programmes to watch

I have been very frustrated with MD's British Gardens series. Once again his research, or lack of it, has led him to leave out some cracking gardens (eg Holehird, Levens Hall) and visit a non descript garden like Hill Top. To add insult to injury he's whizzed thru them all like a skimming stone, barely touching the surface, let alone getting to the depths of the planting and the gardens' creators.

I haven't bothered to sit down and watch all my recordings yet and am not in any hurry having seen him spend barely 2 minutes on Adrian Bloom's garden which is full of innovation and invention and some glorious planting and vistas which can and should inspire us all. MD himself grows many of the Bloom family's introductions in his jewel garden so you'd kind of think he'd have more respect for a serious plantsman.

 

I was surprised @Obelix-Vendée that he didn't show the main and original garden at Bressingham that Alan Bloom, Adrian 's father created. To my taste it is more colourful and beautiful.

I mentioned Holehird and Hilltop earlier. I wonder what he will show when it comes to the glorious gardens of the south east, like Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, Nymans etc.

 

Very disappointing programme .. should kept to just 3 gardens.

 

The format of the programme is always going to disappoint somebody. Personally I'm enjoying the bonus garden fix at this time of the year.

 

With you on that @LunarSea a dose of Gardens dotted around the UK most of which I will never visit is a bit of a pick me up for January.

 

@shiney Our Norfolk cottage is about 10 minutes from Bressingham so it's our Go To place when we have guests.
The garden centre is still there, it changed hands a few years ago, I think I prefer it now. It sells loads of stuff, though, not just gardening things.

I used to buy plants mail order from Alan Bloom when I was young and we lived in Kent, from Beth Chatto too. We had a 3 acre garden in Kent which I loved, but then 1st OH wanted to move to France.

 

I'm sort of enjoying the programme, wish there was more time spent in each garden though. Particularly looking forward to this weeks's edition as there's a visit (no doubt flying-) to Friar Park

 

I thought the third episode of MD's British Gardens was better than the first two, less hurried and with more insight from the owners/gardeners. The comment about the size of the bench in Bodnant and his reaction to the stumpery at Biddulph Grange surprised me, they are both carefully considered elements of highly creative gardens. If anyone who lives within easy distance of Biddulph hasn't visited yet, it's well worth a trip!

 

@Plantminded, I totally agree about Biddulph Grange, it's wonderful! And unlike a lot of gardens it's great for kids - my daughter loved going there when she was younger. I wasn't impressed with MD's comments either.

 

I've stopped watching Monty Don and his programmes.
He's the only person I know that can go to gardens right round the world and spend more time talking about architecture and statues and hardly mention the plants.

 

I agree with you @LunarSea
While I am disappointed with length of time he allocates to each garden, it is enough to give us a taster, and perhaps encourage viewers to go and visit them for ourselves.
Too much info negates the desire to visit.
There will always be gardens that we consider more worthy of coverage - but that's going to be a matter of opinion.
I'm enjoying the series, and recognise that he cannot visit EVERY garden.
It's certainly better than no programme at all - IMHO.

 

I just wish he would exercise some self-discipline aligned with imagining what viewers want and need.

His 80 gardens world tour was blighted by some serious lack of research and bad planning. What intelligent person decides to visit the Taj Mahal, noted for its water feature, in the dry season when there is no water. What intelligent, discerning person visits the Chinese imperial summer garden in winter?

He's making similar mistakes here - too short, too superficial, missing out treasures, effectively disrespecting great gardeners and gardens.

 

I've not watched the whole series yet, but I thought Levens Hall was in one of the episodes?

I've enjoyed it so far, as light entertaining TV rather than anything very informative. There's a lot crammed in (much pressing of the pause button to have time to take in a scene). I don't envy the production/editing people - my guess is there was a lot more footage than we actually get to see in the final programmes and it had to be cut down a great deal. Many of the gardens could have a whole hour to themselves and still not show everything.