Gardeners' World fans left furious and blast Monty Don for 'outrageous' change to beloved BBC show
Monty Don infuriated viewers during the latest episode
BBC
Gardeners' World fans were left furious and taking to their social media accounts on Friday night after Monty Don's show featured expensive "show" gardens rather than "regular" gardeners tending to their backyards and allotments.
During the episode, Don began to think ahead to next year and made a start on adding some foxtail lilies to his borders, with the winter salads he sowed last month also being ready to plant out, and put in the greenhouse - however there was conundrum of what to do about fuchsia gall mite.
Elsewhere, Rachel de Thame delved into the extraordinary world of bees and the science behind pollination, whilst in the heart of London, Arit Anderson visited a green oasis where texture and form take centre stage.
A gardener in Ross-on-Wye showcased her garden on a slope despite being diagnosed with osteoarthritis at an early age, with a couple of growers in Shropshire who developed a new-found love of daylilies.
Don introduced the segment that advised about caring for gardens as the colder months approached, but the use of a lavish-looking "show" garden irked fans, who voiced their disapproval on X.
One frustrated fan noted: "The budget for this garden must have been what it costs to build most people's houses. And those tree ferns will need to be kept wet with a hosepipe. It's very beautiful. But is it just me? I find this rather depressing."
Monty Don introduced the segment of going into winter with lavish gardens
BBC
"The amount of money required to do half of this stuff is outrageous. Show something more realistic and practical please BBC,” a second fumed, as one viewer pointed out that one of the ferns featured in the shot costs thousands of pounds.
"I do love a green garden but the sheer amount of money that one must have cost makes me feel sad," someone else said before another added: "I wonder how much that all cost."
Others pleaded with Gardeners’ World to be more inclusive, and feature gardens that could easily be replicated, as a sixth slammed: "They need to show more small, real gardens, like Frances Tophill’s. And more practical gardening instead of show gardens."
However, some viewers did point out that the mix of expensive gardens and real-life ones were a step in the right direction, and applauded the show for adding more variety: "They ARE showing more regular people's gardens now? I like a mixture of both," one mused.
Gardener's World fans were left furious over the lavish gardens
BBC
Don recently opened up about the prospect of leaving the series and admitted he was "ready to embrace a quieter life" and branded the series a "remorseless treadmill".
He told Abode2 Magazine: "I don't tend to work quite so hard these days, and when I do take on a project, I do them on my own terms. At my age now, I'm ready to embrace a quieter, slower pace of life. Watching garden life flow by, what it's all about."
He also revealed how he never intended to have a career in television, adding that it all happened after he took an unexpected opportunity that came his way.
The 69-year-old explained: "I've always had this policy in life. If you say no, you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what might have happened. If you say yes, you'll find out."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Monty Don recently explained he was looking to leave the show in the coming years
BBC
Don has also been battling some mental health issues, and previously confessed in an interview with Radio Times: "I have, for many years, suffered from depression, which comes and goes but tends to be something that is worse in the winter."
Despite noting that he currently feels "fine", he added: "I wouldn’t say I have been healed. I'd say I am being healed. It's an ongoing process."
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