Gardening on TV.

[mickthecactus]

sweetleaf2 said:

I think we should petition the BBC! But how many of us would sign? I nominate Mick to write the demands.

Thanks pal.......

[Sweetleaf]

mickthecactus said:

sweetleaf2 said:

I think we should petition the BBC! But how many of us would sign? I nominate Mick to write the demands.

Thanks pal.......

Hey, what are friends for after all? ;D

[madonplants]

sweetleaf2 said:

I think we should petition the BBC! But how many of us would sign? I nominate Mick to write the demands.

Yep, more Digging Deep, please!! : ;D

Keith

[mickthecactus]

So what did you think of Monty last night?

Didn't think it was great - I didn't like the way he put down the Railway 1930's style garden.

[4pygmies]

mickthecactus said:

So what did you think of Monty last night?

Didn't think it was great - I didn't like the way he put down the Railway 1930's style garden.

I fell asleep! Poor old gal.....I didn't think it was as good as the other two - but I missed it all after the Hindu temple garden. I thought he looked as if he was a bit out of his depth really....I shall watch it again tomorrow!
And is it me? Or was the pesky music SOOO loud it was quite hard to hear what Monty was saying? I do hate all the intrusive and unnecessary music on telly programmes these days......

[mickthecactus]

4pygmies said:

mickthecactus said:

So what did you think of Monty last night?

Didn't think it was great - I didn't like the way he put down the Railway 1930's style garden.

I fell asleep! Poor old gal.....I didn't think it was as good as the other two - but I missed it all after the Hindu temple garden. I thought he looked as if he was a bit out of his depth really....I shall watch it again tomorrow!
And is it me? Or was the pesky music SOOO loud it was quite hard to hear what Monty was saying? I do hate all the intrusive and unnecessary music on telly programmes these days......

Absolutely right 4P - the music got on my bits as well.

The programme seemd more about architectural points than plants which seemed to come somewhat down the scale.

[madonplants]

mickthecactus said:

4pygmies said:

I fell asleep! Poor old gal.....I didn't think it was as good as the other two - but I missed it all after the Hindu temple garden. I thought he looked as if he was a bit out of his depth really....I shall watch it again tomorrow!
And is it me? Or was the pesky music SOOO loud it was quite hard to hear what Monty was saying? I do hate all the intrusive and unnecessary music on telly programmes these days......

Absolutely right 4P - the music got on my bits as well.

The programme seemd more about architectural points than plants which seemed to come somewhat down the scale.

I haven't watched it yet, so 'looking forward' to it, when I can sit down and have some peace and quiet!

Keith

[4pygmies]

I watched the rest of Monty's programme tonight and did quite enjoy it. I loved the odd sculptural garden at the end and I'm afraid I agreed with Monty about the 'timewarp' English Railway garden....quite bizarre to see it in a programme about India's gardens but I suppose it was only as odd as seeing the strange juxtaposition of European architecture overlaid with Hindu designs. I wish he'd shown all those wonderful gardens during the monsoons - they looked so parched.
I wouldn't last 30 seconds in that heat so it's the nearest I shall ever get to seeing any of it!

Next episode is South America which is one country I would LOVE to have visited so I'm looking forward to that.

[madonplants]

4pygmies said:

I watched the rest of Monty's programme tonight and did quite enjoy it. I loved the odd sculptural garden at the end and I'm afraid I agreed with Monty about the 'timewarp' English Railway garden....quite bizarre to see it in a programme about India's gardens but I suppose it was only as odd as seeing the strange juxtaposition of European architecture overlaid with Hindu designs. I wish he'd shown all those wonderful gardens during the monsoons - they looked so parched.
I wouldn't last 30 seconds in that heat so it's the nearest I shall ever get to seeing any of it!

Next episode is South America which is one country I would LOVE to have visited so I'm looking forward to that.

But was it a garden, in the true sense of the word?

Jennifer and I have just watched it (she stayed awake too!) and after 10 minutes, thought it was a holiday programme, rather than a garden programme. Looking forward to the next one as well, 4P.

Keith

[4pygmies]

madonplants said:

4pygmies said:

I watched the rest of Monty's programme tonight and did quite enjoy it. I loved the odd sculptural garden at the end and I'm afraid I agreed with Monty about the 'timewarp' English Railway garden....quite bizarre to see it in a programme about India's gardens but I suppose it was only as odd as seeing the strange juxtaposition of European architecture overlaid with Hindu designs. I wish he'd shown all those wonderful gardens during the monsoons - they looked so parched.
I wouldn't last 30 seconds in that heat so it's the nearest I shall ever get to seeing any of it!

