Monty Don has claimed it is ‘pointless’ to plant one flower now as he prepares for a big change in his garden.
The Gardeners’ World star works tireless to upkeep the garden of his Longmeadow home in Herefordshire.
As a result, The Jewel Garden has got Monty’s immediate attention as he plans to give it a ‘revamp’ in the coming months.
Last given a full makeover 11 years ago, The Jewel Garden is said to be the “physical and spiritual centre of the entire garden”.
Monty’s plans to rejuvenate The Jewel Garden however appeared to have been somewhat scuppered.
He says planting one popular flower in the garden, the magnolia, would be ‘pointless’ currently due to its inability to grow during the winter months.
He told the BBC Gardeners’ World magazine:”Our propensity for sharp late frosts means that no magnolia has ever been happy at Longmeadow – and I have long learned that it is pointless to persevere with any plant that does not want to be with you, regardless of its suitability on paper.”
Magnolias, a brightly coloured flower, tend to bloom between early spring and late summer.
Although Monty is currently considering an overhaul to The Jewel Garden, he admits he is more used to maintaining the plot throughout the colder months.
He added: “One of the features of the Jewel Garden is that when the rest of the garden is burgeoning with spring flowers and blossom, it remains very empty well into April and early May.”
Speaking of his adoration for his Jewel Garden on his website, Monty explained: “The Jewel Garden is the physical and spiritual centre of the entire garden. Everything revolves around it.
“It was made as a celebration of all the good things relating to our jewellery business in the 1980’s and all the colours are jewellery or metallic in some way and the tone just like the 1980’s – brash, extravagant and high maintenance!”
Monty Don’s British Gardens returns to BBC Two tomorrow (January 17) at 8pm.
