Monty Don, the cherished host of Gardeners’ World, has opened up about the pressures he faces with the programme’s demanding schedule. At times, Monty says it is so bad it becomes “overwhelming”.
Monty opened up about the show while speaking to the Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast, reports the Express. The 69-year-old said: “I often feel overwhelmed by what needs to be done. Once we get into February, which encourages a lot of jobs to be ticked off and it’s flooded or it’s snowy – the weather is not always easy – but that business continues for us.”
Monty described how there are no breaks in activity throughout most of the year: “Right through till December, we’re always busy here. There are no downtimes, because of Gardeners World.”
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Monty highlighted the importance of finding restorative time, remarking on the necessity for hibernation during the depths of winter. Delving into how different cultures cope with the season, Monty said: “The Finns, who are famous for being the most melancholy nation in the world, because they have so much winter, dark purple winter in the month of October, descend into a kind of low level of hibernation, where they speak a bit less, they become a bit more gloomy,” adding that this shutdown allows them to manage the season.
He admitted to his own struggles with the end-of-year months, saying: “I find November and December dreadful. Maybe that’s why I love January and February so much.”
Monty is not a fan of November and December
(Image: BBC Studios)
Monty also expressed his insights into plant life, “Every plant has its own rhythm. It goes through. And the more aware of that you are the most sensitive you are to that, the more you connect with the natural world and you realise how incredibly complex and beautiful it is and that’s available to you. You don’t need a degree in botany or biology or animal behaviour.”
Reflecting on his work with ‘Gardeners’ World’, Monty acknowledges the benefits of a structured schedule, despite the demands. He said: “The easiest things for me are filming days, because whatever is done is done well.
“We’re making the programme rather than constantly planning ahead and trying to do things that will come good in the future. But I now think, because I’m so old, that I worry less about that… I mean, I now accept failure.”
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