Curious - what do you think?
Tootles
Posts: 1,469
Hello - random thought but I'm curious as to what folks think.
I've just received 'The Book' - a new John Lewis bit of marketing. Flicking through it over breakfast and came to page 22. It is a short biog of an impressive lady called Hay-Joung Hwang who is defined as 'The Gardener'. It shows a small picture of Hay's 2016 RHS Chelsea garden and goes on to describe qualifications, gardening style and planting recommendations. All very impressive stuff.
My initial thought was wow, this lady's garden must be amazing. But then it goes on to ask about Hay's own garden, and says; Alas, Hay only has a small roof terrace in south london'.
To me, it's a bit like a chef not having a kitchen at home. How on earth does this lady do it? Even with training and qualifications, is it really possible to know gardening and be a professional gardener without a garden? Even if it's just a small one?
As someone who has gardened for years, I still feel like I learn something every time I'm in my garden.
Perhaps some people are just gifted and don't need the daily / weekly lessons from their own garden. Or perhaps Hay gets to see so many gardens that having her own isn't important. Lots of people who love gardening do so on balconies etc after all.
But would you really trust in the longevity of a garden designed by a professional gardener without a garden?
Just a curious thought.
Posts
I think that in many cases (but not all) there's a huge difference between being a garden designer and being a gardener.
I also think that it would be difficult for anyone to build up a business as a garden designer and a wide reputation and also have time to establish and maintain a garden of any size of their own.
Does anyone know whether Capability Brown had a garden of his own? I shall have to ask Mr Google ...
as for how they learn, without having their own garden ... they study - the same as with most professions.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You put it more succinctly than I did Pansy
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
As for the chefs - I think most professional chefs OHs do most of the 'family cooking'.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Interesting question.
When I think of the garden designers I admire, they all seem to have their own gardens, but many of the pictures I have seen, suggest that their own gardens are often very different from the gardens they seem to design for others.
I also agree with Dove, in that many garden designers are not at home often enough to make their own gardens.
No answer from me then!
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Pansy - good point! That made me chuckle!
Interesting thoughts. Thanks for the replies. Good to get other people's take on things. Certainly got me thinking from other points of view.
I would say that there's a world of difference between being a designer of a garden and a gardener. It looks good at completion of the design but then the long term maintainence to keep it looking good begins.
there can't be that many professionals that can practice their trade at home.
Brain surgery in the kitchen?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Exactly right. Especially (but not only) design professionals. In my own field of experience Architects all dream of designing their own home - few can afford to do it. I've yet to meet a structural engineer with her own bridge, let alone one she built herself. I think direct experience is helpful but not essential.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”