tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post5729933111319133502..comments2024-03-28T09:25:14.379+00:00Comments on Veg Plotting: Looking at the Whole PictureVPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-40333607803154725822009-11-13T20:00:41.947+00:002009-11-13T20:00:41.947+00:00Elizabethm - thank you :)
Helen - glad to see thi...Elizabethm - thank you :)<br /><br />Helen - glad to see this has provoked some thought.<br /><br />It's funny - I enjoyed Fergus Garrett's talk immensely, but of course it was cosy and comfortable becasue we had luscious images to sigh over. I learnt stuff too, such as the regular critique of planting combinations that the garden undergoes. Not sure I could quite do that with my garden - you'd need an immense backup garden of plants wouldn't you?<br /><br />However, I suspect that at the end of the talks season, it'll be Mary Keen's which will be the most memorable. For me anyway. It's good to have your ideas taken out and shaken up a little from time to time.VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-36423204421245975392009-11-12T13:27:45.993+00:002009-11-12T13:27:45.993+00:00Thanks, VP (and of course, indirectly, MK) for thi...Thanks, VP (and of course, indirectly, MK) for this provoking of thoughts. My own garden is sadly not my favourite garden, which is why I'm now wearing this thinking cap and stocking up on ideas. I suppose you could call it a stocking cap, too!Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14527649631254016576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-7023032947932901772009-11-11T20:08:43.682+00:002009-11-11T20:08:43.682+00:00I echo all the envy of the gardening club speakers...I echo all the envy of the gardening club speakers. I must have a look and see if I can find anything like it near it. I agree with a lot of what MK says. If you don't garden for your own site and space and light and views and history, you are not really making a garden, just a copy of someone else's or a plant collection (not necessarily bad things in themselves but a different thing from creating a garden). And I do love my own garden best, empty spaces, creeping buttercups, bindweed and all, and even though much of it is still in my head, not on the ground. I love all the comments here as well as your post VP, great stuff!Elizabeth Musgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473705107636868753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-3909289625839824152009-11-11T19:53:03.181+00:002009-11-11T19:53:03.181+00:00Oh and I've just ordered one of Mary Keen'...Oh and I've just ordered one of Mary Keen's books - 1p + p&p from Amazon secondhand!<br /><br />And TS - how about coming with me to see Mary Keen's garden next year?VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-54276462496489266352009-11-11T19:50:11.859+00:002009-11-11T19:50:11.859+00:00TS - oooh five times larger would be fab wouldn...TS - oooh five times larger would be fab wouldn't it?<br /><br />See you tomorrow - looking forward to it :)VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-90651698491101452392009-11-11T19:34:59.843+00:002009-11-11T19:34:59.843+00:00Certainly Mary Keen's talk has prompted a fabu...Certainly Mary Keen's talk has prompted a fabulous response here, due to your immeasurable skill in condensing her points and making them so accessible.I have to say the only two points I brought away were about your own garden being your favourite and if it isn't, doing something about it, and plants being like cushions. I actually disagree with that point and not just to be contrary. But I do subscribe to her first, although I would rate my own garden even more my favourite if it were five times larger. See you tomorrow.Threadspiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06780634324037593398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-9365242843130229962009-11-11T16:20:13.840+00:002009-11-11T16:20:13.840+00:00Now I am chuntering: the Special Plants link in th...Now I am chuntering: the Special Plants link in this post is to my tale of visting Derry's garden in September :)VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-18654094049478578202009-11-11T16:18:10.853+00:002009-11-11T16:18:10.853+00:00EG - well spotted! MK actually said later that man...EG - well spotted! MK actually said later that many of her audience had fallen into her deliberately set trap!<br /><br />Anne - thanks for coming back and saying that, because exactly the same thought struck me just after I'd posted my last comment. To have come back in to add it, would have looked as if I was chuntering away to myself ;)VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-44556697523885380602009-11-11T16:13:29.526+00:002009-11-11T16:13:29.526+00:00Re what Derry Watkins made of all this: I don'...Re what Derry Watkins made of all this: I don't know, but she's married to an architect, has a brilliant garden (near Bath)made in partnership with her husband and I believe would fully acknowledge that plants work with all other aspects of design to create a whole in gardens.Anne Warehamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13102518926229038553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-23118128777025262722009-11-11T15:59:13.533+00:002009-11-11T15:59:13.533+00:00She starts off with a trick question I see. Of cou...She starts off with a trick question I see. Of course there is only one Sissinghurst. However, most people want their garden to look like a favourite one because most people have a dream garden in mind - including me (roll on that lottery win). <br />The plants are important in my present garden but I long for a garden with large trees and space - I would dig up my plants and move on in a second!easygardenerhttp://greenforks.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-5633689669884452722009-11-11T11:37:59.916+00:002009-11-11T11:37:59.916+00:00I'd also like to know what Derry Watkins made ...I'd also like to know what Derry Watkins made of all of this. As a noted plantswoman, I'm sure she'd have some views about plants being likened to cushions and being the finishing touches to a garden!