I was scratching around looking for something to write about and then this came to my attention.
Well it’s not a bad question…
Talk of divine inspiration; I was going to talk about snowdrops until I saw this. It even links to Anne’s recent post about irritating words in gardening. There has been a bit of rumble around on social media about what people feel the need to call themselves. I traced the origin back to the above post on Twitter/X/whatever it’s called now.
What’s In A Name?
‘Monty bashing’ is something of a sport in professional horticulture circles; it’s not something I’m interested in. Gardeners’ World doesn’t represent me or what I do, so I don’t watch it. I’m not interested in football, so I don’t watch that either….
A private garden in Cornwall, maintained by gardeners
I have no idea why professional gardeners tune in each week, especially when they just moan about how unrepresentative it is. It’s a ‘magazine show’ about plants and gardening, the TV version of what’s known in music as ‘easy listening’.
But anyway, this struck me as something worth consideration.
Nomen Nudum
In taxonomy, the science of naming things, nomen nudum refers to a name that is given to something without adequate official description. Let’s say you discover a plant growing in your back yard, give it a name and pass it to gardens and nurseries but forget to actually formally describe it for science; that is a nomen nudum (which translates from the Latin as ‘naked name’, so think of it as a name that’s not ‘wearing’ a description).
Some words don’t really have good definitions, and ‘gardener’ and ‘horticulturist’ are two such words.
Gardener
You’re a gardener and I’m a gardener. I’m a professional gardener because I get paid to do the gardening, but usually a non-professional gardener is considered to be an amateur gardener. This is a risky assumption because many gardeners can in fact be very much expert at what they do, despite not being paid for their skills.
The driveway at Enys in Cornwall, skillfully maintained by gardeners
‘Gardener’ is a good catch-all word, but it really covers a huge range of people doing a range of things at different levels.
Horticulturist
Like Monty Don, I too have seen the word ‘horticulturist’ being used more widely.
The word covers a wide range of horticultural careers, not just gardening in the sense that you and I would know it. It’s exclusively used in professional circles but, thanks to the relatively undefined nature of the word, could in fact be used by anyone.
Status
Despite the excellent work of so many people within horticulture, this is not an career that brings popularity and status.
Garden designers are usually regarded as the only people in horticulture who have any form of intelligence. The rest of us, it seems, are seen as bumbling simpletons who simply dig holes and barrow manure for our superiors.
When this greenhouse was built at Bicton, Devon, a Head Gardener was all-powerful and all-knowing
Modern professional horticulture is definitely not like that; the work requires a much greater level of knowledge and understanding than it did in times gone by. The old days of one knowledgeable person commanding a large number of unskilled subordinates are long gone, and to have a successful career you’re now expected to be able to think for yourself, to know things for yourself.
Me
Old ideas linger on.
I’ve learnt to weaponise the ideas of what a gardener is a bit; I call myself a ‘gardener’ to see how people react. People who are naturally respectful tend not to make their gardener feel inferior, but when I do come across people who assume I’m only doing this job because I didn’t do well at school, it’s gratifying to firmly, but politely, put people in their place simply by demonstrating that I’m not an idiot.
The birches at Stone Lane, Devon, are cared for by gardeners
You might think this isn’t a nice thing to do; I’d probably agree. Through my career so far I’ve frequently encountered people who look down on horticultural professionals.
Other gardeners prefer instead to project a greater air of professionalism by, for example, calling themselves ‘horticulturists’.
Depressing
There simply shouldn’t need to be a ‘special word’ to make people look more competent.
The problem with relying on words to convey a sense of professional status is that words are universal: anyone can use them.
A quiet corner at Trewithen, Cornwall, maintained by gardeners
A skilled gardener with an incredible knowledge might call themselves a horticulturist to distinguish their services from someone who just owns a few tools and has no idea what they’re doing, but there’s nothing to stop the latter from calling themselves a horticulturist too. If everyone uses the word then it loses any status.
