For the past six months, Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley’s podcast has allowed these beloved BBC Radio presenters to connect with some of their biggest inspirations. A standout moment for Jo Whiley was meeting Monty Don, the celebrated gardener and presenter of Gardeners' World. However, her visit to Monty’s iconic garden at Longmeadow in Herefordshire brought a surprising revelation about what the camera doesn’t capture.
Longmeadow, located in Monty’s home village of Ivington near Leominster, is famous for its four distinct garden zones: The Cottage Garden, The Jewel Garden, The Paradise Garden, and The Vegetable Garden. On TV, the garden appears vast, with each section seemingly able to stand alone. But Jo says the real experience is quite different.
“I saw Monty’s garden,” she shared on her Dig It podcast after receiving a personal tour. “It’s a lot smaller in real life than it looks on television, as is often the case with gardens. But it’s incredibly beautiful—wild, rugged, and full of character—and Monty was an exceptional host.”
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Monty himself explains that the Longmeadow Cottage Garden originally functioned for over 20 years as a traditional kitchen garden, providing fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs for his family. Over time, it has blossomed into a classic floral cottage garden, especially vibrant in summer with over 50 varieties of old-fashioned shrub roses. During winter, box hedges and eight large Irish Yews—plants that once fit into his car boot in 1994—define the garden’s structure.
Among the highlights Jo admired was Monty’s famed Jewel Garden, which Monty describes as the “physical and spiritual centre” of Longmeadow. Every plant was carefully chosen for its jewel-like or metallic hues, creating an effect that Monty humorously compares to the 1980s: “brash, extravagant, and high maintenance!”
The Paradise Garden reflects Monty’s more thoughtful design approach, inspired by a “Koranic” concept of balance, featuring four symmetrical beds surrounding a softly bubbling water feature. Its planting scheme is modern and delicate, anchored by soft grasses and seasonal blooms like tulip acuminata, tulbaghia, and verbena bonariensis. Roses and lilies inject fragrance, completing this serene and beloved garden area.
Lastly, the Vegetable Garden fulfills the practical purpose Monty originally intended—to provide fresh produce ready to be picked and enjoyed in the kitchen. Monty notes, “The luxury of strolling into the garden with a basket, selecting the freshest produce, and swiftly turning it into a simple meal is one of life’s great joys.”
Monty Don and his beautiful Longmeadow garden return to screens on BBC Two tonight, Friday, January 9, from 8pm to 9pm.