Gardeners' World @ 40

[Chantal]

If you're not watching, it's on NOW. A retrospective of all the GW presenters over 40 years.

[Beryl]

Thanks Chantel
I'm watching while reading TKG

Beryl.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, who is, or was your favorite presenter mine has to be Geoff Hamilton, he reminds me of myself.

[Chantal]

I don't remember them before Geoff Hamilton so there's not so much choice and as I don't want to start another almightly slanging match on here I'm saying nothing.

[oldherbaceous]

You can be so diplomatic sometimes Chantal, i wonder if it's one of the organic ones.

[Chantal]

I've already told you OH, I'm not saying.

[strawberry tart]

For me Geoff was King.The George Harrison of the gardening world....(Just thought I would get a plug in there for another of my Guru's,)
Hare Krishna!
Geoff was the man.

[carlseawolf]

for me it's alan and monty as i didn't watch it before then .
but the first gardening book i bought was geoff hamilton gardeners world and i remember percy from blue peter.
what was facinating about the show was how each presenter changed gardening for a diffrent generation.

[alan refail]

I've just caught this afternoon's repeat. What an enlightening programme!
I must admit that I have not watched GW regularly since Geoff Hamilton died. So it was good to see his philosophy and practices set in context, and understand how influential he was in the movement away from the chemical approach of Percy Thrower, Arthur Billet and Peter Seabrook towards the organic enthusiasts of today's programmes. I particularly liked the suggestion that in the early days gardening was like a men's club, growing for size and appearance - and ignoring the fact that women gardened (as they always have - more so than men in the past).
How refreshing to follow the successive presenters and the increasing passion and enthusiasm they generated for home gardening - and showing failure as well as success.
No, I'm not trying to stir up controversy, but not once did I hear the word "pragmatic" used. I reckon present programmes are closer to the way many new gardeners want to work - but then times change. I might just become a reglar viewer again.

[Geoff]

Pity they didn't show Percy's coat hook - I've had one in each of my greenhouses over the years.

Still a pity they don't embrace Geoff Hamilton's thrift as well as his other ideas these days. I often wonder if the programme would survive a detailed scrutiny of what they decide to show / promote. A bit like KG being apparently in bed with T&M.

Beryl - did you mean a new TKG? No sign of mine yet.

[lizzie]

I remember watching Geoff Hamilton when I was a kid, sat on my dads knee, thinking that I would like to "grow stuff" when I was bigger. My mum used to grow some flowers and a few spuds in old tyres and my Grandma always grew Snapdragons because she liked them.

I also like Alan Titchmarsh and Carol Klein but am not fussed on Monty Don. Personally, I like a bit of Diarmuid Gavin but he'd probably get himself sacked. I like a bit of anarchy in a garden presenter

Still, each to their own and, if the presenters get people having a go, then fair enough.

[Beryl]

Geoff - no I was reading the Forum - or at least trying to with one eye on the telly.
I usually get my new TKG mag the lst Thursday in the month.

Beryl.

[Weed]

Picking up on a comment made by Lizzie "when I was a kid, sat on my dads knee, thinking that I would like to "grow stuff" reminded me of a conversation I had just this morning with a plot neighbour
He was telling me that his gardening interest was aroused by trips to the allotment as a small child with his grandfather. My own early gardening experiences were also of happy sunny mornings or afternoons with my grandfather too.

The skylarks were always singing ... sigh ...Those were the days

How many other started out with their grandparents and will our grandchildren follow us?

[alan refail]

Weed

"How many other started out with their grandparents and will our grandchildren follow us?"

Typically short answer(s):

1 Me
2 No

Alan

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Weed,

1 Not me.

2 Definately, well hopefully.