Likewise being qualified means that someone has undergone some sort of training and has probably passed a test or examination at some point, but qualified does not mean competent. There are even people around with degrees in horticulture (MHort) who quite frankly shouldn’t be trusted with a pair of shears. The same can be said of designers; some are incredibly talented while others are less so, yet they’re all afforded the implied status of the garden designers as a whole.
Where Do We Go Next?
It’s worth lamenting the circumstances that make this an issue in the first place. We’re in a world that reveres suits and not skills, where having a trade is seen as a poor alternative to a ‘good job’. That’s a sad place to be; we all benefit from good workmanship, and yet society seems to not respect the people with those skills.
RHS Rosemoor is very beautiful but is, yes you’ve guessed it, tended by gardeners
I for one will continue to own the title of ‘gardener’. I’m skilled, I’m good at my job, but I’m a gardener and not a horticulturist. People can think what they want of gardeners, but I do reserve the right to kick back against anyone who feels entitled to put gardeners down.
Great Rant! “Leave the details to hims that care about them” I say!
I majored in Horticulture at The Pennsylvania State University, worked at a flowershop as my first “career” job ( does that make me a “florist?”) until being fired because I repeatedly refused my boss’s advances.. ( it was the 80’s and I didn’t know I had any recourse) then worked for a company called ChemLawn ( a Lawnist?) A few other Jobs.. got married, and happily became a stay at home … now I am a happy but not-so-attentive GARDENER…with a pretty useless degree except knowing tons of latin! ( hey! A …Linguist!) I guess I am one of the happy few who doesn’t care what people call me (“Lazy” if you look at my jumbly yard) because I can visit Longwood whenever I please AND they are most likely jealous when they catch a glimpse of a tall sparkly glass of Gin and Gingerale ( Ginger slices can be had from the garden) +basil snatched from the garden and a lemon wedge ( also from the garden) ….( HEY A MIXOLOGIST!) perfectly placed poolside… tee hee…I am sorry if people scoff when you say you are a gardener because its the best job in the whole world…maybe we should just smile and keep the secret…
An interesting and varied career.
I think it’s difficult for people to appreciate what goes into gardening as a job rather than a hobby. To give an example, today I’ve been working in very cold conditions planting trees because that’s my job, but a sensibly hobby gardener would have stayed indoors! Being a gardener is a great job and I get why people want to try to give themselves gravitas. In my case I’m going to own the word ‘gardener’, and anyone who wants to try their luck against me is welcome to!
I call myself a professional horticulturist, to make the point that I formally trained in horticulture (a three-year course at the National Botanic Gardens in Ireland), and that it is my profession rather than a hobby. My view is that it makes it clear that I’m trained to a certain internationally-accepted standard and fit for purpose, rather than some teenager with a van and a lawnmower. The description ‘horticulturist’ also loosely covers my work as a gardener, garden writer and occasional garden designer and feeds into my work as a florist. Completely agree that there’s a huge amount of latent snobbery and prejudice as regards those who work in the field of horticulture and all too often the silly, lazy, class-ridden assumption that it’s a career you fell into rather than one made by choice. Sadly, I don’t see that changing any time soon…
I wonder if we should actually be more honest and open about the work we do? If we should show people how much effort goes into the work we do?
The building trades seem to be working on their image, and you never see a builder saying “oh yes anyone can do this, it’s so easy”!
Amateur once meant only that – no pay. But it was a respected and honorable title: Darwin was an amateur naturalist and there was no shame in that. It’s a pity we have down graded the name.
E.A. Bowles, a great amateur gardener.
It’s funny how things are skewed away from the idea, and contributions of, ‘the gifted amateur’.
