Monty Don, Steely Sister Confession, X Marks The Spot
Gardening legend Monty Don joins Simon to discuss his new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 2 series Monty Don's Paradise Gardens.
Gardening legend Monty Don joins Simon to discuss his new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 2 series 'Monty Don's Paradise Gardens'.
In this series Monty Don travels across the Islamic world in search of Paradise Gardens. The Koran, the holy book of Islam, tells of these magical places; green spaces filled with flowers and fruit where shade and water provide a safe haven from the harsh climate that dominates the Arab world. For Muslims, these gardens are an earthly vision of the real paradise awaiting believers in heaven.
In the first episode Monty starts in Spain where he discovers the basic building blocks of Paradise gardens and their symbolism; green spaces divided into four by channels of water that meet at a central fountain. Given the desert heats and climate of many of these gardens, water is the key feature.
In Morocco, Monty discovers the variety of paradise gardens from an enormous royal walled meadow, to a secret inner city courtyard garden, and a contemporary paradise garden with a twist.
Finally in Iran he explores the huge influence of the gardens in what was Persia and in the desert comes across the secret to their creation. At Pasargadae lie the ruins of the 6th century palace of Cyrus the Great, and recent excavations show that at its heart there was a garden. The garden was divided into four representing not the Islamic, but the sacred Zoroastrian elements of water, wind, fire and earth. When the Arabs invaded Persia in the 6th century, it was these Zoroastrian gardens that influenced their ideas not only of what a garden should be, but of paradise itself.
In the second episode Monty explores Islamic gardens that take the concept of Paradise in a different direction. In Turkey Monty is dazzled by tulips and visits the opulent gardens of the Ottoman Empire that embraced nature in an entirely new way.
In India he learns about the spirituality of Mughal tomb gardens and visits the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous gardens in the world. And he discovers that far from being places of contemplation, these gardens are places full of life.
In the last part of the series Monty returns to the UK where he discovers how the notion of a Paradise garden has been interpreted by different communities from a Royal courtyard to public spaces- each suits their own needs.
Last on
Music Played
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Bryan Ferry
Let's Stick Together
- Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music - Street Life.
- Eg.
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Bruno Mars
Finesse (Remix) (feat. Cardi B)
- (CD Single).
- Atlantic.
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Coldplay
Paradise
- (CD Single).
- Parlophone.
- 1.
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Daft Punk
Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)
- (CD Single).
- Columbia.
- 1.
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Coolio
Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.)
- (CD Single).
- Tommy Boy Music.
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Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble
This Is Me
- The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
- Atlantic.
- 7.
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The Supremes
Where Did Our Love Go
- Diana Ross & The Supremes - 40 Motown.
- Polygram Tv.
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Amen Corner
(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice
- Sunny Afternoon - Sound Of The 60's,V.
- Old Gold.
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Meat Loaf
Dead Ringer for Love
- Rock Of America (Various Artists).
- Trax Label.
-
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Hoseah Partsch
Paper Planes
- (CD Single).
- Virgin/EMI.
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The Kane Gang
Closest Thing To Heaven
- Bad And Lowdown World Of The Kane Gan.
- Kitchenware.
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Manic Street Preachers
International Blue
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David Lee Roth
Just Like Paradise
- Red Hot Metal (Various Artists).
- Dover.
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R.E.M.
Shiny Happy People
- The Greatest Hits Of 1991 (Various).
- Telstar.
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Sex Pistols
Pretty Vacant
- Sex Pistols - Never Mind The B*s.
- Virgin.
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Bellowhead
Roll The Woodpile Down
- Broadside.
- Navigator Records.
- 003.
Broadcast
- Wed 17 Jan 2018 17:05Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2