Monty Don on discovering the world's greatest gardens
Nov 9, 2023
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Monty Don, a TV presenter who visits the world's most beautiful gardens, shares the practical realities of filming overseas for a TV series. Topics include packing identical clothing for continuity, favorite overseas gardens, and meeting interesting characters along the way.
Filming gardens abroad is demanding, requiring early mornings, tight schedules, teamwork, and logistical challenges.
Exploring gardens in different countries provides valuable insights into diverse cultures and encourages embracing different gardening styles.
Deep dives
Monty Don's Travels: Insights and Experiences from Gardens Across the Globe
In this podcast episode, Kevin interviews Monty Don, a renowned gardener who has had the opportunity to visit gardens all over the world for his television shows. Monty discusses the motivations behind his travels and the unique challenges of filming overseas. He shares his observations on different gardening cultures and highlights the influence of gardens on people's lives. Monty also emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting diverse gardening practices and realizing that there is no one right way to create a garden. Furthermore, he reflects on the impact of his travels on his own gardening style and the value of continuously learning and being inspired by different gardens.
The Intensity of Filming Overseas
Monty Don reveals the demanding nature of filming gardens abroad. He describes the early mornings and tight schedules, where every minute counts to capture the best light and make the most of each location. Monty emphasizes the importance of teamwork and the support of skilled professionals to ensure a successful production. He shares some of the logistical challenges, such as constantly packing and moving between hotels, and the continuous need to charge batteries and download footage. Despite the intensity, Monty acknowledges the exhilarating experience of working in high-pressure environments with a talented team.
Discovering Gardens around the World
Monty Don expresses his fascination with exploring gardens in different countries and the valuable insights they provide into diverse cultures. He emphasizes the significance of gardens as reflections of people's lives, climates, and historical contexts. Monty shares his experiences of visiting Spanish gardens, highlighting the strong Islamic influence seen in courtyards and closed spaces that protect from the heat. He also discusses the lush and temperate landscapes of northwest Spain, which he found surprising and captivating. Monty's travels have broadened his perspectives on what a garden can be, and he encourages embracing different gardening styles and approaches.
Witnessing Inequality and Humbling Creativity
Monty Don reflects on his encounters with inequality and the sobering realities he has witnessed during his garden travels. He recounts visiting townships in Johannesburg, where gardens and outdoor spaces provide crucial solace and creativity for children facing adversity. Monty also shares the profound story of a garden made by a refugee in India, highlighting the immense determination and artistic vision that came from having nothing. These experiences have challenged Monty's cultural assumptions and tempered his approach to gardening, emphasizing the importance of humility and understanding the context in which gardens are created.
Visiting the world's most beautiful gardens to make a TV series might seem like a dream job for most of us, and in this episode Monty Don shares the practical realities of life 'on the road'. Discover why he takes along whole sets of identical clothing, his favourite overseas gardens, and the characters he's met along the way