Ah, but the word amateur originated from the Latin “amare” to love. Thus, we garden for love, not money.
and how do you feel about the title “Master Gardener”! Now at 75 years young, I have been working in this industry since I was 14. I studied Horticulture in College, became a licensed landscape contractor and did design, installation, and maintenance of residential, commercial, and municipal landscapes, taught horticulture classes at a community college, at 41 years young sold my landscaping business and purchased a retail garden center and over the next 30 years developed it into a destination. During that time I was also active in our state nursery and landscape association and was instrumental in updating our continuing education programs and creating our Certified Professional Horticulturist program. State trade organizations put a lot of effort into helping to change the public’s perception of what is considered a “profession” like plumbing, electrical, and yes, landscaping and grounds maintenance, and why they should be compensated appropriately. It’s has been and will continue to be an uphill battle. For some reason the field of arboriculture has managed to make the leap thanks to the ISA but I think that is mostly because people are scared shitless when it comes to big trees. The public has embraced the term “arborist” so maybe “horticulturist” is not too far behind. In the end it doesn’t matter what the public thinks (until of course it comes to proper remuneration). Love what you do and let go of the rest, life is too short to let it bother you.
I toyed with the idea of calling myself a ‘master gardener’ in a toungue-in-cheek way, but certainly in the UK there is a feeling that the term might imply ‘holder of a masters degree in horticulture’.
That said, we have the Chartered Institute of Horticulture in the UK, and members use the letters MCIHort after their name to give themselves gravitas. I was a member once, but the letters after my name didn’t work with a client base of lawyers and other professionals, who just said it meant I was gullible enough to join a trade body!
My understanding of “Master Gardener” (in caps) in the States is that the person has undergone training through a land grant university to work as a volunteer in their county/region to educate the public about research-based solutions to their gardening concerns. The research comes via the universities themselves, the USDA, state ag offices, and select private entities that publish their research for review. There is some status that comes with the term (at least among MGs and those who seek their advice), but no pay. In fact, volunteers are prohibited from using the term to make money.
Wait, hold on; if you become a Master Gardener you’re not allowed to make money off the fact that you’re a Master Gardener?
Sounds like an ego trip to me, but an ego trip for the ‘Master Gardeners’ themselves or for the organisations giving out the status?
Well, it can be an ego trip. Some think it makes them omniscient in matters of gardening. Those are the folks that get inflated egos. The truly smart ones see it as an opportunity to continue growing their knowledge of gardening and plants, and to help others find solutions that work for their specific situation.
Yes I agree that a foundation of knowledge is a good invitation to learn more yourself.
I’ve found that those who claim to know the most tend to know the least, or understand the least; I’ll never know everything about gardening and plants, and this is very exciting to me.
I’m constantly asked if I’m a “Master Gardener” — after a lifetime (OMG! how did that happen?!?) working in the field, I’ve started saying: yes, but I don’t have my capitol letters.
Ben, thank you for your rant. I prefer “gardener” but this gets dumb downed in the U.S. “Oh, that’s nice. You enjoy being outdoors.” On the other hand, I am happier to be a horticulturist, rather than a phlebotomist.
or a proctologist.
Heaven forbid!
I’m determined to own the word ‘gardener’ for myself, but I completely understand why there is a desire, if not need, to use different title to carry weight.
I have a gardening business, but when I look for additional jobs I use “horticulture” as a searcher term (to weed out “landscaper” jobs which sometimes seem synonymous with “gardening” in the US for some reason…I agree with many of these points, gardening is a wonderfully inclusive term for skilled professionals and hobbyists alike…also thanks for the lovely photos of places I now want to visit!
Yes I’m fascinated by the word ‘landscaper’ in the US meaning; in the UK a ‘landscaper’ builds gardens, from brickwork and stone to planting the framework plants of the garden, but I get the impression that in the US there is that overlap with ‘gardening’.
In the US “landscaper” is less about gardening than it is about power equipment. These are the guys that come onto a property and mow the grass, maybe trim the hedges, blow the clippings and leaves, then go. Sometimes you find a company that actually tends the plants, but they are very rare, at least in my area.