Next episode is South America which is one country I would LOVE to have visited so I'm looking forward to that.

But was it a garden, in the true sense of the word?

Jennifer and I have just watched it (she stayed awake too!) and after 10 minutes, thought it was a holiday programme, rather than a garden programme. Looking forward to the next one as well, 4P.

Keith

I dunno if it was a garden, in the sense we are accustomed to - but isn't that the interesting thing? We are so used to our own concept of a garden - it's good to be challenged and have to think around it to see other cultures perceptions....

[4pygmies]

I really loved Monty's trip around South America. It was sooo fascinating - those fantastic floating gardens on the Amazon and that glorious garden on the Pacific coast were highlights for me but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. I'm expect people will moan about the travelogue aspect of the programme but I think he has to put the gardens into some kind of context.
South America is one continent I would absolutely love to travel around in but I know it will never be possible. I do think this series is a real gem - it is sooo interesting to see how the rest of the world 'gardens', Monty could spend the rest of his career doing this as far as I'm concerned. I think he is really good at this kind of personal journalism.
My only quibble is that yet again the overly loud soundtrack made it quite difficult to hear Monty - why do the editors insist on this quite superfluous music? Why can't they let the wonderful scenery and plants and Monty's dialogue speak for themselves?

[madonplants]

4pygmies said:

I really loved Monty's trip around South America. It was sooo fascinating - those fantastic floating gardens on the Amazon and that glorious garden on the Pacific coast were highlights for me but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. I'm expect people will moan about the travelogue aspect of the programme but I think he has to put the gardens into some kind of context.
South America is one continent I would absolutely love to travel around in but I know it will never be possible. I do think this series is a real gem - it is sooo interesting to see how the rest of the world 'gardens', Monty could spend the rest of his career doing this as far as I'm concerned. I think he is really good at this kind of personal journalism.
My only quibble is that yet again the overly loud soundtrack made it quite difficult to hear Monty - why do the editors insist on this quite superfluous music? Why can't they let the wonderful scenery and plants and Monty's dialogue speak for themselves?

So who would do GW then?

No seriously, I loved this programme for lots of reasons. The Amazon was a particular favourite, seeing all those floating gardens, but I wanted to go into the water to look for the fish that come from this region!! Absolutely loved the one from Chile. I don't want to emigrate to NZ now! ;D

Could Monty not look after his own suitcase, though? Note how the 'spare' clothes borrowed, fitted 'almost' perfectly! :

Keith

[madonplants]

Just been watching, on and off while, upgrading SiL's computer and posting on here, Groundforce for the umpteenth time. I really miss this show, I know some thought it was crap, but against some of the other makeover shows that are on, this was top of my list. I don't remember too many designs, when I thought, no that doesn't work or that is not what the owner would have wanted, etc. Don't remember seeing too much, if any, weed suppressing membrane, one of my pet hates, as you know!

Go on, tell me it was rubbish, with rubbish presenters, I can take it!! ;D

Keith

[4pygmies]

I won't do that, Keith! I think Groundforce was a very good idea but it just went on too long......and, even though he's not my favourite presenter, I think it lost its way a bit when Alan Titchmarsh left. I used to watch it quite often in the early days.

[4pygmies]

Good grief! I don't dislike him that much. I just find his avuncular attitude a bit patronising....he is a very good gardener though and has done a lot to popularise non chemical gardening. It's just the 'Barleywood Blue'.....



PS I don't know if you realise but us girl types find that p****g stance a tad tricky.....if he was on fire I'd chuck a bucket of water over him. I don't think he would ignite though - a bit too smarmy to burn properly. Diesel might work though.....

[Sleepy]

admin said:

4pygmies said:

PS I don't know if you realise but us girl types find that p****g stance a tad tricky.....if he was on fire I'd chuck a bucket of water over him. I don't think he would ignite though - a bit too smarmy to burn properly. Diesel might work though.....

That's just because you don't make the effort. If you would only sit in your seat the right way, and use the right stirrups, then you would find directional control much easier!

I can see that yet again you are trying to lure me into a duologue with the sole aim of getting me into trouble. But I'm on to you!!!

[4pygmies]

I just wrote something REALLY... um..rude but I deleted it! I think I am shutting up about this subject now..... ;D

[madonplants]

4pygmies said:

I won't do that, Keith! I think Groundforce was a very good idea but it just went on too long......and, even though he's not my favourite presenter, I think it lost its way a bit when Alan Titchmarsh left. I used to watch it quite often in the early days.

