Did you get Inspired?

[ancee]

I've just finished watching the last programme in the great British garden revival series. And was just wondering if any of you were inspired by the suggestions in the programme? Which plants have you been inspired to 'have a go' at or was it more the persuasive tones of the the presenter that made you decide?
The first four programmes recommended stuff I was already doing or growing, then there were a few dreary suggestions and presenters. My favourite, again, this year, is Christine Walkden. She is just so enthusiastic and self depreciating, that you can't help but like her. I'll plant whatever she suggests! ☺️

[Snadger]

Caught a few of these episodes which seemed to follow the same format, but with different plant groups. Soft fruit was a decent one with a few types I'd never heard of!

[Alison]

Saw the soft fruit one, interesting but nothing that I'd want to grow that I don't already.

[ancee]

Last years topics did seem to be more deserving. Some of this years, I think, didn't need people to 'sponsor' them.. Lilies, tulips, daffodils, soft fruit, roses for example. I don't think they've fallen out of fashion or that nobody likes them anymore. And they are going to get lost forever if we all don't plant them again! My garden has all of these, so perhaps I am a hero taking on these lost causes all on my little own!

[Thelma Sanders]

It just meant being a roseaholic - that I ordered even more roses

I'm a sad case!

But no matter how much all the garden progs tout grasses, I really don't want them in my garden!

[Guest]

Lilies, tulips, daffodils, soft fruit, roses for example. I don't think they've fallen out of fashion or that nobody likes them anymore.

I think some people are put off by the pest and disease issues. Lillies with their beetles, roses with black spot, raspberries with maggots. If you are not much of a gardener they do become less appealing. I have daffs in my garden and unfortunately they are the crude large trumpet modern varieties and I have been inspired to look out for some of the older varieties. The other thing they forget is cost.
I love bearded irises, would love to grow them but at £8+ for one plant I can find several other things to buy instead. Again with old scented roses it is fine if you have an established garden and want that one specimen but if you are building your garden up than it is not much cop.
I was glad to see peonies on there. In recent years I have only seen them in a couple of gardens, yet they are gorgeous. It was worrying no one knew what they were.

Ok, waffle over

Oh and sorry but for some reason I can only take a few minutes of ole Christine - I have no idea why.

[JanieB]

I didn't see the program but gardening program's in general seem to foster lots of gravel, easy to look after, decking etc. That isn't a garden, well not in my eyes any way. I love the idea of a cottage garden and when my building works are done this year that is what I will aim for.

NG and I seem to have posted at the same time. My garden was in parts well established but the only parts I seem to have retained are an old rose bush which flowers for about 3 weeks and some forsythia, this doesn't include the beautiful but somewhat overbearing trees which I am reluctant to cut down but would be more suited to a forest than a back garden.

[ancee]

Janie there was one about cottage gardens and also one on wildlife gardens. there was also one on woodland gardens, so if you wanted to leave the trees,... there was some good ideas!
NG, you're right about the costs though. I sometimes wonder what they earn and have to spend compared to us normal folk. I'm always in the b and q reduced plants section. That's my budget I'm afraid. You can get a plant well past its best but able to come back to life for a fraction of what it was when it was new and beautiful. They make take a year to come back to their former glory but they deserve a chance too!

[Martin H]

Mostly I wasn't inspired to do anything new: I either already do things or I don't like them.
I'm slightly tempted to have another go at lilies, however, if only to see if the home made garlic spray keeps the lily beetles away. Also the woodland plants episode gave me some ideas for that north-facing flowerbed at the front of the house.

In case anyone wants to catch up on iplayer, here's a list of what's in each episode:

1. old roses - climbers
2. daffodils - blossom trees and shrubs
3. rhododendrons - carnations
4. scented gardens - tulips
5. lavender - knot gardens
6. iris - ornamental grasses
7. conifers - pelargoniums
8. lilies - woodland plants
9. bog gardens - soft fruit
10. wildlife gardens - peonies

[Highlander]

Great programme with lots of good ideas to follow up on.
I was disappointed with AT's back garden programmes - why do they think everyone has a back garden big enough to house the national collection of anything apart from slugs!

[Kirk]

Finding that none of the gardening programs inspire me enough to even watch them these days.
Unfortunate to say but just about anything with "gardening" in the TV program title is getting to be something that I tend to avoid initially unless pleasantly surprised. But the previews they present rarely pleasantly surprise me. The last one I enjoyed was the ABC of gardening/plants or whatever.

Very little seems to be sort of "real" gardening.

The present/recent allotment program involves arranging flowers and cooking.
The "allotment" areas are flat, pristine soil, stoneless and bear greater resemblance to an idealised show bed rather then anything.
More or less stopped when Titchmarsh left GW, he appeared to have the training behind what he said.

Afraid the Great Gardening Revival failed greatly to revive.

[Kristen]

I'd like to make a Knot garden ... but I was already planning to do that before seeing the program. My problem is finding a good example that has light & dark "strands" to accentuate the over/under weave of the strands.

One of those in the show had a twisted strand around the outside, which I think was a good idea - to accentuate the woven appearance.

Only really knotty one I've seen is Washing Old Hall in Tyne & Wear


Only other thought I had was to make each strand with a coloured edge - there must be a dressmaking word for that, a single coloured ribbon with a different colour on each edge?

A bit like this Celtic knot:


I had considered using a Celtic knot as the pattern, so maybe like this:

or

[ancee]

Wow! Kirsten! I really hope you do it. And if you do, please put on all the 'before, during and after' photos, this would be a brilliant work in progress to watch. Good luck!

[JanieB]

Just watched the one on old roses. I didn't know there was a specialist centre so close to me and that I live on the same ridge that has the ideal soil for them.

I can't find a photo but from the description I think mine is Longworth Rambler.

I think I'll watch a few more episodes.