Well, I don`t know what goes on behind closed doors, but he is sowing seeds into those little hairnet thingies. In my experience nothing survives in those ruddy things, and I always check plants and cut the nets off ...pain, they don`t let the water in or the roots out.
I think its now time for old Monty to be put out to pasture or put on the compost heap. A 30 minute programme in which he contributes to only 10 mins max. Tonights show was dire. 30 minutes spent on youtube provides vastly more gardening knowledge ..... Move over Monty....
What risk to cats? My neighbours cats roam around here all the time and I have daylilies growing in abundance.
Straight lilys are extremely poisonous to cats; even a small amount of pollen can send them into acute kidney failure. Daylilies are a little more variable, some species seem ok, some can cause vomiting etc that self-resolves, but some can again cause kidney failure. There's a bit of a public awareness campaign going on at the moment about it, but whereas the chocolate thing with dogs seems to be pretty much general knowledge now for some reason it's taking longer for the lilies.
Well hopefully this thread will help a bit. I have not been aware of the problem, so it is good to learn but I believe that there are many plants that we grow that come into the ''poisonous'' group. Even if we dig up and destroy our own plants, cats will travel a long way - they have minds of their own. Maybe we just have to hope that they are bright enough to keep clear - and stick with the catmint ?
I watch Monty but don't find the programme very useful. I much prefer the Beechgrove Garden which seems to be more informative.
Oh yes, absolutely, the problem with lilies specifically is that it only takes a very small amount to be fatal. Anecdotally garden plants do seem to be far less of a problem than cut flowers in the house; I assume because the cut flowers drop their pollen more freely, and because house cats are perhaps more inquisative about the colourful interlopers.
I grow lots of lilies including day lilies. Cats come here regularly, the same cats, and they are fine. Its good to be aware of these possible dangers but also to exercise common sense. I grow aconitum....this plant featured strongly in the media a couple of years back because a person died supposedly because he brushed against it. I could list scores of dangerous plants. Many exotic plants like agaves, yuccas, etc., have extremely dangerous needlelike foliage and these really are far more hazardous. I removed pampas grass a few years back because the sharp foliage was a risk to children. Ah Monty! Not seen last night's programme yet but I would never condemn him. Whomever presents GW will have criticism. Remember Alan Titchmarsh and his decking......it seemed everybody copied him by putting decking down everywhere; folk were slipping on it, it was breaking up or rotting and looked awful. Nobody is on top form all the time and Monty is good at what he does. Monty has developed something quite nice.....his dogs, his relaxed style, his knowledge and his experiments and his sheer pleasantness make a great package for GW.
