PUSHING THE BORDERS

This might be a bit controversial because I understand it is popular with Chelsea visitors but does anyone else think that this idea was a bit like scraping the barrel?

I think anyone who has dogs, takes keeping them seriously, has a garden and takes keeping that seriously will naturally cater for both … and there are thousands of us. The idea of tracking a dog’s haphazard directions, recording where it roams and then planning planting and garden design around that seems like a load of bunkum to me.

The finished product seems very banal in my opinion. I’ve seen far better and more interesting gardens kept by dog owners who can juggle both good design, good planting and include enough interest and stimulation within the garden to keep both the dog happy and the gardener as well.

I quite like Monty and his dogs but in my opinion this concept and the end product were a waste of valuable Chelsea space.

Having taken part in "Shows" for nearly 2o years I cant say I am sorry to avoid them now. I should say that some of the nurserymen/women who are good at their displays are incredible and some obviously love the buzz and theatre of it all, but for me it was just too much fakery, plus I am a long way from convinced that its good for the promotion of good garden plants or good/sensible garden practices. A classic case in point was the year our stand was criticized for the clematis have buds as well as flowers - in the view of the judges all the flowers should have been out at once, while that may look good in a display garden its likely that such a plant will be one flush and bust in the garden.

I haven't seen the Monty Don garden but I have certainly heard of dafter premises for garden designs at Chelsea!

I have been away and am just catching up with my TV recordings. I have not come across the dog garden yet but then I have been fast winding some of it. The BBC programme format is the same old one they have had for years. It seems more about celebrities than the plants. I have always planned a visit but having seen the crowds there is no way I would want to be there.

John