<br /><br />They're certainly not the finishing touches to mine, even though they were planted out some time after the design and hardscaping were done. Can anything which takes up so much space be a mere cushion?VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-80347064866321756052009-11-11T11:30:17.489+00:002009-11-11T11:30:17.489+00:00Ryan - I suspect most of us would like a bigger ga...Ryan - I suspect most of us would like a bigger garden. I most certainly would, but my own garden is still the place where I'm happiest, no matter how it matches with the garden of my dreams. And I have orchard sized dreams!<br /><br />Victoria - I thought it might be so judging by what she said about how often she gets out in her garden. I'm reserving those snippets for when I get to see her garden for real.<br /><br />Gail - thanks - I'm really pleased when a post really takes off comment-wise. I think you've described perfectly why your garden's your favourite - it's those kind of moments which make everything worthwhile.<br /><br />Susan - thans for the confession. I love your description of your garden, especially the <i>peculiar brand of comfy homeliness</i> bit, it's made we want to come on a visit! Perhaps I could share some wine with your neighbours out front just like you showed us the other week :)VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-42244502468883513362009-11-10T23:56:00.350+00:002009-11-10T23:56:00.350+00:00At last, I can confess: I like my garden best. Wil...At last, I can confess: I like my garden best. Wild and sprawly, unkempt, forever unfinished and rickety looking, I still find myself comparing other gardens and finding them wanting to my own and its peculiar brand of comfy homeliness.<br /><br />I've just never admitted that to anyone before.<br /><br />Oh, I think other gardens are wonderful, and they certainly are probably more lovely and refined than mine, but my garden is more than a physical space. It is a representation of a place that resides in my heart. There is no other garden that can do that.Susan Tomlinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01532464326705599296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-26316436988592219332009-11-10T23:46:46.182+00:002009-11-10T23:46:46.182+00:00If we can't all attend your garden club...this...If we can't all attend your garden club...this kind of post and discussion is second best. I just need to have my coffee and toast and I will be ready. Is my garden my favorite garden?~~There are certainly moments, like this evening when the setting sun backlit it beautifully. gailGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-53955860327889862562009-11-10T19:05:49.428+00:002009-11-10T19:05:49.428+00:00Anne's absolutely right about Mary Keen's ...Anne's absolutely right about Mary Keen's garden! Not one for neatniks - but I owe her a great debt as she turned me on to scented geraniums. I still have this image in my head of her courtyard overflowing with pots of Lady Plymouth.Victoria Summerleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055381807236106596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-8238079727092181002009-11-10T18:47:43.153+00:002009-11-10T18:47:43.153+00:00I kind of agree with her. My favourite garden isn...I kind of agree with her. My favourite garden isn't my own, but only for the fact it's far to small. I must do something about it . . . move! If only it was that simple.<br /><br />The problem with guest speakers is that they often, not always, project their views on to the audience. But if it has made you think and reflect on your thoughts and in turn learn something, in fact learn anything, then it's worth the fee!<br /><br />It's a shame I didn't live closer!<br /><br />RyanAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01600828461516709741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-85304472982748008392009-11-10T18:04:28.433+00:002009-11-10T18:04:28.433+00:00Anne - your first comment came in whilst I was rep...Anne - your first comment came in whilst I was replying to Victoria, but thankfully it means I can answer both of your comments in one go :)<br /><br />Thanks for the additional link, if anyone's interested in following it, you can go via <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardenstovisit/5933493/Garden-visiting-through-fresh-eyes.html" rel="nofollow">here</a><br /><br />I think her garden's a must see for next year don't you?<br /><br />Interesting point about the use of slides - as I said earlier, I really think they would have distracted from what MK had to say. In my own experiences of giving talks I've used both approaches. Sometimes I think of really strong images to make a statement, but I'm just as likely to use no image at all, or just 3 bullet points on my powerpoint presentation and waffle on around them. I like using mind maps too for talks and for gathering information. Ooh, I could go on about those for ages...VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-66398692353863719592009-11-10T17:45:45.033+00:002009-11-10T17:45:45.033+00:00Think idea of lecturing without pics is great (Rob...Think idea of lecturing without pics is great (Robin Lane Fox does it too.) I give talks, use powerpoint and find that I'm creating the talk round the pictures. I'd never write like that and I think talks suffer for it. And there you are - whatever you may be saying everyone's staring at a picture which may or may not be relevant. <br /><br />You can see an MK garden, but you might be shocked: her own. Open under NGS and - umm, well,go and have a look!Anne Warehamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13102518926229038553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-41340110352901271352009-11-10T17:41:54.863+00:002009-11-10T17:41:54.863+00:00Such