Letters to garden makers

Dear Monty, I hope you enjoyed my previous wittering, I have never been to Chelsea but watching the coverage on BBC 2 it seemed you warmed to presenting it by day two. I have been looking at gardens whilst on holiday in the Lake District - and I must admit that I am seeing gardens in a different light, much like Dan Pearson and his best in show garden, I am increasingly aware of how much nature creates gardens in response to our management of the landscape. I happened to buy an 'old' book in a bookshop in Ambleside called 'Seeing Gardens' by the photographer Sam Abell published 15 years ago. His photography and philosophy combine to express the idea that gardens can be found everywhere if we have the eyes to see them. It was worth finding this book - it was one of those moments in life that seem pre-ordained. Day 6 A walk from Ambleside to Todd Crag. Ambleside is very popular and is mainly furnished with tea rooms and outdoor wear/climbing outfitter...

Dear Monty, I'm sure you have been missing my drivel, so I thought I would write about this wonderful land of Cumbria. We arrived at the cottage we are renting near Satterthwaite just as the sun broke through and lit up the valley pastures as far as the Grizedale forest. In the sitting room, a vase of spring flowers from the garden to greet us just like a Winifred Nicholson painting. www.winifrednicholson.com  (Look up her work - it is beautiful) The journey was tiring - made more so by drivers hugging the centre lane of the motorway. Here there is peace, the stillness punctuated only by cows bellowing and lambs calling to their mothers. I walked the dog across the fields and drank it in. 2nd day. Drizzle mizzle Damp fields Forced force 'Water water everywhere' Bog dog fog Toff and sheep do not make a happy combination, with a lot of yelping and wheezing we managed to cross the fields from Crosslands Farm having completed a circular walk throu...