I wondered if the difference between the word Monty used (Horticulturalist) and the word you use (Horticulturist) was going to be addressed.
Hahahahaa I WAS wondering that too!!! My tongue gets all rubbery when I try to pronounce horticulturalist as a reply to the ever dreaded question “What do you do?” So I just say awwww “…..putz around the yard really..”
As far as I know both are in use, although ‘horticulturist’ is a little easier to pronounce.
The moment I saw the furore building around Mr.Don’s post I thought of you,(and a few discussions we’ve had along similar lines!). I’m with you, I see no need to differentiate – a word doesn’t make anyone more or less competent and can easily be used by “just a gardener” to imply something else if it does get accepted as meaning ‘gardener+’ as Monty mentioned or similar. I’m a gardener and know I have a varied skill set – I’ve done a bit of landscaping, a bit of design and some consultancy, but I’ve also “just cut lawns” and barrowed stuff about. Much of my daily work in my current role as Head Gardener is mowing lawns and barrowing stuff about – it’s in the nature of maintaining a large garden with a small team! Yes, my skill set is undoubtedly underappreciated by many, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist and calling myself a horticulturalist/horticulturist won’t change a thing – if anything it might further muddy the waters. I have no formal training,(unless you count pesticide and machinery tickets required to do the role professionally) and it’s possible that studying at some point might have helped lay solid foundations to my skill set sooner, but I’d argue that it doesn’t guarantee it! The important thing is to be open to learning and new ideas, and sometimes following a time-honoured curriculum doesn’t allow this. For me what’s needed isn’t a fracturing of the role of gardener into a myriad of sub-sets,(that for some seem to be little more than a way of denigrating people they deem less skilled). Who is the arbiter in this after all? I know some highly skilled & sometimes highly qualified professional gardeners who mow lawns or do other ‘menial’ gardening tasks but this doesn’t lessen their knowledge or the quality of their work. I feel what is needed is a concerted effort from all of us gardening professionals to lift us all up, so that our skill set is recognised for what it is – skillful! Yes, “Anyone can garden” but there’s more to it than just cutting grass. It’s like saying “Anyone can cook” to Raymond Blanc and presenting him with a pot-noodle… At the end of the day the best way of showing your knowledge and skill set is by doing – the proof is in the pudding after all,(or instant Angel Delight to stretch my analogy to breaking!) and calling myself something other than ‘gardener’ won’t change the outcome, financially or productively.
I suspect that the best way to get ourselves out of the metaphorical gutter is to actually share our skills and work. As you know, I’m perfectly happy to show what I do, and the world I exist in, in a brutally honest way. I get kickback from people who would rather keep the bad bits under wraps…
But the beautiful gardens we enjoy aren’t all the work of a few ‘masters’, they’re the work of hard-working people. Some have a limited set of skills but do what they do very well, but others have a lof of things they know about but somehow manage to hopeless at everything. In something as vast as horticulture, or even as vast as gardening, there is a need to actually highlight the good things that are going on. Giving ourselves fancy titles might make us feel a bit better about what we do, but will it actually make a difference?
I think this perception is prevalent amongst trades people. ‘My daughter the doctor’ is probably delivered in a different tone than ‘my daughter the plumber’. Yet how many ‘professional people’ ditch their careers for gardening? Obviously one does the soul better than the other.
Oh absolutely; many fine gardeners come into the gardening world, professional or not, from pretty high powered careers.
It seems I may be a solitary voice for I have the greatest of admiration for gardeners and horticulturalists, the former one who made his/her way in his career along a path of practical training and the latter whose foundation was an academic one, followed we would hope by practical learning!
Gardeners and horticulturalists have given me unending pleasure over the years, probably the great enjoyment of my life, through visiting gardens, attending talks, reading books – and Fionnuala’s weekly newspaper column – and through reading their thoughts here.
Me? I am an amateur undergardener and love it!
Fair play, yours is the closest to a working definition for both ‘gardener’ and ‘horticulturist’ I’ve seen.
