Gardens on TV

[Tim Ingram]

I only just saw the end of the Heligan programme but was really impressed by Tim Smit's description of the Garden being as important for the people working in it as anyone else. This shows that good things happen not only by chasing money! I found his book on the Eden Project completely exhilarating and exhausting. Everything is about inspiring others to get things done!! Maybe gardening will begin to find its way again on TV.

[Brian Ellis]

I agree about the book Tim, but when Heligan first appeared on the television and Eden project was just starting up, he was a spoke about his vision at the John Innes Institute.  He was absolutely inspirational and you could see how he was the sort of person who could get almost anything achieved.  He doesn't suffer fools gladly and I should think you would either love working for him or hate it and leave - which is a good natural selection!

Mark, if you mean the dried Poppy heads that were being cut, they must have been some sort of Papaver somniferum I would have thought - difficult to say with seed heads!

[Maren]

Hmmm, I saw the poppies, a field of very dark red, I recall. Sadly, no name was given.

[mark smyth]

The poppies were deep maroon with very full centres that looked like crushed tissue

It would be great if the BBC did more programmes like that

[Brian Ellis]

I must look again, although I did watch from 38 - 43 minutes....

[Brian Ellis]

Well here they are, and I think it is Papaver somniferum 'Black Peony'.  Here is one of ours, if you want seed PM me before I dump it

[Paul T]

Wow!  That is spectacular!!

[mark smyth]

yes thanks and thanks in case I forget to say thanks when they arrive

[ranunculus]

Am I the only person who was slightly disappointed to see too few floral delights and an over abundance of prancing foxes, swooping owls and randy toads ... especially if this was a contribution to the BBC's botany season.
Don't get me wrong, it was a beautifully made programme with an exceptional score, but I left it frustrated rather than impressed.

Thoroughly enjoyed the brilliant Everest-Mallory documentary that followed it.

[Maggi Young]

Much as I enjoyed the footage of the young foxes playing in the garden, as Cliff says, it didn't add much to a botany programme. I wonder if the crew used for the programme was from the BBC Bristol Wildlife Unit and not able to change the habits of a lifetime?

[mark smyth]

Is wasn't actually part of the BBCs botany season but part of the new series of The Natural World. I agree there was too much on foxes, owls and toads.

[art600]

You can never have too much footage of Owls 

[Maggi Young]

That I do agree with.... we hardly ever see  barn owl these days and they are so beautiful.
I think the fact it was made by the Natural History gang speaks volumes .... they don't seem to "rate" flowers much.

[mark smyth]

It was filmed by Philippa Forresters husband Charlie Hamilton-James. Their company is called Halcyon Media as in Halcyon River Diaries. The credits say Halcyon Media for BBC

Halcyon Media - http://www.halcyonmedia.org/

[art600]

That I do agree with.... we hardly ever see  barn owl these days and they are so beautiful.
I think the fact it was made by the Natural History gang speaks volumes .... thye don't seem to "rate" flowers much.

If you recall the programme that featured Pippa and Charlie filming the river that runs by their home, Pippa was trying to restore the balnce of plants by eliminating foreign invaders - she certainly cared for the plants.