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GW Friday 8 May
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Message 1.Â
Posted by phyll_ostachys (U12011174) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Hi Folks - the team are visiting Malvern Flower Show tonight, where they'll be looking at plants, show gardens and visiting a beautiful nearby garden. You can get a sneaky peek at this inspiring plot on the GW website:
Please post your comments about the show here, so we can stick to one thread per episode.
Thanks. Phyll
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Message 2
Posted by roseaholic (U13922482) on Friday, 8th May 2009
oooh a rose garden how lovely
now you've tempted me! might just have to tape it now just for that -
Message 3
Posted by Colin (U2252951) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I am awaiting with keen anticipation Alys's fashion item, featuring 'designer' outfits for the presenters.
FACT, the item Buckland ought to wearing is a dunce's cap! -
Message 4
Posted by The_Colonel (U13936630) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Can we have a repeat of this thread tomorrow please, for the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú2 Wales lot.
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Message 5
Posted by Holbert (U3994703) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Can the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú stick to one broadcast time, so that those of us in Wales can watch it (or ignore it) at the same time as the rest of the nation?
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Message 6
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Just watched Joe waxing lyrical about one of the most HIDEOUS gardens I've ever seen — plastic fire breathing dragons, rocks on sticks, with a sort of WWII bomb shelter hut 'Merlin's Cave'.
When will it stop? Just someone please put GW out of its misery soon. -
Message 7
Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Friday, 8th May 2009
What the hell does fashion have to do with gardening? I want to see lots of gardening not a fashion parade!
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Message 8
Posted by mommydoos (U2592301) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Am watching Carol as we speak! She is so brilliant at what she does! No patronising - just information - could watch her for hours!
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Message 9
Posted by mommydoos (U2592301) on Friday, 8th May 2009
The man with the chickens made me want to cry! Best bit of GW yet.
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Message 10
Posted by grapevinegirl (U3734803) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I missed the bit with the chickens as I had to pop out to pick up my teenagers
will have to wait for Iplayer.
The fashion bit made me want to cry... and throw all my toys out of the pram...
Carol was great though - the redeeming factor And there were some very beautiful shots of plants... and real ponds... and beautiful bluebells...
I'm trying very hard here - help me out people
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Message 11
Posted by mommydoos (U2592301) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Just focus on Carol - & bluebells for now! Hated the fashion thing - felt it nearly got there tonight - if the men & Alys would go!
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Message 12
Posted by David K (U2221642) on Friday, 8th May 2009
The chickens were definately the stars of the show and worth a gold medal.
I wonder what Geoffery Smith would have made of the parade of prats!! -
Message 13
Posted by mutebuttondelight (U3517782) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Let's see.
Good bits! There were some.
Good bits: The chickens (I have a vested interest as I have a couple of hens), and they do make great pest controllers with the amount of slugs & snails they eat. And having eggs that fresh really does turn a humble food item into a gourmet delight. The bluebells: lovely. The looking around the show gardens & stands: pleasant on the eye.
The bad bits: I was reduced to multitudinous "Oi! That's my seeds you're giving away!" as not having received my dig-in seeds I am not amused when so many are being given away at shows when there are so many of us who applied for seeds and have not yet got them. And all the folks who are getting emails to say they won't get any seeds until the end of May - yet it seems there are plenty being given away with the van... Talk about rubbing it in! The fashion: utter waste of space. The fashion show.. sorry - no thanks - no more thank you very much. AS for the presenters' outfits... words fail me. The 30-minute task - painting alone would be taking more than 30 minutes to do *and dry* properly before sticking in the newspaper.. And the time spent with the non-winner of the Chris Beardshaw scholarship and none at all with the person who did win it.. -
Message 14
Posted by dee-em (U13954571) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Any idea of the titles of the two chicken songs they used during that item? I'd really like to know, but was apparently to tired to remember any of the lyrics to search for them.
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Message 15
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I sat with a glass of wine, expected little and enjoyed nearly all of it. Things I enjoyed:
Carol's walk round the floral marquee was lovely - a gorgeous whizz round my favourite show marquee.
