Bunny could not agree more with what you say my father knew very few of the Latin names he called the plants by the old names which incidentally have change twice in my lifetime. If I saw a teacher giving blatantly bad examples of how to do something I would stop them because the young minds he is teaching do not know if he is right or wrong and Toby was quite often so wrong, Alice got up my nose but did know her stuff and Monty is good although at times boring, he does at least show exactly what he wants you to do and finishes off each job when did Toby ever do that? If Toby is the standard you wish to set yourself well fair enough but if he does ever come back I am gone, I cannot watch bad workmen making a mess.
I loved Geoff Hamiltons approach to gardening, he made everything look achievable by amateurs, he had such any easy style, but unfortunately he is no long with us.
I have enjoyed Monty Dons series so far, this week more so than last, mainly because we have visited some of the gardens featured and for the beautiful french scenery. As many of you have said, it is lacking in growing information, but I have enjoyed it for what it is, a pleasant hour of relaxation.
I have to start somewhere frank and monty isn't it , when I progress and find time amongst starting my new garden , working fulltime running a new business from home this year I shall hopefully catch up on old GW programmes where I can learn more. Maybe one day they will make a GW for all levels of standard and skill and please everyone .....but I doubt it .
I agree lovetogarden it is nice to see the French gardens and look forward to others, although not a monty fan I still watch ....again agree would be nice to learn some things from them though.
I liked the potager programme better than the first one. I'm not really a fan of formal French gardens, I prefer loose and flowing, flowers and colour, more Christopher Lloyd style. But I did like the more informal potagers and the chatty little French lady. Living in France, I've met enthusiastic people like her in their veg gardens. I didn't like Villandry that much, too formal and what a waste of vegetables. I wonder why Monty didn't show the lovely potagers at Cheverny and Chenonceau with their beautiful mixture of flowers, roses and vegetables. The flowers are used for arrangement in the chateaux and the veg for the restaurant.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Maybe Monty didn't get too technical with the onion grower because his french isn't up to more than the basics? I like Monty's approach and manner and am enjoying the programmes and particularly liked the potager de roi. The ornamental potager where none of the food gets eaten is in my opinion utterly disgraceful...
I too miss Geoff Hamilton and the way he presented any of his gardening programmes, and the down to earth way he showed all of us how to garden. Carol Klien is another of my favourites too she is very easy to listen too and very much a lover of everything that grows including creatures in the garden. I often watch my Geoff Hamiltons gardening dvds when i have a spare hour if the weather is bad, and every time he spures me on to get out into the garden to do a bit, whatever the weather. We lost a gud one there.
I agree about Villandry being a waste and think that, with a bit more effort and research, he could have shown us productive and beautiful potagers such as those mentioned by Busy-Lizzie. I say again it's not enough to see the thing. I want information about how it's done by the best. If his French is no longer good enough there are interpreters available.
Gardening is, after all, a very practical activity and gardeners are practical people who love to share tips and plants and produce. This programme is missing that spirit - with the exception of the lady on the allotment.
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)."
Well said obelixx,I just wished I had payed more attention to my dads gardening.He wasn' neat and tidy but grew fantastic stuff, flowers and veg won many a show.his pholsophy was I grow it to please myself but if it pleases others job done.So I watch any gardening programes to fill this thirst for info about gardening he started.
Plumbob, like you I watch any gardening progrmame to learn but sadly as a child had no father to teach me but hey I seem to be able to manage and what I achieve I get a lot of pleasure from.
Btw I have yet to manage to stay awake for Monty's programme on Friday evening. Too late in the evening for my attention span obviously . I do like him but on the subject of Monty feel that his other programme should be more tailored to peeps with limited means. Does anyone else feel that?
Posts
Bunny could not agree more with what you say my father knew very few of the Latin names he called the plants by the old names which incidentally have change twice in my lifetime.
If I saw a teacher giving blatantly bad examples of how to do something I would stop them because the young minds he is teaching do not know if he is right or wrong and Toby was quite often so wrong, Alice got up my nose but did know her stuff and Monty is good although at times boring, he does at least show exactly what he wants you to do and finishes off each job when did Toby ever do that?
If Toby is the standard you wish to set yourself well fair enough but if he does ever come back I am gone, I cannot watch bad workmen making a mess.
Frank.
I loved Geoff Hamiltons approach to gardening, he made everything look achievable by amateurs, he had such any easy style, but unfortunately he is no long with us.
I have enjoyed Monty Dons series so far, this week more so than last, mainly because we have visited some of the gardens featured and for the beautiful french scenery. As many of you have said, it is lacking in growing information, but I have enjoyed it for what it is, a pleasant hour of relaxation.
I liked the potager programme better than the first one. I'm not really a fan of formal French gardens, I prefer loose and flowing, flowers and colour, more Christopher Lloyd style. But I did like the more informal potagers and the chatty little French lady. Living in France, I've met enthusiastic people like her in their veg gardens. I didn't like Villandry that much, too formal and what a waste of vegetables. I wonder why Monty didn't show the lovely potagers at Cheverny and Chenonceau with their beautiful mixture of flowers, roses and vegetables. The flowers are used for arrangement in the chateaux and the veg for the restaurant.
Maybe Monty didn't get too technical with the onion grower because his french isn't up to more than the basics? I like Monty's approach and manner and am enjoying the programmes and particularly liked the potager de roi. The ornamental potager where none of the food gets eaten is in my opinion utterly disgraceful...
I too miss Geoff Hamilton and the way he presented any of his gardening programmes, and the down to earth way he showed all of us how to garden. Carol Klien is another of my favourites too she is very easy to listen too and very much a lover of everything that grows including creatures in the garden. I often watch my Geoff Hamiltons gardening dvds when i have a spare hour if the weather is bad, and every time he spures me on to get out into the garden to do a bit, whatever the weather. We lost a gud one there.
I agree about Villandry being a waste and think that, with a bit more effort and research, he could have shown us productive and beautiful potagers such as those mentioned by Busy-Lizzie. I say again it's not enough to see the thing. I want information about how it's done by the best. If his French is no longer good enough there are interpreters available.
Gardening is, after all, a very practical activity and gardeners are practical people who love to share tips and plants and produce. This programme is missing that spirit - with the exception of the lady on the allotment.
Well said obelixx,I just wished I had payed more attention to my dads gardening.He wasn' neat and tidy but grew fantastic stuff, flowers and veg won many a show.his pholsophy was I grow it to please myself but if it pleases others job done.So I watch any gardening programes to fill this thirst for info about gardening he started.
Plumbob, like you I watch any gardening progrmame to learn but sadly as a child had no father to teach me but hey I seem to be able to manage and what I achieve I get a lot of pleasure from.
Btw I have yet to manage to stay awake for Monty's programme on Friday evening. Too late in the evening for my attention span obviously
. I do like him but on the subject of Monty feel that his other programme should be more tailored to peeps with limited means. Does anyone else feel that?
S.