Ask Diarmuid Gavin transcript
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| This event took place Wednesday 13th February, 2002 |
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Diarmuid Gavin
Green fingered Diarmuid Gavin, joined us for a Live Chat and answered your questions about his inspirations and his TV stardom ...
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Question from Jonathan Butler: How did the glass structure perform? Was it insulated above the decking with a ply sheath or what?
Diarmuid Gavin: Yeah, it was. The important thing was that it's for occasional use, not attached to the house. It could be just a conservatory and then it wouldn't need to be insulated.
Question from Perry Harnamji: Man, that was fantastic. Which designer inspired you for this garden?
Diarmuid Gavin: Actually, I'm pretty sure it wasn't! I was inspired by Arnie Jacobsen's furniture in Copenhagen. Also inspired by an Italian designer.
Question from Christine Colvin: We see you creating amazing gardens each week but what is your personal style for your own garden?
Diarmuid Gavin: It's quite like this evening's in a way, but we have a different garden, small and suburban. It's fairly subdued but elegant. Rectangular lawn and we're choosing plants from a nursery tomorrow.
Question from Rhi: Diarmuid, how many gardens do you think you've designed in your time, and if you had to pick one as your favourite, which would it be, one from the series or another one?
Diarmuid Gavin: I reckon about 300 gardens I've designed, since 1988. At the moment it's an average of 20 gardens a year, quite large for a single garden designer. I love the challenge. My favourite is the shark fin garden, on the front of the Home Front in the Garden book.
Question from Gloria Jefferson: How much does a typical garden makeover cost?
Diarmuid Gavin: I've no idea how much to produce. The garden owner contributes £10,000 or £15,000, and the BBC puts in a relatively small amount. The architectural industry are also very kind to us. We beg, borrow and steal - but we've never stolen!
Question from Yip Sue: Do you see yourself more as a TV personality than a gardener now?
Diarmuid Gavin: More as a garden designer. TV is great fun, but what I am is a designer, and I'm getting better. I'm a trained gardener, and they're my prime reasons. It's great to communicate new ideas, and sometimes you have fun making different types of programmes, but I'm not a TV presenter.
Question from Polly Duxbury: Do you do private commissions?
Diarmuid Gavin: How much money have you got? But yeah, I'm going back into that. A few potential projects waiting to be done, hopefully this year.
Question from Jane Connell: Are you hosting the Chelsea Flower Show this year and if so can I have your autograph while I'm there?
Diarmuid Gavin: Yes, I'm doing that this year. My producer from Home Front has a big involvement, and I'm excited by her ideas. I'll hopefully be working with Alan Titchmarsh again, who is an absolute delight.
Question from Polly Duxbury: Would you consider a project in the US?
Diarmuid Gavin: I think we are going to start work in the US shortly, probably initially through TV, but yes it seems on the cards. I'm excited because there's alot of influence out there, and their perception is different to ours. It will be interesting to see what they make of us.
Question from Mark W: Recently you gave a course in Dublin. How did that fare and do you plan to do it again?
Diarmuid Gavin: Yes. We had a fantastic time, I learned a lot. I was really scared. It was a seminar for 250 people, and it was exhilarating. I learned a huge amount. I'll do a one day seminar soon in Dublin, but we're developing a series of seminars in London, Birmingham and Manchester. They will be in about two or three months.
Question from Gordon Langmann: How long did the work on this garden actually take in total?
Diarmuid Gavin: In total, we were on site for 12 days, but as well as tonight's we were also doing last weeks. They weren't too far apart though, in this case. 12 days on site, but for weeks before that you're developing ideas. Included is also the trip to Copenhagen for this week's garden, and Italy for last week's garden.
Question from Elaine: We have just acquired an ex-rape field next to our house which we are turning into a garden, what would you advise as first steps?
Diarmuid Gavin: Doesn't really matter, but it's probably fairly fertile? You have to consider the overall environment. If it's in an exposed place you have to understand the prevailing conditions. After that, I'd say live with it for a while and decide what type of garden you really love.
Question from Louisa Malone: Which is your favourite Irish garden?
Diarmuid Gavin: Oooh, I love Mount Stuart in County Down, it's a National Trust property. It's a mixture of the brilliant temperate environment. In Country Kerry we have gardens like Dereen and on Glanleam, on Valentia Island, and also for a quirky small garden, John Burke's garden in Monkstown. It's just lovely in Ireland is full of beautiful gardens because of the temperate climate.
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