How To Watch Gardeners World

VERANDA Senior Style and Market Editor Dayle Wood says while many found solace in watching countless hours of The Barefoot Contessa or The Great British Baking Show in quarantine, she has been entranced by the soothing sights of the BBC series Gardeners' World. And she's not alone—nearly 2.7 million viewers tuned in to Monty Don's hit series in 2020, and with a new season just beginning this past March, its audience is continuing to climb.

"I first started watching Gardeners' World a couple of years ago after a trip to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a 'celebrity sighting' of Monty Don piqued my interest," Wood says. "It wasn't until the pandemic, though, and all the time spent at home that I really delved into it. As a Manhattanite, where the only way I can really have my hands in the soil is through a couple of measly potted house ferns, the show has allowed me to vicariously pursue my garden passions. I now can delight in potagers brimming with runner beans and heirloom squashes, for instance, from the comfort of my living room."

The series has been a form of escapism for Wood and millions of others (including other VERANDA editors) around the world to not only be a part of watching breathtaking gardens come alive virtually but also as a means to mentally travel outside of their own four walls. A few favorite transportive episodes of Wood's were visits to Kiftsgate Court Gardens in Gloucestershire, England, and last season's travelogues in South Africa. But at the end of the day, one of Wood's biggest reasons for running to Gardeners' World for refuge is for the reassurance of hope that the next season to come will bring forth an abundance of life.

"Most importantly, there's something so simple, so calming and reassuring about watching someone sow tomato seeds, plant crocus bulbs, and prune an Old English rose," Wood says. "In today's hectic and uncertain world, nurturing plants is a hopeful nod to the future and what tomorrow, or the next season, will bring."

Master Rosarian Dan Bifano says gardening has fallen from grace as America's favorite pastime in recent years, but between our cravings for natural beauty during the pandemic and the soothing, hopeful respite it has brought millions through watching Monty Don and friends on Gardeners' World, we hope to see this rewarding activity climb back up the ranks. As millions of us have found ourselves spending more time at home in the last year than ever before and our social calendars became practically nonexistent, getting back into the garden has been a valuable way to safely enjoy the outdoors, get creative, boost our newfound cooking skills, and get the family away from screens for an activity together. It has also served as vital inspiration for creatives desperate for insight from outside the home.

Gardeners' World offers something from every type of gardener, be they as green as the shrubs they are hoping to plant or as seasoned as Monty Don himself. BBC's flagship gardening series offers down-to-earth advice from the luxury jewelry-designer-turned-expert gardener, while also delving into education more appropriate for veteran hobbyist and horticulture enthusiasts. Don has been the host of the show since 2003, though he had to take a break for health reasons in 2008, and the series has been hosted from his own home and gardens in Hartfordshire since 2011.

The show's reliable and comforting rhythm always begins with a enchanting opening sequence that may feature a butterfly or charming walled garden before Don appears to lead viewers through insightful and visually sublime segments from some of the world's most impeccable gardens, be it a few counties away, his own estate, or from a distant country. This past 2020 season welcomed home videos from the gardens of new and decades-old fans alike, as there were many barriers to production in England and beyond due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Amazon

The Complete Gardener: A Practical, Imaginative Guide to Every Aspect of Gardening

Season 53 is currently airing on BBC Two every Friday night in the U.K., but those in the U.S. can watch the latest episode through the increasingly popular streaming service BritBox, which brings Britain's most binge-worthy shows across the pond. Episodes 1–3 of the latest season are available now, while several other seasons are available to watch on Amazon Prime Video through BritBox.

Lauren Wicks Lauren Wicks is the Associate Digital Editor at VERANDA, covering design trends, must-have products, travel inspiration and entertaining.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io