Monty Don:
Gardening’s Gentle Voice of Wisdom
“Gardens are not places to impose your will — they are places to surrender to time, beauty, and nature.” — Monty Don
Monty Don may be the most beloved gardener in the English-speaking world today. Known for his calming presence on BBC Gardeners’ World, his worn leather jackets, and his deep love of soil, Don has brought gardening into the living rooms and hearts of millions.
But behind the warm, camera-ready exterior is a man with a passionate, often philosophical view of gardening — not as a hobby, but as a way of life.
🪴 From Jewelry to Geraniums: A Surprising Path
Montagu Denis Wyatt Don, born in 1955 in West Berlin, didn’t begin his career in gardens. In the 1980s, he and his wife Sarah ran a jewelry business that ultimately failed, pushing Don into a deep depression — and into the garden.
It was this return to the earth that would not only heal him, but also become his calling. Over time, Monty began writing, and his books on gardening began to draw attention for their depth, elegance, and authenticity.
By the early 2000s, he was the face of Gardeners’ World, filmed at his home garden, Longmeadow, in Herefordshire — a place that is now almost as famous as he is.
🌼 Gardening as Wellness
Monty Don speaks openly about his struggles with mental health, and how gardening became his therapy. He encourages others to find peace, presence, and self-worth in the gentle rhythm of seasonal work — pruning, sowing, composting, resting.
His message is clear:
Gardening is not just about outcomes — it is about the process.
🌿 Monty’s Garden Design Style
While not as architectural as Piet Oudolf or as painterly as Penelope Hobhouse, Don's style is a masterclass in natural elegance:
Loose formality: Structured paths but soft, overflowing borders
Romantic planting: Roses, delphiniums, tulips, dahlias
Seasonal respect: Never forcing a garden, but working with its cycles
Love of soil: Repeatedly stating “it’s all about the soil”
🧭 A Gardener for All of Us
What makes Monty Don special is not perfection — it’s presence. His viewers see him plant, fail, replant, succeed, reflect. He speaks not as an expert preaching from on high, but as a fellow traveler on the path toward a better, greener life.
🌟 To our readers: If Monty has inspired your own garden journey, we’d love to hear about it. Send us photos or stories for a future member spotlight!
Until next time...
I am...
Phil Wilson...
And, here's to living an Herbal Lifestyle With You!