Monty Don, the beloved host of BBC's 'Gardeners' World', has recently sparked a lively discussion among his 1.3 million Instagram followers after posting images of his cottage garden in Herefordshire. While many fans admire his green thumb, a particular post featuring two trees labeled as "conifers" drew mixed reactions. One follower expressed their discontent, stating, "I love your gardens-but not this one. The conifers look so out of place, especially with the tops being horizontal and not leaving their standard shape. If it were my garden, I would remove them. I love the tulips, though!" Monty, however, was quick to clarify that these trees are actually "Irish yews," which are commonly used to add vertical interest to gardens. He responded, "Each to their own... and not conifers but Irish yews looking lovely with their flat tops!"
Despite his explanation, some followers continued to question his choices, describing the trees as "distracting". One commenter echoed this sentiment, saying, "Agree about the trees, find them very off putting. The rest is really beautiful," as reported by the Express. Another follower added, "I don't like the trees, the colour is too dark against the cottage gentleness. But as Monty says, 'Each to their own.'" Monty, known for his engaging presence at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is gearing up to present his debut garden at this prestigious event. Titled "The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden," the design draws inspiration from his own garden, aiming to create a serene space for both dogs and their human companions.
This innovative garden is a collaboration between Monty and plant enthusiast Jamie Butterworth, who serves as an RHS ambassador. Together, they are working with Form Plants to bring this unique garden concept to life. Monty expressed his excitement about the project, stating, "This is an irresistible opportunity to join with the RHS and Radio 2 to share my love of gardens and dogs at the world's greatest horticultural event." The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is set to kick off on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and will run for four days.
In addition to his gardening endeavors, Monty has been vocal about the significant challenges he faces at his Longmeadow residence due to Britain's unpredictable weather patterns. At 69 years old, he described the "extreme" conditions as a "problem" for gardeners across the nation. In January 2025, Monty and his wife Sarah found themselves "flooded in" at their home, unable to leave due to rising water levels. On the Talking Gardens podcast, he elaborated on the difficulties gardeners are encountering as they adapt to these weather extremes. "It's the extremes of weather rather than the weather trends that are the problem, so we are getting very wet weather, very dry weather, very cold weather and very hot weather," he explained.
Monty highlights that these fluctuations are pushing horticulturalists to seek out more resilient plant varieties. "We're in new territory; we've all been brought up and trained to find plants that fit niches. But increasingly, we want plants that will adapt to extremes, and that's testing everybody," he noted. In his own garden, Monty has taken measures to combat the flooding by installing large drains, an endeavor he described as being of "great trouble and expense" to manage the water during winter.
Longmeadow, which Monty purchased in 1991, is situated on a floodplain and has always been susceptible to flooding. He expressed concern about the "saturation" of the soil, which leads to "puddles bubbling out of the ground". He remarked, "The problem is, I can plant for wet conditions; that isn't a problem, but we've also had some very dry summers. I think the interesting thing is to what extent plants will adapt themselves." Monty pointed to the resilience of the hosta plant, which seems to be thriving even during drier summers, provided there is adequate rainfall in winter.
To navigate these contrasting weather conditions, he suggests that gardeners need soil that retains moisture while also allowing for "reasonable drainage". Monty has previously voiced his concerns about the frequency of flooding in the UK. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today program, he stated, "Flooding has always been part of life, you know, forever, but it's definitely got worse. It's got more frequent. And, I mean, I've lived where we have for 34 years, and I've just observed that."
Monty Don has been a prominent figure in the gardening community for over 30 years, first appearing on television in 1989 with a gardening segment on This Morning. He became a household name in 2002 when he took over as the main presenter of Gardeners' World, succeeding Alan Titchmarsh. The show is set to return to BBC Two at 8pm tonight, April 18, 2025, where Monty will guide viewers on how to maximize their plants' potential, demonstrating techniques for seed division and sowing to create a vibrant summer garden.
Viewers can also look forward to a tour of Monty's RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, created alongside his golden retriever, Ned. Additionally, fellow gardening expert Carol Klein will share her insights on crafting colorful and intriguing beds and borders, ensuring that the episode is packed with valuable information for gardening enthusiasts.
