I do agree with some comments here that at times GW programme since Alan Titchmarsh's era has become a "middleclass" programme and has watered-down or abandoned Geoff Hamilton's era where he made-do-and-mend.
In these thrifty times - even the "middleclass" (yes, I have a well-paid job but we even do the Lidl-run or Aldi-run as well as dashing around Waitrose) need/are saving cash as everything become expensive - it would have been nice to see Monty Don attempt to say "well, I paid £700 (what's the annual £running cost, Monty Don?) for this heated bench but I need another one. You can make it yourself...."
Certainly, Geoff Hamilton inspired from 1979 to his (still) unbelievable death (in 1996) with his real down-to-earth gardening and that's why, every Christmastime without fail, I re-watch his TV series 3-disc DVD boxset to remind me that gardening shouldn't be a chore but a continual life-love affair.
Geoff Hamilton's faultless mantra re-centres me and regenerates throughout.
I have a large garden with space for a shed and a small greenhouse and aveggie plot and a pond and grass and hedges but, given that I share it and the family budget with a teenage daughter who loathes gardening and a husband who is a good labourer but not green fingered and two dogs and a cat, I can't afford hundreds of pounds for a heated bench, let alone the many more hundred pounds I'd need for a greenhouse to house it. Nor do I have the desire for long rass with a path mown through or anywhere to house, or give away, all the sterptocarpus babies I'd get if I did leaf cuttings.
GH, AT and probably Beechgrove would have taken the trouble t point out that smaler models for smaller budgets are available and more than likely shown how to make one with the heating coils that can be bought now. Beechgrove would probably run a trial of cuttings with heat and cuttings without just to show the beneffits and better inform viewers whether advanced or novice in gardening skills.
I thought last night's programme was mostly a waste of time and find Monty increasingly out of touch with people who can only garden at weekends and with limited space and budgets.
I will watch but am not looking forward to him presenting Chelsea - chalk and cheese personality fit for this event.
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 can't say that I watch GW every week anymore. Its quite disappointing when you can't afford (either the money or the space) to plant in swathes or threes or anything other than small single plants and waiting for it to grow. I don't have space for a greenhouse and don't have any grass. I would like more visits to 'average' gardens. We all visit massive gardens but know it has no relevance to us, a bit like GW now, which is why its not a must see show.
Are we not missing the fact that a simple fact (relevant to anyone who has a greenhouse and propagates ) regarding under heating was explained - and how this can pay for itself if you have a garden to fill...
TBH I actually find Montys presentation much more down to earth and likeable since Lord Titchmarch left the building.
I personally think it's simply a matter of personal taste whether one prefers Geoff Hamilton, Alan Titchmarsh or Monty Don. I personally can't stand Sarah Raven but that's just me. I recognise the fact that's she a gifted gardener.
There are two things that frustrate me with Gardener's World.
Firstly, I believe that at times the programme assumes that everyone watching is an experienced gardener. I am fairly experienced myself but often wonder if the program could be a little bit more aware of those who are new to gardening and need a bit more basic information.
Secondly, whilst I entirely understand that G World need a fairly big garden to have enough scope to produce a weekly programme, they could do more to relate to those who have smaller gardens. This could be do in lots of ways. Making sure that they alternate between visiting small, medium sized and large gardens is just one example.
Lastly, had to chuckle about the joy of the mown path in the long grass. I cut the grass immediately around my church short and then leave the grass in the rest of the churchyard to grow longer for the benefit of wildlife and simply because I don't have the time to cut the whole area short. I cut a couple of paths through the longer grass. It looks nice but I don't seem to be able to experience quite the same level of joy and delight that Monty does. Monty's enthusiasm is infectious and made me chuckle at least.
wish i'd seen geoff hamilton, know would have loved him, i do love monty though i just take it for granted i can't do what he does, less money, less time, less garden, still find it a pleasure watching him and nigel and still pick up tips
scott that's what i love about monty, his joy at really simple things,i do think we should have more step by step instruction but that's as i'm still new and have a lot to learn
just watched show again. I don't normally engage with personality comments about gardeners, I am more interested in plants but feel compelled to defend GW.
