Around the World in 80 Gardens - New Monty Don program tonight at 9pm

[cambourne7]

From radio times

The world doesn't hold many surprises for questing television presenters any more, as just about everything has been explored, from the deepest seas to the highest mountains. But luckily for affable Monty Don, the gardens of the world are fertile territory (in every sense) for a genial TV expert. Not that we are talking about swoonsome, Sissinghurst-type glories. Don's gardens in this first episode range from a surreal, strangely lovely Mexican jungle folly to allotments in Cuba. It's actually the Cuban leg of the journey, towards the end of the programme, that's the most interesting, as Don potters around Havana, marvelling at the ingenuity of residents of the city's crumbling, densely packed residences. Every inch of available space in some of these places is crammed with greenery - in one garden, all growing out of an incredible array of pots.

[cambourne7]

[theothermarg]

darn it ,missed it I wonder if it,s on catch up
marg

[sarah]

i watched it and agree with the radio times; it was more interesting when it got to cuba. due to the political climate  a while back cubans were forced to start producing more of their own food and started setting up allotment style gardens in the middle of  the cities. any peice of waste ground was turned over to crops. it was quite interesting.  the mexican leg of the journey was a bit odd but i think this programme will improve as the series goes on. its australia next week.  monty don was not too irratating either. for a change.

[sweet-pea]

I've just watched this on the BBC iPlayer (available there until Sunday I think) and loved it.  Will definitely be tuning in for the rest of the series.

SP

[caroline7758]

I really enjoyed it too- and my OH did too, as it's more than just gardens. Nice to have something to watch on a Sunday evening.

[froglets]

I loved it, but knew I would.  I'm not a fan of Monty on Gardeners World, but I love his use of English, especially when he's expressing his own feelings about something he's passionate about.  He always comes across as giving you an honest view irrespective if it's the "right" one & that I always admire, especially when it's done so eloquently.

I enjoyed the Mexico section in that he struggled to understand some of the gardens and loved other bits - I'm looking forward to next week.

[Baaaaaaaa]

Certainly it was different, and whilst I, also, am not a fan of Monty, I'm glad is not Carol "Oooooohhhh Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrr" Klien presenting.

[norfolklass]

I really enjoyed it, especially Edward James's surreal concrete jungle garden, Los Pozas. I loved the Escher-like spiral staircases leading nowhere. nearly fell off the sofa when OH said he wanted to watch it too!

[sarah]

i think it was monty dons admission that the jungle garden perturbed him that endeared me to him in the end. i related to his sense of disturbance.

[valmarg]

theothermarg,

Its repeated tonight on terrestrial on BBC2 at 7.00 p.m.

It would appear that it will first be shown on Sunday nights, followed by repeats on Tuesdays.

valmarg

[VP]

I don't usually go for Monty Don on the telly either, but this was v. good.

Got my copy of Gardeners' World from the newsagents today and spotted they're giving away the book of the series if you sign up for a subscription.

[jockomorrocco]

I enjoyed it but i find his witterings very annoying its like listening to some obnoxious art critic trying to justify a garden, looking too deeply at something which is just a beautiful garden