Gardeners World

[Weeterrier]

Think I started a thread on this a long time ago
I've started watching it again, and I have to admit that I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Poor Joe takes a lot of stick on the BBC board, but I really like him. I know he made a bit of a mistake rotovating his couch grass, but there are plenty of novices who would do the same. I like the mix of presenters too, and the varied content.
I'm going to try growing the seeds of the plant Carole was planting last night, because tall narrow plants are just what I need, my border seems a little flat in places. Sadly, it's orange, not my favourite colour, but I see from Chiltern that there are white ones too. Leonotis, I thought it looked a bit like Bergamot on a stick.
Wish the presenters would read our board, they must become so depressed reading some of the comments on the BBC, they can be quite cutting on occasions.

[4pygmies]

I quite agree WT. I don't think it's anything like as bad as people make out. People forget that they have been watching it for years and have much more knowledge so they want different info from the programme. I think it fulfils its brief pretty well still.
And now I have been at quite close quarters with the presenters (she bragged ;D I'll shut up about it all now!) I can say that I think Joe Swift is a nice, friendly bloke and very genuine. Some of the others (who shall remain nameless) where definitely only friendly when the cameras were pointing at them.... I asked Toby Buckland if he was up for the job as a replacement for Monty and he said he was one of the candidates, so they are looking for an anchorman. I had quite a long conversation with him about GW and said I thought the main problem was that the garden didn't belong to the presenters so there was a sense of artificiality which didn't sit well with the long term viewers. And that I thought it had been taken over by the horrible aspirational 'lifestyle' type of programme which sounded rather preachy and had a very narrow perspective about how people should garden. He seemed genuinely interested IMO and even agreed with me. (He's my new best friend!)
It would be great if he did get the job as I found him a really friendly, 'normal' sort of person who has a great love for gardening and for plants. Like one of us really....
I fell asleep before GW even started last night!

[Weeterrier]

Oh, we all do that, I think. Wait all week for a programme then nod off and miss it. ;D

[Tig]

I watched it and enjoyed it. I took note of the Leonotis, I've grown more fond of orange so may give it a whirl. I was also interested in the RHS sweet potato trials for obvious reasons, and look forward to seeing how Joes do on his allotment. Glad I haven't bothered trying to grow aubergines, I will give them a miss methinks.
I don't mind who presents it as long as it is informative, and relates to what ordinary folk do in their own gardens and allotments. Anyway they are off air until 11th July so obviously we can all take a three week break from gardening

[Shrubrose]

Must admit, I do like the new format. Much more interesting than previous series, although I missed it last night too

I voted for 4P's friend ;D on our poll recently - Toby definitely has the 'common touch' and he comes over as someone who really knows his stuff. I'd love to see him more on GW, even if someone else is picked to front it. His 'ethical garden' was a delight to see - and everything in it recycled.

I agree that gardens are much more interesting if the gardener is allowed to show them and tell you what their inspirations were, how they tackled various jobs and why they chose the plants they did. So much more interesting - it's where their hearts are and thus their passions and so makes for better telly IMHO.

[Weeterrier]

I agree.

[Amo]

Must be the day of missing posts WeeT. I couldn't find one of mine earlier But there was this one gardenworld.proboards103.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=5746

I'm really enjoying the new format. Don't miss Monty in the slightest, (went and made a coffee when his bit was on sorry) I like the shared bit quite a lot. It works like on here, everyone has a bit to offer and if asked advice is given.

And of course the hour long seems to really work!!! As does the not so all devouring focus on veg. ;D

I too wish they would join us on here (I'm sure they do secretly but have BBC contracts ) It's not suicidally depressing like the other forum and GW is not the be all and end all of life itself!! ;D

[prodigal gardener]