I agree with you, there. The first programme without him was quite hard to watch, they seemed so disjointed without Alan, not knowing what to say and when. Tommy and that other person, forget her name now, tried to front the program equally, but don't think it worked as well. Still enjoyed the gardens they made though, even the pig one!!

Keith

[Sweetleaf]

4pygmies said:

I just wrote something REALLY... um..rude but I deleted it! I think I am shutting up about this subject now..... ;D

I always miss the good bits

[4pygmies]

I've just watched Monty Don in China and Japan, exploring Zen and Buddhist gardens and what a totally fascinating programme it was too. I have never been keen on the Japanese type gardens I've seen and now I know why - they are so intimately a part of their landscape, so rooted in the environment that they look completely alien and out of place in ours. It has really made me think about what sort of gardens we have and the strange contradictions inherent in them. So many of the plants we have adopted in our gardens are actually native to China and Japan and yet their own gardening culture is quite alien to ours. Fascinating.
Next week he is in the Mediterranean..

[madonplants]

4pygmies said:

I've just watched Monty Don in China and Japan, exploring Zen and Buddhist gardens and what a totally fascinating programme it was too. I have never been keen on the Japanese type gardens I've seen and now I know why - they are so intimately a part of their landscape, so rooted in the environment that they look completely alien and out of place in ours. It has really made me think about what sort of gardens we have and the strange contradictions inherent in them. So many of the plants we have adopted in our gardens are actually native to China and Japan and yet their own gardening culture is quite alien to ours. Fascinating.
Next week he is in the Mediterranean..

We finally saw it last night, recorded from the weekend. I think I feel like you 4P, they wouldn't look right here, but there they do, not that I am that keen on rocks sticking out of smoothed over gravel! I kept saying to Jennifer, I want to put an acer there or a bamboo there!! ;D I have always understood why they do it, just not for me.

I am enjoying this series and can't wait until the next one. Even my Dad watches it and normally he hates gardening programmes. What do I need to watch them for, I've gardened all my life!!! Actually he even saw GW on Friday, but complained about the orchard, or in his words, sticks sticking out of the mounds!!!

Keith

[maggyd]

4pygmies said:

I've just watched Monty Don in China and Japan, exploring Zen and Buddhist gardens and what a totally fascinating programme it was too. I have never been keen on the Japanese type gardens I've seen and now I know why - they are so intimately a part of their landscape, so rooted in the environment that they look completely alien and out of place in ours. It has really made me think about what sort of gardens we have and the strange contradictions inherent in them. So many of the plants we have adopted in our gardens are actually native to China and Japan and yet their own gardening culture is quite alien to ours. Fascinating.
Next week he is in the Mediterranean..

The mountains and trees growing through the rocks were absolutely breathtaking weren't they I had never imagined China and Japan being so beautiful I think if I had a very big garden I wouldn't mind having a Japanese section, as it is tranquil dont you think? but I like Country Cottage style for me.

[mickthecactus]

4pygmies said:

I've just watched Monty Don in China and Japan, exploring Zen and Buddhist gardens and what a totally fascinating programme it was too. I have never been keen on the Japanese type gardens I've seen and now I know why - they are so intimately a part of their landscape, so rooted in the environment that they look completely alien and out of place in ours. It has really made me think about what sort of gardens we have and the strange contradictions inherent in them. So many of the plants we have adopted in our gardens are actually native to China and Japan and yet their own gardening culture is quite alien to ours. Fascinating.
Next week he is in the Mediterranean..

Bugger. Missed it.

[mickthecactus]

mickthecactus said:

4pygmies said:

I've just watched Monty Don in China and Japan, exploring Zen and Buddhist gardens and what a totally fascinating programme it was too. I have never been keen on the Japanese type gardens I've seen and now I know why - they are so intimately a part of their landscape, so rooted in the environment that they look completely alien and out of place in ours. It has really made me think about what sort of gardens we have and the strange contradictions inherent in them. So many of the plants we have adopted in our gardens are actually native to China and Japan and yet their own gardening culture is quite alien to ours. Fascinating.
Next week he is in the Mediterranean..

Bugger. Missed it.

No I didn't! Found it by chance on Beeb 2!

One of his better ones methinks.

[cheerypeabrain]

I really enjoyed it...especially the part where he visited the Yellow Mountains in China...fab.