tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33750459.post245143971989600516..comments2023-10-17T15:55:47.102+00:00Comments on The Inelegant Gardener: Of Bourdieu and begoniasHappyMouffetardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09157145094611234176noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33750459.post-24760763964167399442016-07-28T14:13:27.701+00:002016-07-28T14:13:27.701+00:00My Mum's garden is full of the most beautiful ...My Mum's garden is full of the most beautiful begonias in sunset shades. She absolutely loves them. We spend a happy time on a Sunday going round the garden and looking closely at all the plants, comparing their slight colour differences and the shapes of their flowers. We don't mind at all that Monty doesn't like them. We think everyone is entitled to their opinion. To be honest, we are not all that keen on some of his ideas. But again- no two gardeners ever have the same idea. That's the beauty of having your own private space, whether it be a balcony, patio or an acre- it's your own haven to do with what you please. And we intend to carry on with our glorious begonias.karen gimsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02979388211146202244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33750459.post-4734886427040770662016-06-19T14:39:46.597+00:002016-06-19T14:39:46.597+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.HappyMouffetardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157145094611234176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33750459.post-12181499330588971632016-06-19T14:39:39.120+00:002016-06-19T14:39:39.120+00:00Hi VP, thanks for your comment. I used to think li...Hi VP, thanks for your comment. I used to think like that, too. But, as you say, flowers are better than no flowers, whether tender and clashing or subtle and sophisticated. <br /><br />Hi Debbie, thanks for your comments too. I agree, they're not the easiest. And you're certainly right that working class gardeners grew flowers in their cottage gardens. I think the cottage garden style, however, developed more when taken on by the middle and higher classes, when it could become prettier than the odd few useful flowers. There's a great book I reviewed relatively recently on this blog, about the gardens of the British working classes. Fascinating stuff. HappyMouffetardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157145094611234176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33750459.post-7760044112403077172016-06-19T11:11:58.362+00:002016-06-19T11:11:58.362+00:00I have to say I am not keen on houseplants or bedd...I have to say I am not keen on houseplants or bedding either but this is mainly because they need looking after. I do however love trailing lobelias and pelargoniums for a bit of instant colour in the summer. I also love the displays of bedding in parks etc, my own garden is decidedly pastel except for a blast of colour to brighten up the end of the garden with purple elderflower and smoke bush with day lilies and roses.<br />I think there is a possibility that culture and class come into it but then again it was poor rural working class people who began cottage gardening in the first place.<br />Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09300029654181323351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33750459.post-60966373669188695562016-06-19T08:15:44.127+00:002016-06-19T08:15:44.127+00:00Well said HM! I've had a long rambling think a...Well said HM! I've had a long rambling think about this since I started my public planting thread on my blog many moons ago. I used to snigger over some of the brighter seaside schemes, but then realised I was imposing my own preconceptions (plus those of others who love to say they're right) on what I was seeing. <br /><br />What I appreciate now is the desire to make places better, more looked after, and more inclusive. That's a quality which should be encouraged, not sneered at.<br /><br />VPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02732971362066784175noreply@blogger.com