when we're told to plant in early February I never know if thats right for my mother or right for me.
I found a lot if programmes like to produce a finished "ta da" effect which is terribly impressive but they never tell you what to plant so it looks that nice all year round.
Gardens never look the same year round which is why we're advised to plant a variety to give year round interest. The focus will naturally shift through the seasons starting with early spring bulbs and blossom through the exhuberance of early summer flowers, autum colour and winter evergreens and coloured stems and, if you're sheltered enough, some scented winter blooms.
I confess I fast forwarded through Dirmuid's glasshouses as my greenhouse is far too small for exotics to be given space when I need it to shelter treasures in winter. It also gets far too cold for all that tender stuff and heating is not an option.
The shrub part wasn't bad but why, oh why, do these people have to shout and harangue with unnatural emphasis on every other word? Why can't they talk to as though we're just having a conversation and exchanging information and views. I find it very tiring. Must be something the producers or directors ask for as even CB has started doing it and Monty Don's phrasing has gone all awry latterly too.
As others have said, more info on how, when and where would be good. There are all sorts of plants I can't grow because my soil is too alkaline, though deep and fertile, and others I can't grow because it's too wet or too exposed or too cold in winter. Must be the same for others maybe gardening on chalk or sand or high up and exposed or in frost pockets or mild and balmy..
I think TV presenters go to a training course to learn how to talk like that obelixx. And to learn all those strange hand signals.
In the sticks near Peterborough
obelixx, I think presenters are asked to speak with this kind of enthusiasm. Producers seem to think us minions will prick up and take notice more, or gardening's going the same way as much TV these days, LOUD and BRASH.