I loved the local garden - the man done good to make enough to buy and restore such a treasure.
The chicken spot was fab - we had a long chat with the guy about our broody - came home to find the chicks had hatched!
The CBers will be disappointed to get so little coverage and JAS even more so after holding the stage together for so long.
I relaxed enough to enjoy the cat walk piece as well. It was a show special so the rules are different - I don't expect to learn something, I hope to see something original and/or gorgeous.
The Merlin garden was fantastic in real life, by the way. The designer was a total fruitcake and the planting, the thinking behind it and the sculptures were fabulous. -
Message 16
Posted by grapevinegirl (U3734803) on Friday, 8th May 2009
ah yes, wafflycat, you've just reminded me - I couldn't quite understand the highlighting of the 'non-winner', and assumed I must have missed the 'winner' of CB's mentoring while I was out... clearly not. Not sure what that was about then... actually, I was quite relieved that the woman didn't win - not that she wasn't very nice and all that; just that her stated goal was to 'be known' and make a name for herself... no real passion for plants. Let's hope that when we do get to see the young man who won, he can muster up a whole lot more enthusiasm - by the sound of Chris Beardshaw's appraisal of the reasons he was chosen, he's just the job
maybe I can stop fretting over people being chosen for 'personality' rather than plantsman(or woman)ship...
Oh, and I did learn something tonight - it obviously helps greatly to watch the show with a large glass of wine in one's hand
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Message 17
Posted by Seacarrot (U3012141) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Was it me, or where there new opening titles..??
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Message 18
Posted by jungle_jane (U1807090) on Friday, 8th May 2009
actually, I was quite relieved that the woman didn't winÂ
I actually laughed when she got bronze (feel guilty about it now though). Not at the woman herself but the fact she was clearly setting her goals way too high for a beginner and the crew were expecting her to win. -
Message 19
Posted by BedfordBloomer (U13946278) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I wanted to see more of CB's winner not the non-winner (who, imho, should go back to her degree course, Bronze or no Bronze). In fact a whole show about CB's scholarship please.
Flower shows are always tough. I like them to feature one or two or the nurseries that are new or specialist so I can expand my knowledge/little black book of plants men and women across the country...
Oddly I really liked Toby's jackets, thought the item itself was a waste of precious show time. And on a fashion note I want to know what boots they all wear in the garden, wellies? walkers? workman's boots...and what about gloves? and knee pads? and water proofs?. Not to mention a bit of 'Which?' type evaluating of different types of tools.....
Gardening isn't just about plants...I want to know about equipment too :D -
Message 20
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 8th May 2009
The woman they followed was a nice person, taking a chance as an amateur and having a go at the very difficult, stressful and stretching task of creating a show garden. There were 9 other contestants so no way of knowing in advance who would win.
The candidate I thought would win was Teresa Rham. She made the final five and CB praised her very highly indeed. Well done Teresa - you should have got it! -
Message 21
Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I really enjoyed the program tonight. There were lots of different items and ideas - Carol's section in the flower marquee and the hens were the best.
When I read in the Radio Times about the fashion outfits I thought oh no! but it turned out to be quite entertaining.
I still think Gardeners' World should be a half hour show. Keep to pure gardening - sowing, potting, pruning, propagating, seasonal jobs, problems, etc. Cut out all the nonsense, and it would be a much better program. -
Message 22
Posted by mcspanna (U7544489) on Friday, 8th May 2009
Trillium,
Your first post (message 15) sums it up for me - I enjoyed the show and agree that it is effectively a special and therefore the rules are different - however, whilst I applaude the cameraman's detailed close up during Toby's 30 minute slot, I did think his paint job was shoddy even with the time limit (sorry Toby!)
Also, have been sitting here for a good few minutes scratching my head and can't for the life of me work out what/who JAS is? I'm sure I'll figure it out once I press post!... -
Message 23
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 8th May 2009
James Alexander Sinclair. Slightly barking - looks much less mad without his hat. Did his best to lighten the weightiness of the CB 'Apprentice' show with generous hugs and gentle witicisms. But he's obviously not on the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's 'must film' list. Surprising really - I think he's plainly box office.
