Why Has Monty Gone to The Dogs?

Yes, it’s that time of the year when the press gets outraged about designer gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show! Gardening guru and national treasure Monty Don has designed a garden this year, and it is proving controversial. Needing to decide for myself, I head to SW3 with my e-ticket safely downloaded on my phone.

Television presenter, writer, gardener, and renowned dog lover Monty Don has teamed up with RHS and BBC Radio 2 to create a dog-friendly garden. As our most high-profile TV Gardener, his garden was bound to attract critical attention. Monty often stated he would never design a Chelsea Show Garden, and in a way he hasn’t. Monty’s RHS and BBC Radio2 Dog Garden was designed with the help of Ned, his beloved Golden Retriever. Indeed, Ned was even issued with a formal invitation to participate. Ned wasn’t Monty’s only helper, he has teamed up with Jamie Butterworth, the RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winning plantsman, RHS Ambassador, and nursery owner.  The garden is supported by the RHS and BBC Radio 2, with plenty of encouragement from dog loving DJ Jo Whiley. The vision for the garden may have been supplied by Monty, but it has been Butterworth’s job to bring it to reality.

Why a dog friendly garden? As Monty explained on Gardener’s World, “I’ve never had a garden without dogs”, and this garden is no exception! Ned even had a paw in the design process. Monty recorded the routes taken by Ned through a mock-up of the garden at Butterworth’s nursery, Form Plants, which helped him decide the final layout. The brief was simple. Create a garden where man’s best friend will feel at home, but it also needs to be a nice place for people. To fulfil the brief, there is a central lawn for pooches to roll around on, shade-giving trees to rest under, a doghouse (okay, a swanky human kennel with a dog sofa), and plenty of tennis balls!

Approaching the garden, I can see Monty standing in the summer house chatting with his film crew. I look into the garden between stems of hazel, field maple, and dogwood. How do I know it’s dogwood? From the bark! Ramping up one of the dogwoods is a dog rose (Rosa canina), you can tell Monty had fun with his planting scheme.

The sinuous red brick path reminds me of Monty’s Herefordshire Garden, Longmeadow. At the start of the path, I can see Nigel’s name engraved into the aged brick, and then I spot Ned’s name. More names are engraved into the path, dogs belonging to Radio 2 presenters, RHS ambassadors, Monty, and Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the King. I wonder what Brodie looks like, and whose dog he is?

Another echo of Longmeadow is the wooden summer house with its rufous tiled roof, reflecting Don’s love of reclaimed materials. Rustic but far from derelict (the building, not Monty!). Go behind the summer house, you can peep through a window, where you will see a sink and various dog bowls. Inside, a framed TV screen hangs on the wall playing clips of Monty with his dogs. I ask a visitor called Alexia why she is watching it. She tells me she is hoping to see pictures of her dogs, Charlie Brown and Alfred. Listeners to BBC Radio 2 were invited to tag photos of their furry pals on Instagram with the chance of them appearing on this screen. Outside the building are small collections of planted terracotta pots, some bear Ned’s paw print, others are decorated with a bas relief of Ned balancing on a large ball. Around the corner of the building, on its wall, is a dripping tap that constantly replenishes the metal trough placed beneath it. Further to the left is a shallow pool for dogs to splash in. Two green tennis balls float on the surface, left by Ned during a ludic moment?

On the wooden bench on the lawn there is a yellow and purple rope dog lead, another dog lead is employed as a barrier to close off one of the paths into the garden. One detail that some visitors may not register, are the weeds (or wildflowers!) in the lawn. Jamie grew hundreds of daisies and other weeds such as dock, clover and ribwort plantain to create the meadow look. These wild plants should make the lawn more resilient to drought and wear and tear from dogs and humans. Although it already looks flattened by VIP visitors and romping canines! Carefully dotted among the complex planting are topiary spheres, balls created from trees including copper beech and hornbeam. Through the planting are narrow dirt paths of desire, inspired by Ned’s peregrinations. The planting is rich and sophisticated with a palate of white, purple, orange and red dominating, and plenty of silver foliage. I particularly liked his liberal use of a dramatic looking single-flowered black opium poppy, the colour of a purple grape. In contrast, behind the lawn, there is a generous stand of white allium, inspired by dog play balls? However, his use of ornamental onions and other Chelsea favourites has turned a bit sour.

Newspapers, including the Telegraph and Daily Express have printed alarmist articles highlighting the fact that some of his plant choices are poisonous to dogs, including alliums, lupins and foxgloves. Monty responded Delphically, saying that in his experience, “Dogs are sensible and owners are sensible.” He says that the main plant that he worries about is yew (Taxus baccata) which is toxic to dogs but added that there isn’t any planted in his Chelsea garden. Monty agreed that he has included some plants that are poisonous to dogs, however he pointed out that he hadn’t included any plants that he doesn’t grow in his own garden. The dog garden will live on after RHS Chelsea. It will move across the river to Battersea Dogs & Cat Home (minus any potentially harmful plants) where it will be enjoyed by dogs and the human staff and volunteers that care for them.

This Display Garden is a testament to Monty’s love of gardening and his love of dogs. Monty and Jamie Butterworth’s dedication (‘To Say Nothing of the Dog’) in creating a space that is enjoyable for both dogs and people is a success. Monty wanted this project to be enjoyable and fun, making a garden where people and dogs can feel at home. He has achieved his goal, and made a beautiful garden where dogs are part of the family. The attention to detail and thoughtful design showcases Monty’s horticultural expertise and playfulness. This is not a show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show; it is a message of joy and fun that resonates with all who visit.

Further information.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs until Saturday 24^th May:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show

Dogs are not permitted entry, except for guide dogs and assistance dogs.

Your Local Dog Friendly Garden Centre:

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/

Dogs on leads are very welcome to bring their owners to all Capital Garden Centres.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home:

https://www.battersea.org.uk/

Plants Poisonous to Dogs:

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/health-and-injuries/plants-poisonous-to-dogs