TV and Radio permalink
open gardens
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Message 1.Â
Posted by susiekew (U7352257) on Tuesday, 17th June 2008
over the past few days I have been watching some re-runs of Open Gardens where members of the public have to pass the scrutiny of the county organisers to have their gardens accepted into the yellow book scheme. During the programme the gardens of the county organisers are shown for just a few seconds. Some of them look fabulous & deserve a closer look. Perhaps this would be an idea for a new Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú gardening programme What do you fellow gardeners think?
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Message 2
Posted by tingtree (U5692273) on Wednesday, 18th June 2008
I too have seen some of the re-runs and as I'm all for more gardening programmes on TV I think something like that would be a good idea. You only get a glimpse of the organisers gardens and it would be fascinating to take a closer look.
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Message 3
Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Thursday, 19th June 2008
The gardens taking part in the Yellow Book scheme represent a huge mine of potentially televisable material.
How many gardens are in the Yellow Book - it must be thousands? And how many have we seen on TV - 20? There's a huge amount of unexplored stuff where those came from.
To be accepted as an Open Garden, is a bit like getting a Chelsea Gold Medal, for an amateur gardener. They have to acheive a certain standard, a lot higher than most of us.
Seeing Open Gardens (on TV or for real) is interesting, informative, and aspirational.
Viewers get a sense of "I would like to have a garden like that", and "I could almost do that", which is not always present in other gardening programs.
This particular series takes a particular format: seeing the initial appraisal, then some TV gardener makes some suggestions, and then there's the reappraisal, and finally the Open Day. But there are presumably lots of other programs and themes that could be made around Yellow Book gardens, with a bit of imagination. -
Message 4
Posted by lilylouise (U3205282) on Friday, 20th June 2008
There are about 3500 gardens in the NGS - all different!
Our back garden is only 80' x 35' and our front garden about 27' x 35' but we are open under the scheme.We love our garden and it is lovely to share it and hopefully make some money for the NGS charities . -
Message 5
Posted by Tracywt2 (U3686141) on Friday, 20th June 2008
We too open for the NGS and have been watching the Open Gardens re runs. I think that showing more of these programmes on Prime Time TV would help increase attendance at the gardens who open, and also encourage younger people to visit, and apply to have their gardens accepted. My husband and I were in our thirties when we first opened (and one of us still is - just!) and many were surprised when they first met us as I think the scheme is dominated by our more mature gardening friends. It would be lovely to get a bit more balance.
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Message 6
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Saturday, 21st June 2008
Well this year I helped out at a local garden in our village and have caught the bug. I've now visited a few NGS gardens and we will be opening our own garden next year in a low key village trail, but with a possible NGS entry the year after. It's really addictive!
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Message 7
Posted by lilylouise (U3205282) on Saturday, 21st June 2008
Good for you Paul
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Message 8
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Tuesday, 22nd July 2008
Actually, going back to the 'Open Gardens' programme if I may. I rarely see this but if I happen to be at home, I'll switch it on. I've seen a few of the Joe Swift ones but more of the Carol Klein ones. Whilst I find the general idea of the programme extremely good, I hate the way the programme is done. The almost fake drama, will the examiner notice the stinging nettles/old shed/exposed membrane (queue a drum beat)? Then there's the story which pulls on the heart strings where one or either has a serious illness so this would mean SO much to be accepted. I think the gardens stand on their own merits and just don't need all of this fake drama. And every one seems to get accepted in the end anyway. A good idea spoiled, in my opinion.
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Message 9
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Tuesday, 22nd July 2008
To my mind, my garden is my refuge from other people... the last thing I'd want is have a load of strangers poking around.
Whenever even just friends come round the whole thing evolves into a "my garden's got this, but I haven't got that..." as though it was a competition or something, or worse you get some know-it-all who gives you 'advice' about all and sundry. I was told my veg garden was in the wrong place the other week (it's not). -
Message 10
Posted by gerald (U3837061) on Thursday, 24th July 2008
We were luck enough to be chosen for Open Gardens last year and really enjoyed the experience. If you are interested take a look at my website:
Our episode was first shown last October but I have seen it again recently on uktvgardens. In total there were 60 gardens in the second series, two in each of the 30 shows.
I do know that our NGS county organiser wasn't very pleased with the way the county organisers were portrayed as being stern and critical. She has said that some people have been a bit nervous of contacting her about opening their gardens and they also think they can get in the Yellow book the same year as they apply which isn't the case.
I'm glad we took part though, as there is nothing quite like seeing your own garden on tv. -
Message 11
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 24th July 2008
I think the Open Garden scheme is excellent but have to wonder if the way this programme is being made is doing it any favours. Like Copperpaul I find the formulaic approach very wearing.
Gardens, plants and the people who care for them are sufficiently interesting in themselves without having to add fake drama. A good producer, editor and camera team should be able to communicate the beauty, individuality and pleasure of a garden without cheap tricks and without portraying the local organisers as ogres who will deter others from applying to join the scheme. -
Message 12
Posted by lilylouise (U3205282) on Thursday, 24th July 2008
When we deciced to apply to open our garden I am thankful we had a lovely local organiser who came to view our garden.We would have been put off opening otherwise!
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