Geoffrey Smith Yorkshires Gardener 1928 - 2009

Yes, I heard that sad news yesterday of Geoffrey Smith's death.
Thanks for making a blog to celebrate his life.
He was a lovely man. :o)

Oh no ! I hadn't heard. What sad news. I have two good books by him. What a shock :o(

Sorry to be the bearer of such sad news Hywel but didnt seem right not to acknowledge him on a gardening web site .

Especially in the North as at the time he trained with the RHS he felt gardening was almost exclusively based in the South and anywhere North of Watford wasnt worth bothering with !

Quite right. I'm glad you wrote the blog. Thank you. I might not have heard otherwise. Fancy thinking the North isn't worth bothering about - what nonsense !

I agree with you, BB - a great gardener and VERY knowledgeable. He will be missed, but what a legacy!

Like you Hywel, I had not heard. Geoffry Smith was a great gardener. He was so down to earth (no pun intended) and so enthusiatic about everything he did. I personally learned a lot from him when he hosted Gardeners World many years ago. He will be sadly missed.
Thank you for the blog Bonkers.
I've given you a like for the blog, but not for the subject.

Thankyou Spritz and Toto..........

Heard the sad news on the news last night. That wealth of knowledge as gone with him like many before :-(

I only knew him through Gardeners world programmes but liked him a lot. Very sad news.

It was a sad passing.................

Always loved him on Gardeners Question Time which I listened to even though I didn't have a garden then. Such an interesting man.

He was Ginellie..thankyou..........

Hi BB, in spain, not heard this news.As Yorkshire people who, although never met him, knew all about him. What a sad loss to the Gardening world.

Our memories are of seeing him on T.V., and hearing him on Radio. We had a caravan on a site nearby where he lived, we went to see if you could visit his garden, you could not go in, but he had a big square hole cut in a very tall hedge, that allowed you to peep in, but not intrude on his privacy! Which told you a lot about the man and his family.

I had not heard this sad news. Jeff inspired me as we both gardened in the same area and showed that you should not be afraid to try anything, I am sure many a Yorkshire and Northerly garden has benefitted from his philosophy. Many fond memories of this charming man. I may visit Harlow Carr in respect.

He was very North Yorkshire Marge and Obe , recall it being a sense of irritation to him that the re - structuring of county boundaries put where he was born out of Yorkshire and into Co.Durham !

If you know the area between Bowes and Richmond up in Arkengarthdale ( doesnt that sound as lovely as it looks ? ) really quite remote and wind swept . Perhaps explains his determination to grow things at Harlow Carr.

Would have thought Harrogate a lot milder climate.

If you come this way Obe - and can manage a visit to Richmond and beyond the area is truly beautiful you could even stop for a pint at Englands highest pub , just choose a sunny day to go !

I always remember Geoffrey Smith saying
" I like a nice herbaceous border...."
I think of him whenever I see one!

Aye nice to have such memories .. for me it was the advice to prune roses by half in late autumn and by half again in early spring .

He explained by hard pruning in autumn if winter was mild youd end up pruning in to new shoots the following spring.

If weather is harsh new shoots could be frosted leaving little of the old wood to prune back into.Sensible advice but had not considered till clearly explained by him.

Hi, we love driving through the hills and dales which link Yorkshire and Lancashire, we usually have a trip twice a year. Sometimes passing through Arkengarthdale. Our favourite round there is to visit the Wensleydale Cheese factory at Hawes. Lots of free samples to try.

I live about an hours drive South of Harrogate, it is a bit more built up there definately a Town, but it will still get some chilly winds.

My Garden Club is running a trip to Harlow Carr this coming Saturday, to see the bulbs and their first of the year, Veggie demo. We are looking forward to going and learning something.

Wensleydale ? Cheese ? Gromit ? Lovely that area is beautiful Marge you ll know Ribbleshead Viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle railway .

Have a lovely day many years since I ve been hope the weather holds for you and dont forget the camera lol

I didn't realize BB.........He will be sorely missed, I read his gardening page every week in the Lady magazine...shall miss his tales of his garden and advice.

Not a magazine Im famiiar with Janey...being a man,but he was a wonderful man who will be sorely missed !