Things have got a lot more inventive since I started blogging about gardening back in 2004. Back then a post about my new bronze trowel seemed just about exciting enough for anyone. But now there’s Emma Cooper podcasting up a storm over at the Alternative Kitchen Garden, Emma Townshend’s Emsworth Online Show, Arabella Sock’s celebrity flights of fancy and the inimitable James Alexander-Sinclair being generally very posh, erudite and lovely.
So I thought I’d add something new to Horticultural to keep up with the times: Hot plot or not? The idea’s really simple – I show you a picture of a garden and you get the chance to say if you think it’s any cop. (It’s a riff on the whole “Am I hot or not?” internet phenomenon, in case you were wondering).
Both catty comments and constructive criticism are allowed, but nothing too nasty please: I will be moderating comments. Some of the gardens will be ones I’ve visited, like the one below, others will be ones I spot on my perambulations, but you can also submit a picture of your own garden - if you dare - for judging by the masses by emailing me. And naturally I’ll also be providing pictures of my own garden (once it's revamped) for you to tear apart at some point.
So I thought I’d add something new to Horticultural to keep up with the times: Hot plot or not? The idea’s really simple – I show you a picture of a garden and you get the chance to say if you think it’s any cop. (It’s a riff on the whole “Am I hot or not?” internet phenomenon, in case you were wondering).
Both catty comments and constructive criticism are allowed, but nothing too nasty please: I will be moderating comments. Some of the gardens will be ones I’ve visited, like the one below, others will be ones I spot on my perambulations, but you can also submit a picture of your own garden - if you dare - for judging by the masses by emailing me. And naturally I’ll also be providing pictures of my own garden (once it's revamped) for you to tear apart at some point.
And so without further ado here’s the first garden. I won't tell you its name other than to say it's in Canada, so extra brownie points if you can identify it. But most importantly, what do you think? I'll save my thoughts until the vote talcountly, to avoid influencing your decision. Oh, and please begin your comment with the word “hot” or “not” so I can tally the votes.
It's the unmistakeable Butchart Gardens, on Vancouver Island.
Never been a fan, personally, but the masses never seem to stop flocking there.
My vote: NOT
Posted by: Heavy Petal | August 26, 2009 at 09:51 PM
Hot, I like to walk in and around the flowers. It's not as great as my Monkey Balls plant but it will do ;)
Fun project!
Posted by: Anna/Flowergardengirl | August 26, 2009 at 09:53 PM
Yes, I recognized it instantly as the Butchart Gardens too. It is not the kind of garden I grow for myself, but it's beautiful and I love visiting it so I still vote HOT.
First, reclaimed quarry! Taking an ugly hole and turning it into a garden always gets points from me.
Second - I loved the garbage cans (none of which are visible in this photo), which all have planters on top. On my last visit my mum thought I was mad for taking pictures of garbage cans, but container gardening is something I'm not very good at so I was stealing ideas.
Posted by: Jane in Edmonton | August 26, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Not a pretty sight. Wretched excess. I visited on recommendation of friends - actually on the day before 9/11/2001. An appalling exercise in bad taste, though I believe the illustrious Nigel Colborn sees some virtue in it:)
Posted by: James Golden | August 27, 2009 at 02:44 AM
Great idea! This garden must have something going for it as I recognised it instantly as the gardens on Vancouver Island despite only having seen it when flicking through a guide book some years ago.
From the picture I don't like it. Ghastly combination of yellows and pinks, too static, too manicured, too municipal looking.
Would I visit it? Absolutely. Would I like it. Not.
Posted by: Arabella Sock | August 27, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Not. Don't know the gardens so they might be stunning IRL but just looking at this pic they don't do a lot for me.
Can see they're beautiful etc but just a bit too boring/park like for my taste.
Posted by: Deb@carrotsandkids | August 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Not - on balance.
There's elements I really like, such as the use of trees and an inviting looking journey round the garden.
BUT in my post migraine haze, those gaudy pinks and yellows in enormous blocks in the flowerbeds are simply too much.
Welcome back and this is a great idea for a regular topic :)
Like Arabella, I 'd still go there to see for myself.
Posted by: VP | August 27, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Not. Don't like the colour scheme, and the way the conifers are used. Reminds me of my local park, which isn't a good thing. :)
Posted by: Melanie | August 27, 2009 at 11:31 AM
NOT - it's like corporation planting on acid (the drug not the soil) although my gran would love it so she would probably vote hot (posthumously)
Posted by: Dawn | August 27, 2009 at 12:06 PM
NOT! I like a bit of movement, this seems a bit static for my tastes. You have to admire the work that has been put in though.
Posted by: Susan | August 27, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Well done Heavy Petal for ID-ing this garden so fast! It's Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. You're right Arabella that it's worth a visit even if you aren't drawn to Butchart's style.
Best off to avoid the middle of summer when it can be heaving. My favourite garden on the Islands are the Tofino Botanic Garden (http://www.tbgf.org/gardens) and the Hort Gardens of the Pacific (http://www.glendalegardens.ca/), if you're interested...
Posted by: Jane Perrone | August 27, 2009 at 03:46 PM
Man, that is UGLY! Definitely NOT. i reckon you can just about get away with dwarf conifers but only if you kind of hide them in something billowing and soft. This all looks weirdly rigid and static and seventies. But there is a tantalising bit of a beautiful looking hedge up the back there, and some lovely trees, so i'm sure it's not all bad.
Posted by: Lia Leendertz | August 28, 2009 at 07:57 PM
It is a big garden, Lia, and yes, there are lots of bits that you'd probably find more pleasing. But a lot of it is very 50s feeling - the dahlia walk is what you might call politely a "riot of colour" ....
Posted by: Jane Perrone | August 29, 2009 at 08:53 AM
Not. Too brash - Green is a wonderful colour in gardens, and there isn't enough of it in this one. Would that be Butchart gardens by any chance?
Posted by: Matron | August 29, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Ouch. That is Not Hot. Unless it's 1975 or sometime thereabouts when island beds, conifers and garish colours where whipped into submission to look like some kind of cross between a botanical bedspread and a crazy golf course. And it's in Canada - never been, but that's not how I imagine it...
Posted by: millip | September 01, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Smokin' hot but not in the conventional, rather po faced, horticultural way.
This is hot as in Le Cage Aux Folles rather than arty Film Noir.
Unashamedly ebullient and over the top.
It glories in its vulgarity and loudness and puts two fingers up to the New Naturalism.
God Bless Canada...
Posted by: JamesA-S | September 02, 2009 at 06:35 PM
interesting how they combine the acers, and trees with all the bedding and flowers.
Posted by: bill | October 03, 2009 at 05:20 PM
ya it's hot and i really like it........!
Posted by: Hortist | October 04, 2009 at 11:34 AM
It's been a couple years since anyone commented here. I've just been reading your blog. I made it back this far. Imagine my surprise seeing a pic of Butchart Gardens. I live in Sidney BC Canada which makes this garden about a 15 minute drive from my home. This sunken garden is a small part of a huge garden. There is an orchard, japanese garden, rose garden, Italian garden, etc. Even if you think it is unappealing in the picture, if you ever get the chance...go see it!!
Posted by: Erin Middlebrooks | August 09, 2011 at 02:47 AM
Hi Erin, I know Sidney - I have relations on the island. Butchart is an interesting garden - or rather set of gardens - but my favourite in that neck of the woods is the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific - mucn more my style and less touristy! http://hcp.ca/
Posted by: Jane Perrone | August 10, 2011 at 08:59 PM