good points, Victoria. I was aware of her bac...Such good points, Victoria. I was aware of her background and she certainly didn't tell us about it - in fact <i>Threadspider</i> was surprised when I told her afterwards because she'd been quite disparaging about 'posh people' and what they wanted in their gardens. <br /><br />You're so right about her focus on capturing the 'spirit' of the place, which would be really hard to convey in slides wouldn't it? That came over most strongly in her talk. I think her clients must have a lot of trust in her though, because she doesn't seem to have much truck with using design drawings or anything (apart from words and the odd picture) to convey how their precious commission's (and probably very expensive too) going to look. <br /><br />When she mentioned some of the other well-known garden designers, I think she was the most admiring of Dan Pearson because she felt he also tried to capture a place's spirit and because she didn't think you could tell a Dan Pearson design as being Dan Pearson's.<br /><br />One of the audience asked if there were any examples of her work open to the public. Sadly there doesn't appear to be any. I'd really like to see the kind of garden she creates. But I suspect I wouldn't be able to do that either if she really does capture a place's 'spirit' would I?VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-50371268643080381042009-11-10T17:36:59.696+00:002009-11-10T17:36:59.696+00:00Mary Keen is right about the whole 'shopping&#...Mary Keen is right about the whole 'shopping' aspect of garden articles - no garden is ever presented as good in its own right,worth seeing for its own sake: only a showpiece for ideas and plants to get = preferably buy. <br />But she's as stuck as the rest on gardens as plant shops = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardenstovisit/5933493/Garden-visiting-through-fresh-eyes.htmlAnne Warehamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13102518926229038553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-42551286717261357712009-11-10T17:19:56.840+00:002009-11-10T17:19:56.840+00:00Oh, I am so jealous! What a line-up. i was very in...Oh, I am so jealous! What a line-up. i was very interested in what you had to say about Mary Keen. I first met her when I was a junior subeditor on the Evening Standard -if I was very good, I was allowed to edit her column. <br />At first, I didn't warm to her - she came across as very grand and not really on my wavelength. Then as I got to know her and her writing a bit better, I began to be a fan. I love her column in the Telegraph.<br />I think she's a bit like Vita S-W - she comes across as grand because she IS very grand (she's the daughter of the 6th Earl Howe, so she's actually Lady Mary Keen). However, I've never heard her use her title or do the "do you know who I am?" thing. While she's very good on garden design, I think her biggest skill is in interpreting the spirit of the place when it comes to gardens, so her lecture sounds fascinating. Lucky, lucky you!Victoria Summerleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055381807236106596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-24882656966464042792009-11-10T17:17:59.647+00:002009-11-10T17:17:59.647+00:00Petoskystone - I don't think she was knocking ...Petoskystone - I don't think she was knocking inspiration as such, just slavish copying. I believe it's understanding why you're inspired that's key because then you can make it work for you in yor own garden.<br /><br />Anna - a second mention of Mary's book today - I must seek it out for myself.<br /><br />BTW everyone - having read Mary's <i>Telegraph</i> article I've linked to, I believe she's a much better writer than speaker...VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-86724491974945086312009-11-10T16:50:17.986+00:002009-11-10T16:50:17.986+00:00What a great programme of speakers VP - I am most ...What a great programme of speakers VP - I am most envious. Interesting to hear that she did not use slides but then I suppose that really makes you hone on what is being said. I have her book 'Colour Your Garden' and must admit to being seduced by some of the photos of plants and suggestions for planting combinations. I think at the end of the day my favourite garden is mine - not because it is well designed, ideally located (next to a busy main road:( or because I have achieved what I would like to and probably never will but because it's somewhere I can just be me.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10794392333038962798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-27836283843458178502009-11-10T15:57:29.040+00:002009-11-10T15:57:29.040+00:00i use photos to remind me of what plants i want to...i use photos to remind me of what plants i want to investigate further. i'm still not familiar with proper names to be able to recall & visualize what it is that i might want to plant. i don't want to *copy* an idea, more i want to get the same *effect* of colorplay or texture. while i understand mary keen's point of not copying another's garden, i see no reason not to be inspired by another's visuals of their garden.petoskystonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633621111274495078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793702278130036246.post-79120281018869221252009-11-10T15:57:06.811+00:002009-11-10T15:57:06.811+00:00Carrie - there's no need to feel thick. From y...Carrie - there's no need to feel thick. From your comment I can see you're instinctively doing at least some of the things Mary Keen spoke about. I particularly like your point about being able to hear your garden.<br /><br />BTW everyone - did you spot I deliberately chose <i>not</i> to illustrate my post in any way? You nearly got an overhead view of my garden, but I felt I needed your thoughts about what's being said rather than how my garden's looking at the moment!VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.com