I love the new show. Its the best thing that has happened to GW for years, and I love Alice. Where DOES she get those glasses!!!!!!!!!! I gave up on the beeb boards, due to all the snotty remarks, ages ago. Was not a big fan of Monty - but I did think he was fine as presenter, obviously not in Alans league but adequate. I would like Joe to take over - I think he is great and he share's his cock ups (like Alan & Geoff did!) Toby Buckland is great too, I have seen him on a few UK gold shows and he outshines all the non gardening presenters or whatever they supposed to be! (Garden Invaders or some bloody rubbish !) I dont mind really who takes it on I just hope its not Carol, she is very knowlegable and no doubt a lovely woman, but she drives me up the wall. Too much enthusiasm is not a good thing - Sorry

[Weeterrier]

Seems like a thumbs-up so far. We all have our favourites, and the presenters we are not so keen on, but the way GW is presented now, each persons slot is short, so it doesn't matter if someone is not 'our cup of tea' because when they are on, it gives an opportunity to make one. ;D
I am warming to Alys, but I keep watching her blouses. She has some pretty ones. ;D I like the 50's look she has.
One thing I don't do, as I suspect is done on the other board, is sit with a notebook and pencil and meticulously write down every little gripe about the programme. Nor do I think I speak for the rest of the country when I have a criticism. There are hundreds of viewers watching who have never visited a website. And who enjoy the hour for what it is. A programme about gardening. Not a world summit.
One thing is good though. Monty, who suffered dreadful abuse, is, since he retired, now one of the best presenters GW has ever had. If poor Christine retired, would she suddenly rise to saintdom too? ;D Or Joe Now, that would be something.
I love his numptieness, in the allotment department. He is childlike in his enthusiasm, as we all were when we started something new in the garden.

[Tig]

Quite enjoyed the special tonight on cottage gardens - all the places visited were lovely, not all to my taste, but it would be a bit boring if we all wanted our gardens to look exactly the same! The plant / weather experiments were interesting, I now know that some things which looked like they had drought problems had almost drowned!

[Shrubrose]

Yes, I liked the show last night. Thought Rachel de T did a competent enough job and her love of gardens and plants really came through. There's nothing like having a good stroll through someone else's garden is there? And listening to what their inspirations were and their current 'loves'. Loved how she couldn't help touching the plants as she walked by - told me a lot about her, that did ;D

[Amo]

Yes, a good one. I've looked up having a stay at Gravetye Manor but they're booked up and we have the builders in from September What a dream house for a quick break though.

I touch all the plants I pass too. I have the thorns and splinters to prove it

[Weeterrier]

Is that the Berberis again Amo? ;D

In Amateur Gardening this week, when talking about Tony Buckland taking over, there was a reference to the BBC Message Board and its participants' constant criticism of GW and everything it encompasses.
Glad I'm not part of it anymore. Though I expect 99% of the posters are not critical, just the very vocal 1% who like to think they speak for the entire gardening fraternity.
I hope the people under fire realise that fact.

[Shrubrose]

I hope that when the Beeb do their 'market research' on matters relating to gardening, they dont use just the Beeb messageboards as their only source of intelligence

[Amo]

I think there could be a contradiction of terms in that sentance Shrub, but I didn't say that.

[Shrubrose]

;D

[Weeterrier]

That thought sprang to my mind too. ;D

[Amo]

RDT's special border.

I enjoyed the fact that I heard myself in what she said last night!!! Who needs shoes when there are books and plants to buy? And I loved the way she asked her daughter where she wanted to put the plant she had picked up and then told her it couldn't go there because Mummy didn't like it there. I've done that so many times!!

She rotavated and prepared all that soil and the walked all over it and remembered to use boards at the last minute which I found a little strange.

I think the planting will be lovely in a couple of years but I bet she'll be taking out a lot of those grasses, bit OTT on them. It is hard to tell on the small screen though.

I hope we have a chance of going back to visit and see how it's developed at a later date.

And it was only half an hour. I hope that's not a precursor of things to come

[Chuckles]

Just watching it Amo with my morning cuppa ;D

[Chuckles]

Don't you just love that house and garden I'm not greeeeeeeeeeeeeen with envy at all ;D

Mmmm my first thoughts are with that ground elder she really should get rid if that from under the hedge. All thats going to happen is it will seed and get in that border, if it doesn't find it's way through that membrane anyway I'd have been tempted to have put a hard path down the back of the border too.

