Monty's Round the World in 80 Gardens

[Amo]

I agree. His fantastic talent as a journalist/writer came to the fore. His gardening slid. I do believe this series was dogged with huge set backs along the way though and Delhi Belly was one of them so you can't knock his enthusiasm!!

[Plocket]

I haven't watched the India one yet - I recorded it.

[borderbabe]

I know filming was delayed last summer as Monty was rushed into hospital with appendicitis! He recounted the tale in a copy of GW mag late last year.

[4pygmies]

I really enjoyed it last night, I nodded off halfway through on Sunday evening It's a great shame Monty didn't visit during the monsoon season so we could have see those beautiful palace gardens as they were intended to be viewed.
And I loved the last garden feature with all the recycled statues and creations - wonderful stuff!
I think there have been comments/complaints that this is more of a travelogue than a garden programme but I find it very interesting to see how different cultures define what a garden is, and challenging too. It's nice to see Monty's talent as a commentator coming to the fore and he is very obviously thoroughly enjoying the chance to explore his personal perceptions and preconceptions, and sharing those thoughts with us.
I think it's a brilliant series. I can't wait for the South American episode - a place I have always longed to visit, but know I never will.

[bagpuss]

I have really enjoyed it so far, and can't wait to see more. I think it is nice to see something a bit different to the usual gardening programmes.

[Plocket]

I caught up with it last night, and really enjoyed the programme again. I think Monty struggled to find a variety of gardens, and it was a shame to see the water gardens without water, but I could see that it would be very extravagant to use water all the time. I particularly liked the spice garden, because it seemed to be a more native garden. He was very brave eating the white pepper though ;D

[4pygmies]

OOOH, I want to go to South America! I loved the programme last night - what fantastic places he visited. That coastal garden was wonderful, the floating gardens were fascinating - I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. BUT I wish they would turn the background music down a lot - once again I couldn't hear what Monty was saying cos the soundtrack was far too loud and intrusive. Grr.... What a brilliant job he's got though..........

[Plocket]

Me too! It's such a shame he only had one hour to do the whole of South America. I absolutely adored the last garden with the plants clinging to the rocks. The house too was beautiful and the whole thing looked stunning to me. I also loved the shabby little floating gardens and the Amazonian woman with her garden, but I was least impressed by the municipal garden. The paving was nice but it was such a shame it could only really be appreciated from above.

I wonder what happened to his suitcase?

[4pygmies]

Morning Plocket hunny - I don't seem to 'speak' to you much these days. You OK? I did wonder if his suitcase would appear on ebay or something.....Monty Don's famous blue jacket - a bargain at £100! ;D I hope his lovely leather jerkin wasn't in it!

[Plocket]

Morning hun! I miss you too, but it's nice to see your name on the boards I'm fine and dandy thank you - loving this winter we are having at the moment: no snow, lots of frost and cold then gorgeous sunshine I trust all is well with you and yours?

Ooooh I'd better check on E-bay!! The idea of Monty in a pink sari was a tad scary in my opinion so I'm glad they found some clothes for him - very convenient

[borderbabe]

I wasn't quite so impressed with this episode until he got to Chile - I quite fancy not being able to tell where the garden ended and the Ocean began! Bet it's cold there during the winter.

Ps I thought he'd got his case back by Argentina! 'cos the blue jacket looked familiar!! ;D

[Barbara]

were missing something by not having floating gardens, imagine being able to take it with you when you move house, over the years i've left lots of plants behind.

[Plocket]

I've just read the following letter in my TV Magazine, from a viewer:

"Can we keep it Homegrown?
Am I the only licence-fee payer who's tired of seeing 'celebrities' travelling around the world, courtesy of the BBC? The latest I have spotted is Monty Don. I love a good gardening programme but BBC2's Around The World in 80 Gardens is rather excessive. I would have thought the British Isles had sufficiently spectacular gardens to feature without flying Monty across the world."

Well I for one totally disagree with the above letter. I think the writer's attitude is narrow-minded, because the whole point of the programme (I think!) is to increase our knowledge of different gardens, and gardens we are far less likely to visit because they are beyond the UK. I'm tempted to respond in a similar vein!!!

[Plocket]

I caught up with Monty in the USA last night and must admit that I was a bit disappointed. For a start, New York, Kansas and California hardly consititue America! I like the idea of seed-bombs but didn't really appreciate the garden. And nothing really grabbed me except for the vast Kansas prairies, and the "instant" Hollywood Directors garden which I thought looked lovely. It also seemed practical with the huge palms not only protecting his privacy, but also shading him from the hot sun. I'm looking forward to seeing China and Japan though, and have hinted to OH that I fancy a holiday in Japan doing their gardens

[oldmoleskins]

Feb 28, 2008 16:26:26 GMT Plocket said:

I caught up with Monty in the USA last night and must admit that I was a bit disappointed....

Me too P. - up til now I thought this was the most fascinating combination of 'travelogue' and garden prog I'd seen, but there was nothing in the US one I ached for. I suppose that must be more of a reflection of the researchers ability rather than American gardening, but a disappointment nevertheless...

OM.

