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Monty Don’s Favourite Garden: A Place Where Time and Nature Breathe Together
Monty Don’s Favourite Garden: A Place Where Time and Nature Breathe Together
When Monty Don speaks about gardens, it’s rarely just about plants. It’s about philosophy, patience, and the emotional landscapes that mirror our own. So when he names a favourite garden — the one he describes as his “sanctuary, teacher, and mirror” — it’s worth paying attention.
This is not a perfectly pruned paradise or a celebrity showpiece. It’s a quiet, living space that captures what Monty has championed for decades: the soulful relationship between people and nature.
A Garden Beyond Perfection
Monty’s favourite garden (often believed to be Herefordshire’s Ivington Gardens, near his own home) is not about grand design. Instead, it’s about soul. Paths curve unevenly, moss creeps into corners, and the scent of lavender and damp soil lingers in the morning mist.
He has often said that a garden should “breathe, not perform.” In this place, nature isn’t overmanaged. Wildness isn’t weeded out — it’s welcomed. Flowers burst through cracks. The air hums with life. And there’s always something quietly changing, always something new to notice if you pause long enough.
It’s easy to see why Monty Don calls it his “favourite.”
Why This Garden Matters to Monty
In interviews and writings, Monty has described gardening as an act of grounding — a way to find peace in a chaotic world. His connection to his garden is deeply personal, particularly after moments of personal loss and health challenges.
He once said:
“A garden holds your memories, your labour, your mistakes, your joys — and gives them back to you in growth.”
That sentiment sums up why his favourite garden holds such power. It is a living memory of effort, weather, and time. It doesn’t demand admiration; it offers comfort.
When Monty walks through it, he often stops to listen — to the rustle of leaves, to the bees, to the quiet. It’s not just gardening; it’s communion.
The Magic of Imperfection
What makes this garden stand out from countless others isn’t perfection but imperfection. Monty has long been an advocate for allowing nature its voice. He prefers gardens that are a conversation rather than a command — where plants grow into one another, where insects have free reign, and where decay is as beautiful as bloom.
He’s famously said:
“If you want to make a garden perfect, you’ll kill what makes it special.”
That philosophy breathes through every inch of his favourite sanctuary. It’s not just a garden; it’s an ecosystem of calm, a reflection of balance between nurture and surrender.
The Emotions Tied to His Garden
Monty’s attachment is emotional as much as aesthetic. After the passing of loved ones and periods of personal struggle, the garden has been his healing space — a place where he can grieve, think, and find solace.
When speaking about his garden, he often connects it to the concept of “green therapy” — the idea that contact with nature can restore mental health. For Monty, gardening isn’t just a hobby; it’s medicine.
In his own words:
“Every seed I plant, every weed I pull, is a small act of faith. It’s saying — I believe there will be a tomorrow.”
This sense of hope makes his favourite garden much more than a beautiful setting — it’s a lifeline.
Lessons From Monty’s Favourite Garden
There are powerful takeaways for anyone inspired by Monty Don’s outlook:
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Let nature lead — Don’t overdesign. Observe before you interfere.
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Value small beauty — The curve of a petal, the sound of rain on leaves, the smell of earth after storms.
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Gardens evolve, as do we — No garden is ever finished. Its story changes with every season.
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Your garden reflects your inner life — If you are tense, the garden will feel strained. If you are patient, it will soften.
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Healing happens slowly — In both soil and soul, growth takes time.
These principles explain why Monty’s favourite garden means more than any award-winning estate — it’s an honest garden. One that reflects the person tending it.
Why It Resonates With So Many
Monty Don’s connection to his garden resonates because it reflects something universal — the search for peace, purpose, and belonging in a noisy world. His love for that quiet patch of earth invites others to rediscover their own gardens, no matter how small, as places of calm and creation.
As he’s said many times, gardening is not about possession but partnership. You don’t own a garden; you collaborate with it.
“A garden never belongs to you. You belong to it for a while.”
Final Thoughts
Monty Don’s favourite garden may never appear on glossy magazine covers. It doesn’t need to. Its beauty lies in the way it makes you feel.
It reminds us that gardens aren’t performances — they’re companions. They grow with us, grieve with us, and, in quiet ways, heal us.
For Monty, and for many who follow his gentle philosophy, a garden isn’t a space you perfect. It’s a space you live with. And that’s what makes it beautiful — imperfect, evolving, endlessly alive. 🌿
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