Chelsea - even the Jamaican Prime Minister is there

Monty is a gardener he took up gardening to get away from overt stresses in his life - he needs Chelsea like a hole in the head , bad enough Titchmash shows his face there.Call himself a Yorkshireman.

Monty can be a bit of a pretentious prat sometimes, but there are worse sins in life and I identify with him because Gardening is what got me out of depression and it did the same for him. He has learned from experience and his passion is indisputable - I loved around the world in 80 gardens - thought it was challenging and thought provoking - I would have got extremely bored if he had spent the series looking at carbon-copy English gardens - not that I dislike such gardens, I just think a TV series should attempt to do something a bit special. I was relieved to see Amateur Gardening report that he is exhausted - it just shows your human Monty - take care of yourself and get back to Berryfields soon - or better still, let's see you turn your own garden into one consisting of British plants - that would be an exciting project.

Well Buzzbee if I thought that of Monty I would say he was welcome at Chelsea.If you been through what he has then think you would be a bit more understanding and realize that it is exactly because he is not a pretentious prat - as you put it - that he is not at Chelsea.

Ah, I'd missed that he was taking time off, good for him. Must admit I'm not tempted to go to Chelsea - it would be fun but all those people!!

Hi Bonkersbon - please believe me, I love Monty - I think he is totally sound, but, just like myself, he is capable of getting a bit carried away with himself - that's all I was saying, and just now I wish him nothing but good health and hope - and yes, I am not sure Chelsea is in tune with what he is about, although it's good to see someone like Jekka McVicar there flying the organic flag from within.

Like you Lobelialover, I think there are some wonderful sights at Chelsea, but like Bonkersbon I also feel unhappy about its excesses. As I think I have said before, I am a typical pisces - keep seeing both points of view, but that's another reason for loving gardening because mother nature is full of apparent contradictions.

Even though I watch Chelsea on tele, I have no desire to visit,all those splendid plants in tip-top perfection,and not one to buy till the last day.and I am not going to push and shove,to buy a plant.
I much prefer the N.E.C,Have allready pre-booked my tickets for Thursday.
I would like that new Clemitas "Viennetta"
A White Akebia,
A new Hibiscus,and anything else that takes my fancy,which if it,s anything like last year that works out as loads & loads,and we only have a Mini!!!

Hear that Monty's had a mild stroke and will be convalescing during the next few weeks.

I understand that the 80 gardens series was done in two weeks - that seems a really tall order and enough to make anyone ill!

Poor man! I wish we had the mechanism to send him our good wishes. He can't be very old - possibly in his forties? Only a guess.