[Plocket]

Well you would have thought with a population as huge as that of the US there'd be more gardeners. But one chap did say that your average American thought that grass was for playing golf - or something along those lines. I'm sure it'll be better next week - there are LOADS of Japanese gardens to visit

[Yakram]

Here are one or two (exaggeration!) photos to either enjoy in anticiption, or enjoy after the programme tonight. You may find it easier to look as a slideshow. It looks differently to me because I get the "author's" view:
China:
s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff131/yakram/China%20Gardens/
Japan:
s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff131/yakram/Japan%20Gardens/
The Chinese maintain that the Japanese "borrowed" their gardening ideas and stylised them. The Chinese like water worn rocks mostly, whereas the Japanese place everything carefully, and with feeling.
Hope you like them. It was a fantastic experience, and we never ate a European meal the whole time we were there. We are now dab hands at chopsticks, but I can tell you from the heart that the food in China was nowhere near as good as in the UK!

[Babyswan]

Yakram,

wonderful memories of my honeymoon in the ryoanji photos! very nice. I hope MD doesn't spend 'too' much time there as it's been on every tourist programme about Japan, ever!

It's really beautiful. I haven't been there in several years, not been in Japan since the '02 World Cup. Ahhh, must get back.

There is a very well known garden in Yokohama. The name escapes me at the moment...

I'd love to go back, I started on the bbc boards and A4A nearly 4 years ago, I know so much now, learned by osmosis. I'd love to go back and be able to point out...

that's an acer palmatum sangokaku or, deshojo. Ah yes. Look forward to Sunday...

GW back in 10 mins too.

bswan

[Jardack]

I've just watched the American one and although I didn't crave after any of the gardens (other than the size - OMG) I love the enthusiasm he is bringing to the program

He really seems to be enjoying the gardens (and does criticise too which is good)

Jardack

[Plocket]

Ok well I've caught up with China and Japan, and although I thought the gardens were very different to what we are used to in the UK, the programme didn't "wow" me, as some of the earlier ones in the series have. I liked the idea of the welcome pines, and loved the romance of the padlocks on the chain fence - but those weren't gardens. I just can't get my head around the Japanese dry/Zen gardens at all and although I think they look interesting, they just aren't gardens to me. I like to see plants and colour and seasonal interest. I was more interested in the trees beyond the garden walls!

[Amo]

Not my cup of tea at all either . Did like the mountains however. Even OH said that is seemed more a program on sculpture and art rather than gardens.

Really looking forward to next weeks however.

[Plocket]

I hope he goes to the Villa D'Este ;D

[Babyswan]

Yeah, Plocket, wasn't 'that' inspired. I didn't look forward to him going to the ryoanji garden.

Then,suddenly, something clicked. It DID look like clouds with mountains sticking up through them! yeah, that was nice.

When I was there in person, it didn't do anything much for me either. That's just me though!

to my shame, I was fiddling on here when he was in the 'modern' old Japanese garden, so didn't take it all in...

I'll concentrate properly when it's on tomorrow!

But no, there ARE some lovely gardens in Japan. And as you say Plocket, they are the more 'traditional' gardens as we are accustomed to. Ah well. When in Rome, I suppose, you don't get many gravel gardens to the euro in these parts!!!

bswan

[Plocket]

Yes I got the mountain tops through the clouds thing, but I just don't find the gardens particularly attractive. It's kind of "seen one Zen garden, seen them all". Even the modern garden wasn't that different - it had SQUARES!!!

I'm glad you say that there are some lovely gardens in Japan. I have to admit that I expected to see at least one garden with acers and bamboo!

I really can't imagine how Monty will get to do all the famous gardens of Europe - there are so many after all, and I think there will be a lot of disappointed viewers because their favorite European garden isn't shown.

[Amo]

Well hopefully there will be some no one has really heard of rather than the usuals. I've just ordered "The Gardens of Europe: A Traveller's Guide" by Charles Quest-Ritson to hopefully give us places to aim for on our quick drives!!

[Babyswan]

Plocket,

what I meant was that I hadn't thought of it like that before.
And yes, there is a bit of the seen one, seen them all type of thing about them.

Amo, I agree, I said in an earlier post that I hoped he wouldn't go to the ryoanji garden, it's on every tourist programme about Japan. And he went. Ah well.

The last time I was there, I visited the Botanical garden in Hakone which was nice. Plenty of irises, and bamboo !!!

There's a big one in Yokohama whose name escapes me.I want to visit it the next time I go over. I'll try and get links for both if you're interested...

bswan

[Plocket]

Mmm yes please Babyswan - I'd love to have a look

[Amo]

BEEEEP BEEEEPPP BEEPPEEPPP!!!!

The Sky+ failed to record it last night. I've been on line to see when the repeat is. 'Please note, there is no repeat for March 9th.

Struggling gwith the iPlayer now. Tiz the only one we've been looking forward to!

[Plocket]

Aw Amo! I hope you manage to see it from iPlayer. We recorded it last night so I hope the video worked!!!

[Plocket]

So Monty went to Europe and only three countries were shown!!!!! I'm stunned! Don't get me wrong the gardens were lovely, and I particularly liked the courtyards in Spain - but what about the rest of Europe???