Over the past six months, Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley’s podcast has given fans a unique opportunity to meet their heroes. One standout moment for Jo was visiting Monty Don, the beloved Gardeners' World presenter, at his exquisite Longmeadow garden in Herefordshire. But what truly caught her off guard was something viewers don’t see on TV.
Nestled in Ivington, near Leominster, Longmeadow is often portrayed on Gardeners' World as a sprawling, majestic haven. It’s divided into four beautifully distinct zones: The Cottage Garden, The Jewel Garden, The Paradise Garden, and The Vegetable Garden. Each zone is so thoughtfully designed it could stand alone as an individual garden.
Yet, as Jo Whiley shared on her Dig It podcast, the garden feels quite different in person. “I got a personal tour from Monty himself,” she said. “And it’s definitely smaller than it looks on television, which is true of most things. But it’s stunning—wild yet elegant. Monty was a fantastic host.”
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Monty reveals the garden’s history behind The Cottage Garden, which for two decades was a traditional kitchen garden providing fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs for his family. Over time, it evolved into a floral cottage garden bursting with over 50 varieties of old-fashioned shrub roses in summer. In winter, structural elements like box hedges and eight towering Irish Yews create striking silhouettes—trees that famously fit in the boot of Monty’s car when first planted in 1994.
Jo was thrilled to see Monty’s iconic Jewel Garden. Described by Monty as the garden’s physical and spiritual heart, it’s filled with plants selected for their jewel-like and metallic hues. “It’s like stepping back into the 1980s,” Monty joked, “brash, extravagant, but high maintenance.”
The Paradise Garden showcases Monty’s thoughtful, intellectual side. Inspired by Islamic garden design, it features four symmetrical beds arranged around a gentle water feature. The planting scheme combines soft grasses like Stipa tenuissima with vibrant tulips and summer blooms such as tulbaghia and verbena bonariensis. The addition of fragrant roses and lilies elevates the space, transforming what began as an academic experiment into a beloved garden retreat.
Finally, the Vegetable Garden fulfills the practical purpose Monty originally envisioned. Filled with fresh produce, it allows for the simple luxury of wandering out with a basket to pick ingredients for a homemade meal. “There’s nothing quite like gathering food straight from the garden and turning it into something delicious,” Monty reflects.
Gardeners’ World featuring Monty Don returns to BBC Two on Friday, January 9, from 8pm to 9pm.