Watch Monty Don's Paradise Gardens

Monty Don's Paradise Gardens is a television series that premiered on BBC2 in 2018. The show is hosted by noted gardening expert Monty Don, who takes viewers on a journey through some of the most breathtaking gardens in the Muslim world. The documentary series is split into three episodes and is filmed across Iran, Turkey, Andalusia, and Morocco.

Monty Don's Paradise Gardens is a unique travelogue that blends history, culture, and religious understanding together with gardening. Monty Don carries the weight of his knowledge and experience of gardening in this series, in which he visits gardens with incredible Islamic art and architecture as their highlights. His purpose is to investigate the Islamic culture and its influence on garden design and aesthetics.

The first episode sees Monty Don travelling to Iran, where he explores the ancient capital of the Persian empire to learn about the origins of paradise gardens. He visits some of the country's most stunning gardens, including the royal palace of Golestan.

In the second episode, Monty Don travels to Andalusia in Spain, where he discovers how Muslim rule influenced some of the most beautiful gardens in the region. He strolls through ancient patios in Granada, Cordoba and Seville, including the magnificent Nasrid Palace, the oldest building in the Alhambra complex.

The final episode of the series sees Monty Don head to Turkey and Morocco, where he investigates how Islamic art and design still influence contemporary gardening traditions. He visits the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, the seat of the Ottoman Empire, and also tours the gardens of Marrakech.

Throughout the series, Monty Don meets with gardeners and horticulturists who provide fascinating insights into how Islamic gardens were created and how they're cared for today. He also delves into the cultural and religious significance of these gardens, linking them to Paradise imagined in Islamic faith.

The show features a collage of gorgeous visuals that include the lush greenery of various gardens, which are intercut with images of mountains and ancient buildings. Viewers are treated to close up shots of a wide range of flowers and trees, along with panoramic views of landscapes that feel straight out of a dream.

Monty Don's Paradise Gardens is a show that succeeds both as a travel documentary and as a gardening program, showcasing an array of beautiful gardens and the cultural merit of their creators. The series provides an insight into the connection between Islamic culture, religious faith and garden design.

Overall, Monty Don's Paradise Gardens is a must-watch for those interested in horticulture, gardening, and Islamic culture. Monty Don guides viewers on a journey through the centuries of garden design and how it's evolved with Islamic gardens from around the world. It's a fascinating, thoughtful and informative television series that's sure to inspire both gardeners and travellers alike.

Monty Don's Paradise Gardens is a series that ran for 1 seasons (2 episodes) between January 1, 2018 and on BBC2