The advice for trimming hedge ends only, straightening lawn edges, mulching straws and cloche to bring them on, must be jobs hundreds of thousands can and will be doing.
That goes for sowing sweet corn and sweet peas too. The heated gravel bench is to scale for MD's two acre garden. Geoff Hamilton would have probably made his own too but Barnsdale is an eight acre garden so that must have been quite a project!
This is a magazine programme, cherry pick ideas you like, let what doesn't currently interest you or apply to your garden go, just scale the ideas to suit your budget.
My neighbours had a standard 1939 semi, long thin back garden only 10m wide, but had wild flowers and grasses with a mown path and it was glorious (back then I manicured my garden but realised they had as much colour, so much more wildlife and spent more time sipping something delicious in their garden than I ever could).
Different strokes for different folks so 2.3m audience, when there are more than 200+ channels plus iPlayer and recording options, speaks volumes. Most of these options were not available in dear Geoff's time.
....ok, I'll step down from this soap box (or high-horse) now
Poor Monty. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. No wonder he often looks tired. I still feel that the producers of the programme must dictate what the content has to be and as with everything nowadays everything is so profit and business driven, not least the BBC. Everyone is struggling to survive and so many of the formats we are used to have to lean now towards where the money is coming from and identifying and homing in on the big buyers. Of necessity. More and more of the populace have access now to things they couldn't have afforded or were available years ago...just look at the rise of landscaping, feature planting, designer garden sculptures, flat packs of raised beds. There are pros and cons to everything for everyone. Non-gardeners (ie not regular enthusiasts or practitioners) are often pulled into gardening because of its trendy edge and new popularity which appeals to everyone. More 'things' are available for even the most hesitant and inexperienced individual to create a great 'look' which compliments extremely busy lifestyles where people would just like to try something but don't have the time they wish they could have.
Years ago many of the things we can easily source and access at garden centres were only available to people who had loads of money but so much is now available for absolutely everyone. More young people are adorning their flats with exotic indoor plants, growing herbs (the legal kind!) and getting into some kind of gardening activity indoors or outdoors. Due to internet buying everyone has access to a huge range of things which we never used to see on a day to day basis and so many people are into 'the look'. Like it or not.
The term 'gardening' and 'gardener' is a huge umbrella now where even the least experienced and who never before were interested have an in-road to possibilities which embrace house decorating, design and involves some kind of planting and creativity. You used to walk around the countryside and see farmyards riddled with old machinery, troughs which had been lying around for years. Because of the diversity of tv programmes on design etc...these folks are now making a mint selling off old troughs for hundreds of pounds, as are builders and renovaters taking advantage of the knowledge people now have or whose creativity has been sparked by gardening programmes and are making a mind selling old sinks, buckets, watering cans, chimney pots, guttering and so forth.
The gardening centres must closely monitor what is selling each year, what the majority of enquires and sales indicate and so the gardening programmes have to follow the trend to include everyone. Years ago, neighbours would be talking about what annuals they would be buying for their baskets, window boxes, front garden small borders and so forth. Nowadays what I hear is water features, feature plants, patio areas, wild flower areas, a creative impressive area, and so forth.
I suspect Monty has to follow the trend probably as noted by the producers and directors of gardening programmes and businesses. We note the designer element to the show gardens but also note the nostalgia and consideration for days of yore and wild flower importance with often moral and charitable references. Despite the recession in some areas, we have to accept that we the public have access to so much more knowledge and produce these days and that a lot of people are encouraged and eager to try things they have never attempted before e.g. exotics. Even on Titchmarsh's 'Love Your Garden' - there was always the bit at the end on how to achieve the 'look' (which is a public driven trend) and some of the sculptures, garden furniture and accessories were way more expensive than the majority of cars would be to buy.