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Message 24
Posted by Colin (U2252951) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I was sorry they dropped the 'hot or not' section, as some the proper models were indeed hot.
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Message 25
Posted by Toadspawn (U2334298) on Friday, 8th May 2009
I was at Malvern today. When I watch GW tonight I wondered if I had been looking at the same gardens. In general the show gardens were not very good although a few were acceptable. Merlins garden certainly had lots to look at but you could not really call it a garden. Not very impressed by the best in show. It will be interesting to hear the 'Peoples Choice'. When will it be announced?
Floral marquee superb but very crowded early on so much better about 4.00 pm but of course many stands had sold out of the popular varieties. Carol did not have enough time to do it justice.
Didn't see the Dig In icecream van so where was it hiding?
Luckily I missed the fashion show. What a waste of time.
Malvern is certainly my favourite show as it is only about an hour away.
I am not sure what special management the Bluebell gardener did but around here bluebells grow superbly without anything being done to them.
Chickens OK but no information about how to keep them. At least in Byw yn yr Ardd on S4C they did this albeit rather briefly.
Went to a plant fair a few years ago at the selected garden at Highnam but did not realise there was so much to see because the garden was not open to visitors on the day. Must try and go to the NGS day this year -
Message 26
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
It was very enjoyable until the last five minutes, so much better than the past few weeks.
I suppose the 'fashion' feature was a bit of fun and in an hour show was acceptable.
It was nice to see some plants. -
Message 27
Posted by betti_hollyhock (U13954840) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Thats it, go and spoil it all for those people in Wales who haven't had the opportunity to watch the programme yet.
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Message 28
Posted by dai_the_dig (U13939682) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I spent about 125 pounds on having Freesat put in to watch GW here in Wales on a friday with the rest of the UK, Worth every penny, now I can whinge about the programme on this MB at the same time as you lot.
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Message 29
Posted by pootles magnet (U11709665) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I enjoyed it a lot this week. It was definitely nice to have the show in a green environment and get to see plenty of plants.
Personally I don't have a problem with the fashion feature at all. For me gardens don't begin and end with the plants, I think the concept of gardens inspiring people in other walks of life is a very valid part of the subject - you had garden designers using 'dance' as a basis for design and students then taking it a step further into fashion - everything links. -
Message 30
Posted by Gardenballet (U4233452) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I was at Malvern on Friday and had a brilliant day. There was so much to see. I think you really need two days so that you can study each garden carefully. There is so much effort put into them - I felt guilty just taking a few minutes to glance at each one. The floral marquee was as stunning as ever - but I can't believe that I missed the sweetpeas!
As to the programme, it was fun, but would have liked to have seen more of the show/competition gardens and the floral marquee. I enjoyed Toby's 30 minute piece. He really is very natural and witty in person - he is relaxing and making a good job of lead presenter. Alys and Carol are very knowledgeable.
A wonderful programme. Well done Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú. -
Message 31
Posted by Boofer (U3709461) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
My objection to the fashion feature was in the editing. We were supposed to be seeing the presenters wearing the outfits made for them but instead we got shots of the audience clapping.
I would be hard pressed to describe what Alys and Carol were wearing from what was shown on screen.
Could have done without the 30 minute slot and why, oh why, do we need to be told what is coming up later? Those valuable minutes could have been devoted to plants. -
Message 32
Posted by BedfordBloomer (U13946278) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
betti_swollocks
If you don't want to know, have the self control not to read this thread until you've seen it!
Not difficult really -
Message 33
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Oh Trillium.
You will have upset JAS now.
He aspires to totally barking! -
Message 34
Posted by Colin (U2252951) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I'm sure that 'pop' music was played pretty much throughout the programme, even when the presenters was talking.
When they stopped, the producer immediately 'pumped up the volume' rather than allow a moment of calm to consider the plants.
If they must have music, why not note the 200th anniversary of Haydn's death and play from his string quartets?
