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BEST GW THIS YEAR
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Friday, 11th July 2008
Best GW this year by far 11/7/2008
Good balance
Good filming
Back on form -
Message 2
Posted by tomstattyead (U4792618) on Friday, 11th July 2008
Dratt, I didn't realise it was on.
Joan
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Message 3
Posted by pinktequila (U2803141) on Friday, 11th July 2008
Not bad, some good snippets. Not again to August now. You'd think it could be better considering it is on so rarely!
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Message 4
Posted by GardenGnome (U4271468) on Friday, 11th July 2008
Your easily pleased RC! GW needs a 'proper' head gardener again. Come back Monty or Allen just get that hopeless JS off of our screens NOW please!
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Message 5
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 11th July 2008
I was very impressed with Andy Sturgeon. He looked easy and natural in front of the camera with quite long segments shot in one go as he dug, talked, planted etc. He also looked like he'd had a spade in his hand all his life - which is nice to see in someone more renowned for design nowadays than hands on gardening.
Whether or not he's a permanent addition or an occasional guest, I thought he was most definitely an asset to the programme. -
Message 6
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Friday, 11th July 2008
Dont agree-over gushy Carol splitting and planting AGAIN, Andy Sturgeon in some out of context sensory design planting thing, Joe re-visting a neglected, failed previous project etc etc the only positive was Alys and the thought of giving Kohl Rabi a try. Then to add the annual insult to injury at the height of the gardening season- off air till early August!!
These annoyances compounded by brilliant sunshine throughout where most people have had seven days of semicontinuous rain
There is more useful, practical, real-world gardening information for the majority of gardeners in five minutes of the Beechgrove Garden than sixty minutes of GW. Very disappointing, could do much better even if going through the unplanned disruption of Montys departure. -
Message 7
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 12th July 2008
Andy Sturgeon was certainly very good and refreshingly clear and concise in his explanations and actions. I also enjoyed the hemerocallis section and Carol's bit on irises was interesting for that ridge technique.
Joke Swift should go asap. Even allowing for his small GW garden not being to my taste he has nothing to offer.
On the whole the programme seems rudderless and that's a production fault. With Carole, Alys, guest presenters of such high calibre and all the external visits in the can there's no excuse for the current state of GW. Please Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú - sack this producer and get someone who knows what they're doing. -
Message 8
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Saturday, 12th July 2008
On the whole the programme seems rudderlessÂ
This pretty much sums up my own thoughts on the programme. There seemed to be no continuity at all, and while some of the 'bits and pieces' were interesting, it seemed to be a programme that had been flung together without any attempt at cohesion. I've lost the place completely with Joe's allotment. It seems to have lost any pretension at being instructional, and is now a quick update to some mysterious person who lurks over my shoulder somewhere. From rotovation to harvesting in the wink of an eye (or perhaps the programme's been of the air so often it just seems like that). Carol just keeps enthusing about everything and anything that she stumbles across, and it's just become tiresome (and for heaven's sake dear, wear a decent top and stop putting me off my supper). Andy Sturgeon was quite interesting (and comfortable on camera), and could come back again - though too many 'designers' on the same programme would be a catastrophe. Alys is still OK for a bit-part, and imparts some useful advice, but I think it'll be difficult to give her anything more significant than she's currently being given.
When it was announced that the programme was going to off the air again for a few weeks (makes you wonder why they went to the expense of giving us the new crappy signature music), I didn't even manage a mutter of disapproval. It's clear that it has little direction at present, and the presenters are probably delighted that they can get on with all their many lucrative ventures without having to bother about it. There really is no excuse for any interruptions to gardening programmes throughout the year, and coverage of all the various 'Shows' (which I never look at anyway) doesn't compensate for this neglect. We really should demand that a simple, basic, relevant, celebrity-free programme for 'ordinary' gardeners should be created, and all the present presenters should be shredded and deposited onto a compost heap. Let's get people in who would be happy to impart their experience in a no-frills fashion, and could actually stick with the programme without rushing to board the first gravy train that passes. I really do think that a completely new start is required and that now would be the ideal time to do it. In the meantime, I'll content myself with our own 'Beechgrove' - not perfect, but MUCH better than the current GW. -
Message 9
Posted by sunnyD (U10341818) on Sunday, 13th July 2008
I have to agree that this was the best gardeners world program for a long time. There was a good mix of items and it didn't get bogged down for too long in Joe Swifts stupid allotment project. Can someone, perhaps the producer?, explain to me why a person who knows nothing at all about vegetable growing on allotments(and possibly gardening period) is presenting this part of the show. Are there no experts out there with a pleasant personality?
