I miss Geoff Hamilton for down to earth practical advice and the things he made for people with ordinary gardens. One always gets the impression that Monty's garden is a rich person's garden and there isn't enough detail on any one subject. I think Monty came over better in this prog. that on GW, but then that is week in, week out, not a one off.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Lizzie - I couldn't agree more with your comments I am still waiting patiently for someone to come up to Geoff Hamilton's standard too. The closest for a 'dirt under the fingernails type' is Carol Klein.
I miss GH and his down to earth style on GW too and the joy of his series shown in on Ornamental Kitchen Gardens and Paradise Gardens was just amazing. I thought AT's How to be a Gardener series was inspirational and had something for everyone from beginners to experienced amateurs.
I still Watch GW when it's on but with Monty at the helm I find it very rarely makes me itch to get out in the garden and tackle jobs or start a new project or try a new plant. It's all too Monty-centric and not sufficiently tailored to Mr or Mrs average gardener and especially not for complete beginners who have to contend with limited knowledge and/or limited space/time/budgets. He just seems tohave no clue as to how most people live and garden.
I just hope someone at the Beeb will commission a decent series on how, what and when to sow, plant, harvest, maintain, design, replant, propagate, prune, compost, recycle and all the other things gardeners love to do but also have to do to make an attractive garden and keep it looking good without a bottomless purse.
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)."
Hope you don't mind: I'm a frequent reader and very occasional contributor (there's not usually much I can add to you wonderfully knowledgeable folk) but I must put in a word for the lovely Nigel on GW! Even though I'm a very keen gardener and like the programme for the plants/advice, I find his appearances an absolute delight and I've warmed to Monty far more, after seeing how lovely they are together.
Completely agree with all the positives about the Great British Garden Revival though, and it's been lovely to have some proper, one-hour gardening progs at last. What a joy on a cold Winter's night. Thank you, BBC.
Given we have just 30 minutes, time spent on Nigel and on watching Monty parade around with his wheelbarrow in fuzzy focus is time lost. Happy to see dogs and cats and chucks in a presenter's garden but not have them feature. We get little enough practical content as it is.
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)."
I thought I was alone in the Monty Nigel dept. I posted on this forum months ago and almost received hate mail. GW has become very formulaic and every week we see Monty push a wheelbarrow and we all know he's got a dog. We get 30 mins of gardening on Tv per week . If I want to see dogs, I'll watch Paul O'Grady. More real gardening. Can I also mention the creeping of " visit's to the gardens of celebrities" which started at the end of lasts series. If the gardens are stunning: fine, but none so far have been ( Much like the gardens visited during coverage of Chelsea ) If these gardens are good enough, have a whole programme about them, if not, let's stick to topical gardening. Please.
Posts
I miss Geoff Hamilton for down to earth practical advice and the things he made for people with ordinary gardens. One always gets the impression that Monty's garden is a rich person's garden and there isn't enough detail on any one subject. I think Monty came over better in this prog. that on GW, but then that is week in, week out, not a one off.
Lizzie - I couldn't agree more with your comments I am still waiting patiently for someone to come up to Geoff Hamilton's standard too. The closest for a 'dirt under the fingernails type' is Carol Klein.
Hear, hear, Bizliz and F2.
I miss GH and his down to earth style on GW too and the joy of his series shown in on Ornamental Kitchen Gardens and Paradise Gardens was just amazing. I thought AT's How to be a Gardener series was inspirational and had something for everyone from beginners to experienced amateurs.
I still Watch GW when it's on but with Monty at the helm I find it very rarely makes me itch to get out in the garden and tackle jobs or start a new project or try a new plant. It's all too Monty-centric and not sufficiently tailored to Mr or Mrs average gardener and especially not for complete beginners who have to contend with limited knowledge and/or limited space/time/budgets. He just seems tohave no clue as to how most people live and garden.
I just hope someone at the Beeb will commission a decent series on how, what and when to sow, plant, harvest, maintain, design, replant, propagate, prune, compost, recycle and all the other things gardeners love to do but also have to do to make an attractive garden and keep it looking good without a bottomless purse.
Well said Obelixx
Couldn't agree more
Are you listening Beeb? ( I very much doubt it... they never admit to being wrong)
Hello all,
Hope you don't mind: I'm a frequent reader and very occasional contributor (there's not usually much I can add to you wonderfully knowledgeable folk) but I must put in a word for the lovely Nigel on GW! Even though I'm a very keen gardener and like the programme for the plants/advice, I find his appearances an absolute delight and I've warmed to Monty far more, after seeing how lovely they are together.
Completely agree with all the positives about the Great British Garden Revival though, and it's been lovely to have some proper, one-hour gardening progs at last. What a joy on a cold Winter's night. Thank you, BBC.
Given we have just 30 minutes, time spent on Nigel and on watching Monty parade around with his wheelbarrow in fuzzy focus is time lost. Happy to see dogs and cats and chucks in a presenter's garden but not have them feature. We get little enough practical content as it is.
I thought I was alone in the Monty Nigel dept. I posted on this forum months ago and almost received hate mail. GW has become very formulaic and every week we see Monty push a wheelbarrow and we all know he's got a dog. We get 30 mins of gardening on Tv per week . If I want to see dogs, I'll watch Paul O'Grady. More real gardening. Can I also mention the creeping of " visit's to the gardens of celebrities" which started at the end of lasts series. If the gardens are stunning: fine, but none so far have been ( Much like the gardens visited during coverage of Chelsea ) If these gardens are good enough, have a whole programme about them, if not, let's stick to topical gardening. Please.