Gardeners’ World star Monty Don was left confused after saying he could not understand the judges’ pick for the top award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
Monty appeared on the BBC Two programme on Tuesday alongside Joe Swift, with both predicting who they thought would win. However, they were shocked when neither were correct.
Ula Maria’s Japanese-inspired forest garden designed for people suffering from muscle wastage won the Best Show Garden award.
The garden, sponsored by Muscular Dystrophy UK, is secluded with occasional bursts of colour which follows the ancient Japanese principle of shinrin-yoku – which means forest-bathing.
While Monty, 68, and Joe, 58, agreed that Ula’s garden was “fantastic”, they were confused by the judges’ decision.
Monty said to his co-host: “Right, well, you got it very wrong. It was certainly not WaterAid by Tom Massey and Je Ahn.”
Joe chimed in as he slammed his card on the table: “No, and it wasn’t The National Garden Scheme Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith either!”
Monty continued: “Well, this is a difficult one because obviously we got it wrong, and that is fine. I think Ula’s garden was fabulous and deserved a gold medal. The fact she is a young, brilliant designer is fantastic.
“But, a lot of people I have spoken to are saying that they just don’t understand where the judges are going.”
Joe added: “It has all become so technical. The boxes are being ticked and it’s about making a faultless garden rather than – well, we made our predictions and for me they were the stand-out gardens so I’m trying to understand why they didn’t win.”
Monty continued: “The one thing that the judges seem to be missing in their effort to be transparent and objective, they have lost that sense of delight that makes a garden. What we have is a procedure that is like passing a driving test.
“I mean, I think it is an interesting debate.” Joe nodded his head in agreement and said: “There is an algorithm coming in.”
As their time ran out, the hosts wrapped up by congratulating Ula Maria on her “fantastic” garden.
Elsewhere in the competition, the Best Construction Award was won by London and Devon-based Matthew Childs Design – whose Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden is intended to resemble a rejuvenated quarry landscape.
The Best Ecotherapy Garden was won by Tom Bannister – a landscape designer who studied garden design at Kew Gardens.
Other winners included the Burma Skincare Initiative Spirit of Partnership Garden for the Best Sanctuary Garden and the Size of Wales Garden for the Best All About Plants Garden.