GW dumbing down continues. -
Message 35
Posted by Pumpkin (U13922940) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Only problems for me was the waste of time spent on the women that set out to win some award,when she ended up with a bronze,her face said it all for me.
The chicken spot was great but lacked information on how to keep or obtain them,and the fashion was not the monster it threatened to be( I liked Alys the best),and yes I also looked at the free seeds being given away with envious eyes still no sign of mine yet.
For me not a bad show at all. -
Message 36
Posted by willow (U9513690) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Oh dear, whatever happened to a really good friday nights version of Gardeners world? The kind of program that made you want to dash out as soon as it was finished and complete some of the tasks discussed! Good old fashioned practical kind of show which actually educated you not talked to you like a 2-year old! Since when has a garden program had fashion!!! I really used to look forward to Friday night with Geoff Hamilton, Monty Don or Alan titchmash but alas that is no longer to be, come on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú lets get back to basics.
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Message 37
Posted by toonia (U4760062) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I agree mostly with everyone else.
This would have been better if it had concentrated on the show and the extras were saved for another time.
I thought the 30 minute fix and the pricking out of tomatoes so amateurish to be embarrassing. Neither seemed to attract much of a crowd which would suggest they were totally out of place at a flower show and combining a "normal" GW and Malvern was a mistake.
It did make me think of The Apprentice. People always wonder how the candidates on there can think they are at the top of their game and the best sales/ideas/creative people in the business world.
The GW production team are similar in thinking that their gimmicky 30 minute fixes, hot or not, shed banter etc are really great ideas and they persist with them even though all the evidence shows they are unpopular and not working.
It was good to see the first big RHS show of the year, and the very grown-up, professional CB! (as opposed to Ceebeebies) -
Message 38
Posted by phyll_ostachys (U12011174) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Just posting a link to another thread that was started up about the programme, so the comments can be included in this discussion:
That thread has now been closed, so please post any responses here. Thanks Phyll -
Message 39
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I was there when they were filming the embarrassing pricking out toms and 30 min sketch. There wasn't much of a crowd - although on the other hand nobody was actually throwing stones and booing them. I did ask the filming person standing next to me how many people had actually drowned in Toby's pond but he just look totally astonished and then said "Pardon" so we still don't know the answer to that.
I do have a picture of someone asking Toby for his autograph -- unless she was serving a writ on him.
Anyway I enjoyed last nights show as a reminder of my Malvern visit but it should have been a one off special like they do with Chelsea. It deserved much more air time. Also the Worcester Art College students who had designed some fabulous outfits inspired by the various gardens were not well served by GW who preferred to concentrate on the silly garments designed for the GW team. Toby looked uncomfortable about the whole thing despite the fact his jacket looked pretty normal, Carol looked mad, Alys looked OK and guess who got to wear the lawn. -
Message 40
Posted by marypoppins1 (U2341113) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Hi all
I went to the Malvern Show on Thursday with Gardenballet (thanks for the lift) and we had a great time. As it was press/preview day it was a lot quieter than the other days. Thats probably why the crowd looked so small during the 30 minute job.
I really like Toby, during that 30 minutes he entertained the crowd as well as imparting advice though I admit the whole thing would have been quicker if he hadn't painted the box!
I agree with Trillium too that the garden with the dragons was great in real life.
BTW the Diggin van was outside of the floral marquee towards the left as you look at it.
I would recomend anyone going on the preview day in future years.
MP1 -
Message 41
Posted by toonia (U4760062) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I am sincerely pleased that you enjoyed yourself, marypoppins. I hope you got to see your hero and I don't mean Toby!
But...those veg boxes looked horrible! There is no way I would have four ugly containers like that outside my kitchen door.