Thank you Paddy, I’m glad to hear you enjoy my column :)) And I agree, I have every bit as much respect for really great gardeners (probably more) as I do for great horticulturists. Back in the days when I did the course at the Bots, it was very rooted in the idea of acquiring a really wide variety of hands-on skills by working several days a week in the gardens alongside its own team of gardeners or in a variety of historical gardens or parks managed by OPW. We also had several days a week that were lecture-room based where we were taught the essential principles of horticulture by a variety of lecturers, so the course provided a good balance of both.
I’m lucky to be part of the Cornwall Professional Gardeners Group, an informal netwook in Cornwall and West Devon that provides access to lectures and information days for gardeners of all levels and types.
The number of people able to attend each session varies according to the venue, but I’ve not known a session with less than 90% capacity. We’re gardeners who do all the mundane day to day work to keep gardens at their best, but there is great enthusiasm to learn more and more about our subject. As you say, a balanced approach to learning makes for the best gardeners.
I remember Dylan Moran’s hilarious stand up bit where he charts the many stages of life that end with “…gardening, gardening, gardening, death.” And the audience roars with laughter. Like it or not, the perception that gardening is only a hobby (and one for the retired at that) is strong.
It is difficult to work professionally at a task that 80% of the population does at weekends, and not ruminate a little on this perception. I think that those who have devoted time and money to horticultural training or those who garden professionally (meaning they are paid for it), can be somewhat forgiven for trying to differentiate what they do for a living from the hobbyist. For all his posturing about humble titles, Don has now added ‘Broadcaster’ to his ‘Writer, Gardener.’ self-descriptor, and that’s not something everyone does or can do at the weekend. So he can have his cake and eat it too. Humble. But special.
If we’re being helpful and honest in conversation, and do not have underlying motives, we hopefully wish to give others a true sense of what we are and what we do in as few words as possible. ‘Horticulturist’, ‘Head Gardener’ or ‘Professional Gardener’ says a) I’m trained either at school or on the job; and, b) It’s my career. ‘Gardener’ is too all encompassing for most people to understand. And that, in itself, is understandable. – MW
“It is difficult to work professionally at a task that 80% of the population does at weekends”- yes, and this is where I think professional horticulture should focus.
I periodically get people telling me that it’s somehow my duty to portray a career in horticulture as ‘sunshine and flowers’. I’m writing this response at my kitchen table as a cold northerly wind whistles over the house; I’m going out to plant trees in the freezing cold all day… no ‘sunshine and flowers’ here.
Professionals seem happy to tag on to amateur gardening but then get annoyed when the 80% turn around and say “well I look after my garden so what are you complaining about”. So many people who garden at home decide to do it as a job, only to find that gardening for others isn’t like gardening at home. I’m absolutely an advocate for the idea that we should be a bit more ‘warts and all’ about horticulture as a career; firstly it gives an accurate image for anyone considering joining the career, but more importantly it gives testiment to the skills of the people who work incredibly hard to make gardens what they are.
Oh, he was ever so humble and so very proud of that!
It is much the same for artists. EVERYONE is an artist, but it is what I do for a living. I feel pretentious or even a bit defensive when I say “professional artist”, but I don’t want to be mistaken for a hobbyist or a dabbler. (Might miss out on business that way, or be expected to work for free!)
“Using pencils, oil paint, and murals, I make art that people can understand, of places and things they love, for prices that won’t scare them.” (because I like to put gas in my car, food in the fridge, and new plants in the yard for the gophers and deer and drought and bugs and birds to kill, eat, and destroy).
When times get lean in the art business, I hire out to garden for some of the vacation rentals in town, but I would NEVER call myself a “professional gardener”. I am just a laborer.
But then why “just” in front of “laborer”? The trades are mighty important and in high demand when one needs a drain unstopped, a leak fixed, a roof repaired, a car maintained. I have an enormous amount of admiration and respect for people who can build or repair things.