She so reminded me of me when shopping for plants, like a kid in a sweet shop ;D How wonderful to have all such fab nurseries and markets so close by. I loved all her colour combinations of plants and shrubs, foilage and flowers and that fact that most of them are readily available. But all those grasses, I reckon she went a bit OTT on them too, the planted border was a bit awash with grasses. We'll have to go get some of them out for her Amo, I could find room for a couple or 6 ;D

Hope we do get a chance to see it mature

[Dr Bill]

I agree about the ground elder. I am afraid it will find it's way into the border very quickly.
The grasses are lovely but too many for my taste.
But I enjoyed the programme. Always nice to watch the fragrant Rachel.

[Tig]

Very enjoyable half-hour, shame she didn't say how much in total she had spent on the border. I thought the same with the ground elder, bet we don't get an update on that!

I added a few more plants to my 'wish' list - just in case I one day have a huge garden to fill

[Dutchy]

I taped it and still have to see it but might have to wait at least a week as we have people staying. I'll see and I am curious about those grasses now. I planted some extra two weeks ago as I have a narrow border with soil problems ( big waterguzzling shrubs at the back ).
I hope the grasses can cope where others die.

[4pygmies]

I watched it with a jaundiced eye, I'm afraid, as I changed my view of her slightly after GWLive, but I did enjoy the programme. I LOVE that herb garden...I'd much rather have seen a bit more of that actually. And her house is very beautiful.......but I am rather tired of seeing rich TV gardeners throwing money at a garden - she should be able to make a beautiful border with the amount of plants she bought! (Just jealous really... ;D ) And I didn't particularly like the finished product although I'm sure it will look better when it has filled out and matured obviously. We hardly got a look at the end did we? And that membrane and bark just won't work...I've tried it myself and the weeds either root in it or simply grow through........I wish they wouldn't do that - there is no quick way to get rid of pernicious weeds..... I thought the grasses were a bit too dominant too but I loved some of the plant combinations and it's always interesting to have a nosy at the Rich and Famous' gardens isn't it? ;D (It was all a bit too twee & chocolate boxy for me, but I expect that's just jealousy again!) I'm not that girly............ ;D

[Auricula]

I guess that the grasses took over somewhat and that is why we had such an abbreviated tour at the end.There didn't seem to be much colour for July - although to be fair, the weather could have played its part in that. She did seem to spend an awful lto of money ( eg. driving at least 60 miles to buy plants from a Farmer's Market ) and I had hoped for something a little more spectacular

[Amo]

So how was it for you??

I enjoyed it, got to find some Japanese onions now I thought he slotted in well and looked really comfortable on screen. I think they mentioned his place at the botanic gardens just to prove a horticultural point

BUT IT WAS ONLY HALF AN HOUR!!!!! What are the Beeb playing at?

[borderbabe]

I enjoyed it as well - the half hour just flew by. If they keep this up I would say that GW is back to how it was when AT was on. Rollon next week!

[purplejulia]

I was expecting "not" to like the new series of Gardeners World but I was pleasantly surprised. What made me laugh was the flirty tomato eating bit in the greenhouse with Alys.

The half hour flew by and was down to earth in approach. Felt sorry for Carol though as I am sure she should have had the lead job. I am sure she must be seething!

[Tig]

It flew by didn't it! Very watchable, and I don't honestly think Carol is that bothered, she isn't so up herself and has plenty to do in life I reckon

Only cringe was when TB said HE had lots of cucumbers to harvest - don't think they were his But I could have misheard, maybe that is just me being picky

[Alicat]

As usual I never got to watch GW but I'm looking forward to next week and watching it at my leisure ;D - ie: without kids and Hubby

I have enjoyed reading TB's page in AG, and I'm sure once he finds his feet I/we will all enjoy it.

"BUT IT WAS ONLY HALF AN HOUR!!!!! What are the Beeb playing at? "

Amo - maybe they wanted to ease him in gently or maybe they read 'that' other board.

Forgot to say - only today did I watch the two GW specials that were broadcast while we were on holiday. And throughly enjoyed them.