Carol has a wealth of knowledge and experience and always shows an easy and practical way to do various tasks. She seemed to be a little more subdued this week with less hand waving and grinning which I preferred.
Alys played an important role in this show and it was obvious that her item was well planned and researched.I think she is very talented, intelligent and a good presenter. And yet she is never acknowledged in the credits... Why not?
This week there was a lot of talk about and introducton to, a whole range of herbaceous perennial plants which is something which hasn't happened for a while and which I enjoyed. I also like the idea of guest presenters being used who are experts in certain areas. Less of the oresenters in vision and more of the plants /gardening techniques -
Message 10
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Monday, 14th July 2008
It was a decent programme, at best I think.
Andy Sturgeon seems a nice guy but his bit was turning into a "garden in a day" segment. Like he was on Garden Invaders or something. There's so many shows like that and I personally don't like them at all. Thankfully he stopped planting.
But for all the people who complain about how much they spend on the show, I'm surprised no one picked up on how much was spent on planting all those plants that he did.
And I agree with Ken, that there's really only room for one designer on the show. Personally I'd prefer Andy to Joe.
I just don't believe anything Joe tells me when he's on the show. He may be right but I tend to check it in a book first before doing anything. -
Message 11
Posted by Dancing Dragonflies (U11928307) on Monday, 14th July 2008
The best bits were the ladies talking about their collections of pinks and iris'. I want to see more real gardeners talking with passion and knowledge and not staged gardening (I can't even remember the rest of the show now!).
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Message 12
Posted by soilaholic (U11466149) on Monday, 14th July 2008
My husband and I totally agree with these comments. Andy Sturgeon displayed an obvious talent - a superb TV presenter. Not too intense but with an indepth horticultural knowledge and accomplished garden designer. He would be a fantastic asset to Gardeners World. We could not wish for anyone better. Too much to hope for?
Thoroughly enjoyed the programme on Friday last apart from the time spent on the allotment. -
Message 13
Posted by Madonplants (U5524817) on Monday, 14th July 2008
I wouldn't say it was a bad programme, but my wife fell asleep during it! I used to like Joe, but agree with others, his time has come. I just wish he could talk to US, the viewer and not to someone 5 feet away, who we can't see!! I have never had an allotment and was really looking forward to this project, but not anymore. How much of it has 'he' actually done himself? He also ruined the jungle garden, after using house plants, so yes his time has come! Sorry Joe and I mean that!
Carol's container gardening, why go off to another segment, when you haven't finished the container? I was not over worried about this, but it really annoyed my wife.
I liked Andy as well and his bit in the sensory garden was quite well done, but still think Chris Beardshaw/Matthew Wilson is the way to go, if Alan won't come back, that is!
Are the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú having a 'break', to sort out this, once great programme! -
Message 14
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Monday, 14th July 2008
Good balance
Good filming
Back on formÂ
I thought Friday's GW was pretty good as well (I think we are in the minority RC) and having read through the usual criticisms on here I thought I'd better add my vote to yours to swell the numbers a bit.
There appears to be general agreement that Andy Sturgeon was a welcome addition to the programme. I really enjoyed his contribution and agree with others that he shared lots of information in an easy going style. I think it would be a great shame to dismiss as some posters have, merely because he happens to design as well as garden. There have also been derisory comments on another thread to this end.
It has puzzled me for a long time why a number of posters show barely concealed disdain for garden designers? I think it was Matthew Wilson I heard make a wry throw-away comment on one of his Hampton Court segments last week to the effect that the British gardener is steeped in gardening tradition. I interpret this to mean bogged down with an antipathy to new ideas. Designers appearing on GW are treated with suspicion at best and derision at worst as though they are threatening the status quo of the gardening community.
Then again, the excellent Carole Kleine, who clearly knows her stuff, is critised for being too enthusiastic. It would be a great shame to lose her. Rachel gets it for being too good looking, Alys for being colloquial and owning a dog and then there's poor Joe who just gets critised for everything and let's face it, everyone gets it for not being Geoff Hamilton.
