The Great Chelsea Garden Challenge

who has been watching? What do you think?

Im loving it because its design based and as a trained designer it appeals.

No one has blown my mind yet and hasnt wowed me with any of the designs or concepts but hoping they will

 

Yes, I've been watching.

Pity they have such small plots to work with, as the design is limited, but I'm enjoying it!

 

I'm loving it, first episode I loved the coalmans garden, this episode. I loved the sleeper seats so I might copy them, also the Japanese garden where he painted the sleepers black has now made me think do I paint mine

 

Tried to watch 5 minutes of it last night. Concluded it was like that "The Great British interior design challenge" and turned it over.

 

I was disappointed with last nights episode 'Formal Garden'...being a Buxus fanatic myself I thought they'd make better use of them...

 

Totally agree @Lolimac i kind of found their designs uninspiring.

@Jungle Jane how come you didnt like the great british interior design challenge? I wasnt massively inlive with it as it was just domestic interior design and made it look like interior design is just about wallpaper, curtains and cushions. Not sure anyone would spend 3 years at uni just doing that.

Theres a new programme on tonight called the great british garden watch and its after on the chelsea one. It says its about people who have transformed rheir gardens into intense wildlife filming environments

 

I watched in for 20 mins , and came on here instead so more inspiring on here dont you think...

 

What beats me is why when they're given a brief don't they stick to it...you always get one that will try and 'change' things 'bring in something new' and think they can get away with it...
To me a formal garden is simple ,straight lines ,minimal planting and use of plant varieties and symmetrical ...Ey says me who isn't even a 'proper' gardener...

 

I taped it and watched most of it on slow fast forward. I am not interested in the technical side, i.e. use of space but just the visuals - the end result. I enjoyed the first episode - the cottage gardens but then that is more my style anyway.

 

Haha i can answer that one as a designer when your learning your always asked to push the boundaries and do new takes on things and do something new thats never been done before but not too new there has to be precedents you draw inspiration from but you cant copy or do the standard thing

So im pretty sure they have been told that behind the scenes.

Also if you keep things simple you have to make them really strong because simple is not easy at all

Maybe because im looking at it from a design point of view they didnt quite push the boundaries enough or have enoug structure of a new twist that was still formal but wow

 

Actually do you know where i think they fell down is none of them had a really strong concept. The strongest concept was the theatre one but i felt he was lacking in the execution

In the first challenge the stronges concept was the coal miners garden and did win gold

If you concept is week its much hard to create a great design. You do really need to start with a strong concept and know where you design is going

 

See now that's the difference @Dips I admire you for having that designers eye I haven't got it and always play 'safe' and go with tradition...Gertrude Jekyll ,Capability Brown and a touch of Beth Chatto are the ones I lean towards I can't get on with this new 'stuff' but then again I am a luddite

 

Yep, I'm exactly the same, I really admire someone who can design something nice, I think I must have a bit of OCD because my pots always end up being placed in straight lines.

 

Haha

I love the fact i can look at things from a designer point of view but it gets bloody annoying at times. I have been programmed to be really particular about spacing and fonts etc i wish i could be more laid back

 

Well I enjoyed it ! How much in £ were the plants they were allowed on each plot ? They all seemed very large mature specimens . Not like the Morrison's and Aldi specials we all buy !