As someone who can barely draw a straight line with the aid of a ruler, I admire artists greatly. Why shouldn’t you use the word ‘professional’ to subtly tell people that you’re an artist who earns money from your talent rather than just doing it for the fun of it? Being a professional artist should give you some really great kudos; sure there are talented artists around, but people are willing to pay money for your art.
I would dispute your statement that you’re a labourer on one key point: maybe you’re not doing complex work and maybe you’re not great with a wide range of plants, I don’t know. However you are doing the job, and if you’re being invited back and haven’t been blacklisted by every rental property for 200 miles then you’re probably doing at least a satisfactory job of looking after the garden. In the strange hierarchies that exist (and shouldn’t) in gardening, the ‘fancy gardeners’ doing the multi-disciplined work like me tend to look down on lawn contractors. After all, they only do lawns.
However they’re providing a service that clients want, running efficient and economically viable businesses, and by and large do a good job. Some are terrible of course, but most are perfectly good at their jobs. I don’t hold with some of the bad feeling that goes toward them just because they don’t know a poppy from a peony.
Someone mentioned “master gardeners” and my dander was up immediately. Where l live, the recently retired like to assemble at the state ag extension office to slog through big ring binder notebooks of gardening lessons. At the end they are pronounced master gardeners. Which apparently gives them authority to ask me some inane question about my 35 flowerbeds and then announce down very long noses, “l am a Master Gardener”, drawing out the syllables reaaaallllly long for emphasis. “Are you???”
I’m nearly 80 and have done my own “yardwork” all my pseudo-adult life. Frankly, l have forgot more about gardening than these folks are ever likely to know. It’s hard to resist saying just that. Horticulturalist? Hardly! Sigh.
I must confess that I can be quite mean to these sorts of people.
So many times I’ve listened to some great authority tell me that this is that and you must always do this, then when they thing they’ve imparted their wisdom I give a well considered alternative view that comes from meticulous research beforehand. It doesn’t go down well, but between the two of us I’d rather be gardening than getting involved with other people.
What I love best is when someone asks me how to do something, followed by them telling me how they do it…….
One of my clients did that; “How do you think we should tackle this?” followed by “well what we’re going to do is this instead.”
In the end my answer to the first question became “we’re going to tackle this however you want it done”.
You might want to get the client’s wishes in writing so that if anything goes wrong, you don’t get blamed for the stupid idea. I applaud you calling yourself a gardener. It is refreshing to call a job what it is, not some term that supposedly adds importance. “Sanitation engineers” for garbage collectors comes to mind. Are you a “botanical engineer”? Keep on telling folks you are a gardener and make sure you say it proudly! Thanks for a good “rant”.
It’s a good practice in principle, but a difficult one to implement.
Nobody should ever have to ‘talk up’ their job; all jobs have value, even the humble gardener. Those who wish to go through life assuming that gardeners are less than able deserve to be knocked off their pedestals, although in my experience most gardeners are too shy or put down to fight back these days. Gardeners deserve to be proud of their work.
For what it’s worth, when my grandfather emigrated from Germany to the US in 1906, to a position awaiting him in the first commercial carnation operation here, the ship’s manifest listed his occupation as “gartner”. And, lest we forget, Chance, AKA Chauncey Gardener, ended up hobnobbing with and advising tycoons and Washington insiders.
It’s a great point; history is littered with great gardeners, but great horticulturists seem to have become a more recent thing.
Re the Master Gardeners, here in Maryland, US: I have no professional quals, but have been a plant geek for fifty plus years. For over twenty of those years I was a Weekend Warrior at a quite reputable nursery in the D.C. area. My working day was Sunday, and we got the “after church” crowd.
Understand, one of our mantras was, “the customer is always right, even when you know they aren’t.”
And one day, a lady in the After Church Crowd comes up, and after a bit, says, “Deer don’t eat natives. I know this because I’m a Master Gardener.”
