Am I the only one who can't bear James Wong? He doesn't bring me much joy at all. It's a shame that Chris Beardshaw was so busy on his garden this year as I would have loved to see him doing a bit more presenting!
I really liked the symbolism of the oak tree in the modern slavery garden, representing the oak tree William Willberforce stood under, to first read the anti-slavery bill. All the oak saplings planted underneath, were actually planted by people released from slavery in Britain.
Pompous twaddle, possibly, but it made an impression on me.
It's a good job we all like different things.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Have googled suppliers, and guess what, the only name that came up was T & M, wouldn't order from that lot, delivery would be in November, plants half dead and they wouldn't respond to e-mails when informed about the rubbish they had sent out!
Well, I appreciate the fact that Chelsea is given so.much coverage. It may not all be to our taste, but at least it's giving airtime to gardens, plants and gardening, rather than men propelling balls around fields or tables or throwing sharp things at a board on the wall.
That doesn't mean I like it all. Some of the entries are the garden equivalent of Disneyland. (Revolving plants? They'll have talking trees next!) I don't like gardens dominated by huge lumps of steel or concrete, or furniture or gadgets; I don't like gardens that are preaching or political. But as a programme, it's easy on the eye, and shows some wonderful plants and flowers that I'd love to see for real.
As for the presenters' clothes: the women all seem to feel a need to compete with the flowers - and of course the flowers win every time. I don't know why the men are in suits and ties at all, but I found Monty's ill-fitting, floppy jacket quite amusing and endearing. It was as if he'd been told he had to wear a jacket and tie and was doing so under protest. I prefer him in his gardening clothes with braces and wellies.
If I went to a big show, it wouldn't be Chelsea, but I'm happy to watch it, appreciate it and nitpick.
Yes, I have to agree that his technical knowledge is outstanding. I just wish he didn't deliver it in such a stilted robotic way. But each to their own I suppose... If we all loved the same people, it would make for a dull world.
And now we have the fuss about an all male judging panel. The fact that the vast majority of garden designers are male (as mentioned during a previous programme) and that, according to the head judge when he was being ignored by Joe Swift, those women who are available to the judging panel were actually creating gardens this year, has been totally ignored in the search for cheap controversy.
Talk about wanting to have your cake and eat it. Complain about the lack of femal designers, and then effectively complain because they are designing and not judging!
Why on earth was Grayson Perry given so much time on last night's programme? He admitted he knew nothing about gardens and the ones he featured were mostly awful. I just want to see gardens and plants with a bit of intelligent commentary from someone who knows more than I do.
Posts
Am I the only one who can't bear James Wong? He doesn't bring me much joy at all. It's a shame that Chris Beardshaw was so busy on his garden this year as I would have loved to see him doing a bit more presenting!
It's all subjective isn't it.
I really liked the symbolism of the oak tree in the modern slavery garden, representing the oak tree William Willberforce stood under, to first read the anti-slavery bill. All the oak saplings planted underneath, were actually planted by people released from slavery in Britain.
Pompous twaddle, possibly, but it made an impression on me.
It's a good job we all like different things.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Cheers Fidget not forgetting Lantana!
Have googled suppliers, and guess what, the only name that came up was T & M, wouldn't order from that lot, delivery would be in November, plants half dead and they wouldn't respond to e-mails when informed about the rubbish they had sent out!
Ps, this is my angry young man mode!
Well, I appreciate the fact that Chelsea is given so.much coverage. It may not all be to our taste, but at least it's giving airtime to gardens, plants and gardening, rather than men propelling balls around fields or tables or throwing sharp things at a board on the wall.
That doesn't mean I like it all. Some of the entries are the garden equivalent of Disneyland. (Revolving plants? They'll have talking trees next!) I don't like gardens dominated by huge lumps of steel or concrete, or furniture or gadgets; I don't like gardens that are preaching or political. But as a programme, it's easy on the eye, and shows some wonderful plants and flowers that I'd love to see for real.
As for the presenters' clothes: the women all seem to feel a need to compete with the flowers - and of course the flowers win every time. I don't know why the men are in suits and ties at all, but I found Monty's ill-fitting, floppy jacket quite amusing and endearing. It was as if he'd been told he had to wear a jacket and tie and was doing so under protest. I prefer him in his gardening clothes with braces and wellies.
If I went to a big show, it wouldn't be Chelsea, but I'm happy to watch it, appreciate it and nitpick.
Yes, I have to agree that his technical knowledge is outstanding. I just wish he didn't deliver it in such a stilted robotic way. But each to their own I suppose... If we all loved the same people, it would make for a dull world.
And now we have the fuss about an all male judging panel. The fact that the vast majority of garden designers are male (as mentioned during a previous programme) and that, according to the head judge when he was being ignored by Joe Swift, those women who are available to the judging panel were actually creating gardens this year, has been totally ignored in the search for cheap controversy.
Talk about wanting to have your cake and eat it. Complain about the lack of femal designers, and then effectively complain because they are designing and not judging!
Why on earth was Grayson Perry given so much time on last night's programme? He admitted he knew nothing about gardens and the ones he featured were mostly awful. I just want to see gardens and plants with a bit of intelligent commentary from someone who knows more than I do.
It t will be interesting to see which garden is the People's Choice when, presumably, there will be high number of female voters. I've made my choice