Posts
I do agree with some comments here that at times GW programme since Alan Titchmarsh's era has become a "middleclass" programme and has watered-down or abandoned Geoff Hamilton's era where he made-do-and-mend.
In these thrifty times - even the "middleclass" (yes, I have a well-paid job but we even do the Lidl-run or Aldi-run as well as dashing around Waitrose) need/are saving cash as everything become expensive - it would have been nice to see Monty Don attempt to say "well, I paid £700 (what's the annual £running cost, Monty Don?) for this heated bench but I need another one. You can make it yourself...."
Certainly, Geoff Hamilton inspired from 1979 to his (still) unbelievable death (in 1996) with his real down-to-earth gardening and that's why, every Christmastime without fail, I re-watch his TV series 3-disc DVD boxset to remind me that gardening shouldn't be a chore but a continual life-love affair.
Geoff Hamilton's faultless mantra re-centres me and regenerates throughout.
I have a large garden with space for a shed and a small greenhouse and aveggie plot and a pond and grass and hedges but, given that I share it and the family budget with a teenage daughter who loathes gardening and a husband who is a good labourer but not green fingered and two dogs and a cat, I can't afford hundreds of pounds for a heated bench, let alone the many more hundred pounds I'd need for a greenhouse to house it. Nor do I have the desire for long rass with a path mown through or anywhere to house, or give away, all the sterptocarpus babies I'd get if I did leaf cuttings.
GH, AT and probably Beechgrove would have taken the trouble t point out that smaler models for smaller budgets are available and more than likely shown how to make one with the heating coils that can be bought now. Beechgrove would probably run a trial of cuttings with heat and cuttings without just to show the beneffits and better inform viewers whether advanced or novice in gardening skills.
I thought last night's programme was mostly a waste of time and find Monty increasingly out of touch with people who can only garden at weekends and with limited space and budgets.
I will watch but am not looking forward to him presenting Chelsea - chalk and cheese personality fit for this event.
I can't say that I watch GW every week anymore. Its quite disappointing when you can't afford (either the money or the space) to plant in swathes or threes or anything other than small single plants and waiting for it to grow. I don't have space for a greenhouse and don't have any grass. I would like more visits to 'average' gardens. We all visit massive gardens but know it has no relevance to us, a bit like GW now, which is why its not a must see show.
Are we not missing the fact that a simple fact (relevant to anyone who has a greenhouse and propagates ) regarding under heating was explained - and how this can pay for itself if you have a garden to fill...
TBH I actually find Montys presentation much more down to earth and likeable since Lord Titchmarch left the building.
I personally think it's simply a matter of personal taste whether one prefers Geoff Hamilton, Alan Titchmarsh or Monty Don. I personally can't stand Sarah Raven but that's just me. I recognise the fact that's she a gifted gardener.
There are two things that frustrate me with Gardener's World.
Firstly, I believe that at times the programme assumes that everyone watching is an experienced gardener. I am fairly experienced myself but often wonder if the program could be a little bit more aware of those who are new to gardening and need a bit more basic information.
Secondly, whilst I entirely understand that G World need a fairly big garden to have enough scope to produce a weekly programme, they could do more to relate to those who have smaller gardens. This could be do in lots of ways. Making sure that they alternate between visiting small, medium sized and large gardens is just one example.
Lastly, had to chuckle about the joy of the mown path in the long grass. I cut the grass immediately around my church short and then leave the grass in the rest of the churchyard to grow longer for the benefit of wildlife and simply because I don't have the time to cut the whole area short. I cut a couple of paths through the longer grass. It looks nice but I don't seem to be able to experience quite the same level of joy and delight that Monty does. Monty's enthusiasm is infectious and made me chuckle at least.
wish i'd seen geoff hamilton, know would have loved him, i do love monty though i just take it for granted i can't do what he does, less money, less time, less garden, still find it a pleasure watching him and nigel and still pick up tips
scott that's what i love about monty, his joy at really simple things,i do think we should have more step by step instruction but that's as i'm still new and have a lot to learn
just watched show again. I don't normally engage with personality comments about gardeners, I am more interested in plants but feel compelled to defend GW.