I much preferred Monty's olive oil tins and Alys's wine crates. Just because it's recycled and free doesn't mean it has to be an eyesore. -
Message 42
Posted by Stormy_Pink (U13912310) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I haven't managed to make myself watch it yet this week, not sure I can bare to anymore
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Message 43
Posted by grapevinegirl (U3734803) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Just watched the few minutes I missed on i-player... the chickens were wonderful! best compost enhancers/slug solutions ever - and that's before the eggs (and the eggshells for compost and/or slug control)
and I'm becoming a bigger fan of Carol than ever... she is a very good mentor to her students. She must be a good sport too, to be willing to wear that clown outfit
Shame about the whole 'apprentice' style though, which seems to be permeating so many tv programmes... it seems that everything is geared to the 'get famous quick' route, rather than being prepared to put in the effort and time... perfectly illustrated by the woman who gave up her foundation degree rather than stick it out for the end result. I'm still baffled as to why so much time was given to covering her efforts and not those of the other contestants btw...
Oh and it was wonderful to see the lovely, calm and knowledgeable Chris B back on GW...
Overall, decent partial coverage of a show which I would love to visit - even if there were still so many 'gardens' that were more about bland hard landscaping than plants... personal taste I suppose
Would have been happier to have seen the whole programme dedicated to the show rather than rushed paint jobs, fashion show, etc, but you can't have everything I guess. -
Message 44
Posted by Sparky (U6716422) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
I was at Malvern Friday and recorded the show. I am very pleased that girl only got a Bronze - didn't rate her garden at all. How strange that we didn't see much of the chap who won. The Beeb backed the wrong horse! Seeing CB shows the others in an unfavourable light I'm afraid. Agree with others that the dragon garden was fantastic. Would love a dragon in my garden! We didn't see enough of the floral marquee More of Carole talking about some of the plants would have been really great. Instead we got too much silly fashion and Toby and Alice embarrassing themselves yet again.
As has also been said, it was a relief to see plants and some green rather than concrete and bare earth!
It was a better show than usual but it should have been a 'special' and not in place of our only gardening program. Lets see what Chelsea brings! -
Message 45
Posted by Stormy_Pink (U13912310) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
Talking of chucks....
and fashion
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Message 46
Posted by grapevinegirl (U3734803) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
oh no, more temptation! Thanks for reminding me SGW
Little Hen rescue is just down the road from me, and I would LOVE to have a few of their hens, but need to wait till after the summer holiday - three weeks away and no-one to take care of any new hens I might have
Cool jumpers though... -
Message 47
Posted by Stormy_Pink (U13912310) on Saturday, 9th May 2009
They aren't too far from us either!
We've offered to have a few of the girls -
Message 48
Posted by musicmarster1 (U13956385) on Sunday, 10th May 2009
Your weekly show has the what's hot / what's rot well my what's Hot is definately Gardeners World I love the new look programme and enjoy it now more than I have done for years, yes I can remember all the previous presenters just about and Toby is as good as any of them. It's nice to see Alys a new younger face to the show and the slight humourous side being brought in is like a breath of fresh air. So I say thumbs up for the show.
What's rot is all the people complaining about the show, sour grapes to them -
Message 49
Posted by mutebuttondelight (U3517782) on Sunday, 10th May 2009
"Message 43 - posted by grapevinegirl (U3734803) , 14 Hours Ago
Just watched the few minutes I missed on i-player... the chickens were wonderful! best compost enhancers/slug solutions ever - and that's before the eggs (and the eggshells for compost and/or slug control)"
Heh! Just been out into the garden.. My hens have both laid. I have enough of a cut-and-come-again salad mix, radishes, chives & other herbs for a tasty egg salad with very low food miles! So definitely in the spirit of the chicken man's rather dinky henhouse with salads growing on the roof of it :D My homegrown tomatoes aren't quite there yet, but I have plenty with flower buds and some flowers actually opening properly today. And the golden zucchini are growing nicely... -
Message 50
Posted by David K (U2221642) on Sunday, 10th May 2009
I love the new look programme and enjoy it now more than I have done for years, yes I can remember all the previous presenters just about and Toby is as good as any of them.Â
Given that statement, I would presume you have a lot of gardening experience...so did you think Toby's throwing his tomato seedlings to separate them was a good idea?
Given the qualifications these guys supposed to have, I wonder (along with lots more) what school of excellence that came from!
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