Oh my. I think next week I shall watch "Gardeners' World" with a notebook. At least it'll save me having to rewatch it on iPlayer later.
As a newbie gardener I've steered clear of discussions about the presenters, who should take over and what needs to be changed. I didn't watch it when Geoff Hamilton hosted it, nor Alan Titchmarsh and just started tuning in when Monty Don became ill.
I read the reams of opinions found on others' blogs but it was with a bemused air. What does it matter, I thought, the programme's ok, all the presenters are ok, whoever takes over will be ok.
Oh how wrong I was. Obviously I was missing something - and that was how good the programme can be. I watched the first one with the new presenter Toby Buckland, who I didn't really know (should I admit that?), and I enjoyed it immensly but I did wonder what experienced gardeners would make of it. Would they find all those tips patronising? Wouldn't he be offering people anything new?
But watching last night, within minutes, I knew that I suddenly loved this programme, and I loved Toby (only don't tell Hubby). He managed to share his enthusiasm, impart lots handy tips and inspire me to ditch my plans for an expensive potting shed and track down a secondhand greenhouse, complete with a home-made bench made out of breeze blocks and scaffold planks.
And really, anyone who can make me feel I can garden and do it cheaply wins my vote every time.
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Hey that's funny, I watched last night and came to the conclusion that I would fix my delapidated greenhouse which haunts the corner of my garden. I've been umming and ahhing and though I might splurge money on a summer house to put in its place. Not any more - that man must have magical and hypnotic powers!
ReplyDeleteI love Gardeners' World - have been watching it for years and think I must have absorbed a lot of information - and I don't care who presents it (but the girl with the Dame Edna glasses makes me laugh!) I just wish they would devote a bit more time to Joe's allotment, they always seem to skimp a bit on that section, but that's just where I'm coming from I suppose. And they've cut it down from an hour to just half an hour. My favourite time of the week is watching GW with my glass of wine on a Friday evening!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I didn't get Toby either till last night, but LOVED that idea of stocking a garden from the second-hand greenhouse, and also his ribbing of Joe Swift about the fruit cage and other stuff in the bit down on the allotment. The man's a natural. And what is so refreshing after Monty Don - who was so vain - is that he seems totally unselfconscious.
ReplyDeletex elspeth
It was very blokey, especially the bit with Joe and Toby on the allotment. Jury's still out for me.
ReplyDeleteOh Rhiannon, get that greenhouse sorted out! You can follow Toby and post pics! Oh how exciting (nope, not envious...!). And think of all that money you've just saved!
ReplyDeleteRachael, when I was up the allotment today I was thinking about Joe's and wishing they'd shown a bit more about how he'd done it! Maybe they'll show us Toby's (could you imagine having a plot next to his? Utter bliss...).
ReplyDeleteElspeth, I agree. I thought he was very funny on Joe's allotment! Methinks that Joe needs bringing down a peg or two! I really liked Monty, but that was before I saw Toby, of course!
ReplyDeleteOoh, Jane, you sneaked that comment in while I was replying to the others! Interesting that you weren't as smitten - did the blokey bit put you off? I loved all his cheap and cheerful ideas. (Ah, yes, beginnings of Toby Buckland Fan Club flowering here!).
ReplyDeleteI used to have a similar fantasy in which Alan Titchmarsh was my dad, and spent his weekends helping me in my garden!!!!! Toby is much too young to be my dad but having the next door allotment would certainly be the next best thing, how about Joe on one side and Toby on the other?? Or Chris Beardshaw.....
ReplyDelete