OOOOOOOOOOO-kay. The customer is always right. I nodded and made polite noises, while grinding my back teeth into bone meal, and thinking, “What did they eat before the white man came, lady?”
So I tend to look at things very skeptically.
On the few occasions I’m asked about how to learn plants professionally I recommend working in plant retail.
Not looking like a fool when someone asks you a question is a remarkable incentive to learn about plants!
And I know 100% what you mean about grinding your teeth at some of the questions/ideas people come up with; a healthy dose of scepticism is a good thing in the garden.
What’s so controversial about Monty Don and Gardener’s World?
I’m admittedly a huge fan of him and the show, but I struggle to see what the problem is. It’s not a show for professionals, but does it pretend to be? It’s inspirational views and discussions of gardens, with some helpful ideas and tips, geared at home gardeners like me. As an American didn’t grow up learning how to garden, I really appreciate how frequently they go over “basic” skills that are new to me. I learned how to grow potatoes from watching Gardener’s World (nobody around me grows them), and have learned SO much in general. I have gotten so many budding gardeners in my life to take a big step into getting more into gardening by introducing them to the show.
Even for pros, I imagine the historical segments and segments about design are at least interesting, and good to show trends in the field. Also, the segments about ordinary gardens are probably pretty insightful to see the challenges amateurs are facing, which might help them make decisions about their own business. If I owned a nursery, I’d be curious to see such things for sure in helping me market and sell my plants.
Monty Don’s own characterization of the show in a mid-nineties Observer column was “naff but nice” — I wonder if they brought that up during the audition process? 😉 —MW
Ha!
THere was a story around that MD had a fixed term contract to do his holiday show, but when that went off the air the BBC were left with a contract but nothing for him to do. With Titchmarsh looking to step back they were looking for someone who had a garden that could take on the role, and MD was still in contract. Not sure quite how accurate the story is, but I guess it’s plausible.
I absolutely agree. The BBC makes Gardeners’ World because it wants to fill air time with something that people watch (and is obliged to produce a certain number of home/garden shows).
It’s not a show for professionals and has never claimed to be. I don’t watch it myself, but further than that I’m mystified why so many professionals do watch every week, only to then go on an complain how it’s wrong or innaccurate. I don’t understand it, there’s no obligation to watch! The same professionals go onto their blogs and social media platforms to tell everyone how wrong things are, only they don’t create content themselves to try to counter what’s wrong. I just don’t understand why UK horticulture thinks the the show is supposed to be ‘representative’.
When I started in my career someone from the retail team would visit the Gardeners’ World website to see the plant list for that week’s edition. The list would usually be online by Thursday lunch time, and you could spend Thursday afternoon and Friday gathering plants that were to feature on the show together under a sign that said “as seen on Gardeners’ World”. On the Saturday morning customers would flock in and grab those plants, but over time that stopped happening. It ended up that sales would drop when a plant was featured. Quite why was always a mystery; maybe the show changed its approach and people stopped taking their recommendations, or maybe people stopped taking the recommendations and then the show changed with viewer habits. All a mystery.
A client gave me a soft green sweatshirt emblazoned with “PLANT PERSON” across the front. I’ll go with that.
I love it!
What a perfectly lovely rant standing up for the dignity and longevity of this noble occupation (er…. preoccupation for some of us). There would be NO GARDENS if it weren’t for gardeners. Paid or not, kneeling in a garden in despicable weather is humbling and an act of faith in natural systems that govern every last one of us. Thanks Ben!!!
It’s been very interesting to see how people have reacted to the original comment.
Gardening is a noble career. I understand why people feel the desire to give themselves a different job title to elevate themselves above the rest of us, but fundamentally their work is the same as that of the humble gardener, and being a ‘horticulturist’ doesn’t mean they’re enjoying any trappings of their self-appointed status.
If I’m not mistaken, Le Notre called himself a “Landscape Gardener”. Good enough for me…
Works for me too.