Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley have been hosting a podcast together for the past six months, where they have had the opportunity to meet some of their idols. One memorable encounter for Jo Whiley was visiting the renowned garden of TV gardening expert Monty Don at Longmeadow in Ivington, near Leominster, Herefordshire.
Monty Don’s Longmeadow garden is divided into four distinct sections – The Cottage Garden, The Jewel Garden, The Paradise Garden, and The Vegetable Garden – each of which could easily stand alone as a beautiful garden. Jo Whiley shared her experience of visiting Longmeadow on her Dig It podcast, mentioning that the garden appeared smaller in person compared to its depiction on television.
Monty Don explained that Longmeadow’s Cottage Garden, originally a kitchen garden, has evolved over the years into a floral cottage garden dominated by various old-fashioned shrub roses in summer. The Jewel Garden, described as the heart of the entire garden, features plants chosen for their jewel-like qualities, creating a bold and extravagant display.
The Paradise Garden reflects Monty’s scholarly approach to garden design, with symmetrical beds surrounding a central water feature, while The Vegetable Garden serves a more functional purpose, providing fresh produce for immediate consumption. Monty emphasized the joy of harvesting ingredients from the garden for a simple meal.
For gardening enthusiasts, the popular show Gardeners’ World is set to return on BBC Two at 8 pm this evening.