I think any future lead presenter of GW should take a long look at what's said on here because, if it were me, I'd have to think long and hard about whether I would ever be able to live up to the enormity of expectation of the GW audience. Either that, or content myself with the thought that perhaps message boarders are just more critical than most of the viewing public. -
Message 15
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Monday, 14th July 2008
Yes KP. I think we are and that's because we are interested and care about the programme and its future.
I personally would welcome having a designer as a permanent presenter but Joe Swift has lost his credentials with too many bad ideas and that allotment. I'm sure plenty of us have a problem corner or 3 in the garden that could benefit from some design input even if we can't afford or do not wish to hire our own.
CB would be a popular choice for many and he has design credentials so I don't thing that's a problem. It's the general directionless, incompleteness and bittiness filming, editing and content of the programme that we deplore. -
Message 16
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Monday, 14th July 2008
Designers appearing on GW are treated with suspicion at best and derision at worst as though they are threatening the status quo of the gardening community.Â
Karen, the real problem is the way Designers are projected on gardening programmes (or choose to be presented). There always seems to be an enormity in all such projects, and it would seem there also has to be some sort of a 'theme' and a silly name to go with any job. I'm currently wrestling with a problem in my own garden relative to installing compost pens / space for loads of manure / extra vegetable plot / and space for a few bits and pieces of gardening equipment to loiter (perhaps in a new shed) - all this in an area of ground I've just reclaimed from dense snowberry and bindweed. Every morning I stand with a cup of coffee in my hand wondering how best to proceed (though the presence of bindweed means I have to be patient while I clean and clean yet further). Nevertheless, I note that there never seems to be any designers who can talk with some authority about these small (relevant) tasks in the gardens of ordinary folks. This IS a design matter, but all we ever seem to get is saturation coverage of silly projects from the big garden shows which I find quite self-indulgent. Designers seem to function within an exclusive club, and do seem too grand to 'mingle' with the hoi polloi. I'm afraid that I've never treated TV designers as anything other than irrelevant - and they only have themselves to blame for this. -
Message 17
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Tuesday, 15th July 2008
"that the British gardener is steeped in gardening tradition. I interpret this to mean bogged down with an antipathy to new ideas."
you could interpret it the opposite way as well Karen.
The tradition of British Gardening from the Elizabethans to the Victorian plant hunters to today's modern design, has continuously evolved and borrowed ideas from across the world to be probably one of the most diverse gardening cultures in the world.
Sure there is a cottage gardening tradition that is extremely popular in this country but that's not without reason! It's a beautiful, peaceful and fun way of gardening.
I think a lot of gardeners have a problem with guys like Joe Swift because he gives the impression that the design is the most important thing, and then it's how the plants accomodate that design, whereas, in the traditions of cottage gardening, the plants come first and the design works around them. Because in their day the original cottage gardeners had to take what they could get and work with it.
Whether we're aware of it or not, everytime we plant something we are indeed "designing". -
Message 18
Posted by Country Boy (U2497477) on Tuesday, 15th July 2008
RowanC
I agree; I enjoyed this program more than I have done for months - every topic and every presenter.
Maybe I'm just too shallow. -
Message 19
Posted by kath74 (U8999103) on Tuesday, 15th July 2008
I didn't think it was any better or worse than usual. I like Carol, find Joe more & more irritating, & agree that Andy Sturgeon was a welcome guest.
As usual, it was bland & instantly forgettable.
I think they're really struggling to fill that 1-hour slot without Monty. -
Message 20
Posted by Sparky (U6716422) on Wednesday, 16th July 2008
For most people, the idea of 'garden design' means lots of hard landscaping and minimal planting - look at this year's Chelsea! As has been said, Cottage Gardens are very British and rightly, very popular, why do we plant them - because we can! Our climate lends itself to the sort of plants that we put in Cottage gardens. In most sized plots the idea of a 'grand design' just doesn't occur to folks and we put plants in, share cuttings etc. as most gardeners do.
This dosn't mean we shouldn't look at the good practices of design, in fact how to make the most of our little bits of green space would be most useful. AT has done this very well in the past. So more 'how to' and 'what not to do' would be great, as well as all the relevant 'what to do now' as reminders etc.
Or am I just dreaming?
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