The advice for trimming hedge ends only, straightening lawn edges, mulching straws and cloche to bring them on, must be jobs hundreds of thousands can and will be doing.
That goes for sowing sweet corn and sweet peas too. The heated gravel bench is to scale for MD's two acre garden. Geoff Hamilton would have probably made his own too but Barnsdale is an eight acre garden so that must have been quite a project!
This is a magazine programme, cherry pick ideas you like, let what doesn't currently interest you or apply to your garden go, just scale the ideas to suit your budget.
My neighbours had a standard 1939 semi, long thin back garden only 10m wide, but had wild flowers and grasses with a mown path and it was glorious (back then I manicured my garden but realised they had as much colour, so much more wildlife and spent more time sipping something delicious in their garden than I ever could).
Different strokes for different folks so 2.3m audience, when there are more than 200+ channels plus iPlayer and recording options, speaks volumes. Most of these options were not available in dear Geoff's time.
....ok, I'll step down from this soap box (or high-horse) now
Poor Monty. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. No wonder he often looks tired. I still feel that the producers of the programme must dictate what the content has to be and as with everything nowadays everything is so profit and business driven, not least the BBC. Everyone is struggling to survive and so many of the formats we are used to have to lean now towards where the money is coming from and identifying and homing in on the big buyers. Of necessity. More and more of the populace have access now to things they couldn't have afforded or were available years ago...just look at the rise of landscaping, feature planting, designer garden sculptures, flat packs of raised beds. There are pros and cons to everything for everyone. Non-gardeners (ie not regular enthusiasts or practitioners) are often pulled into gardening because of its trendy edge and new popularity which appeals to everyone. More 'things' are available for even the most hesitant and inexperienced individual to create a great 'look' which compliments extremely busy lifestyles where people would just like to try something but don't have the time they wish they could have.
Years ago many of the things we can easily source and access at garden centres were only available to people who had loads of money but so much is now available for absolutely everyone. More young people are adorning their flats with exotic indoor plants, growing herbs (the legal kind!) and getting into some kind of gardening activity indoors or outdoors. Due to internet buying everyone has access to a huge range of things which we never used to see on a day to day basis and so many people are into 'the look'. Like it or not.
The term 'gardening' and 'gardener' is a huge umbrella now where even the least experienced and who never before were interested have an in-road to possibilities which embrace house decorating, design and involves some kind of planting and creativity. You used to walk around the countryside and see farmyards riddled with old machinery, troughs which had been lying around for years. Because of the diversity of tv programmes on design etc...these folks are now making a mint selling off old troughs for hundreds of pounds, as are builders and renovaters taking advantage of the knowledge people now have or whose creativity has been sparked by gardening programmes and are making a mind selling old sinks, buckets, watering cans, chimney pots, guttering and so forth.
The gardening centres must closely monitor what is selling each year, what the majority of enquires and sales indicate and so the gardening programmes have to follow the trend to include everyone. Years ago, neighbours would be talking about what annuals they would be buying for their baskets, window boxes, front garden small borders and so forth. Nowadays what I hear is water features, feature plants, patio areas, wild flower areas, a creative impressive area, and so forth.
I suspect Monty has to follow the trend probably as noted by the producers and directors of gardening programmes and businesses. We note the designer element to the show gardens but also note the nostalgia and consideration for days of yore and wild flower importance with often moral and charitable references. Despite the recession in some areas, we have to accept that we the public have access to so much more knowledge and produce these days and that a lot of people are encouraged and eager to try things they have never attempted before e.g. exotics. Even on Titchmarsh's 'Love Your Garden' - there was always the bit at the end on how to achieve the 'look' (which is a public driven trend) and some of the sculptures, garden furniture and accessories were way more expensive than the majority of cars would be to buy.