There was a discussion about this on the Canadian Gardening forum, post is entitled "Get Growing." Apparently, the show has been cancelled. Looks as though many have sent complaints to the network to no avail. I don't have a tv anymore but I used to have one when I lived in Regina (Ken's home town)for a short while, that is where I watched his gardening show on the local cable channel, he was a blast.

On the last show, he kept talking about how it was the last show. I was just thinking he meant the last one of the season. Then, at the end of the show, he paid tribute to his staff and crew, so yes, apparently the show's been cancelled.

I too found his show informative, though he did have his own unique sense of humor. Hopefully someone like HGTV will see fit to add him to their schedule.

Someone mentioned him at our Hort. Society meeting the other night because it was suggested that we try to get him as a speaker. Another person commented that he might have ticked off one too many people by then - so, could this be a reason why his show was cancelled? I seldom watch tv, not even HGTV (it's not in our satellite package anymore), but i had heard that HGTV didn't have gardening shows on anymore anyway.

Yeah, I heard that complaint too, about HGTV not having much in the way of Gardening shows.

Ken's show aired on the W network. As people may or may not be aware, this station was originally called WTV and based in Winnipeg. Someone bought it and moved it to Toronto and over the last few years they have changed alot of their programming. Maybe they just didn't feel this type of program was consistant with their new image. It's a shame, didn't CBC used to have David Tarrant (sp?) and that got cancelled as well?

Thanks for the info' at least now I don't have to get up at 8 o'clock to watch him,just tuned in to HGTV and hear that Kathy Renwell will be on.....oh well Thanks again.

You mentioned HGTV, what in blazes does the "G" stand for?
Rai

The 'G' probably stands for those 'rip the lawn out and plant a few shrubs which will die in a season' shows. Mind you, sometimes the before and after pics look fabulous, but frankly I just don't care for them.
Gardening shows should be informative to both new and old gardeners - easy plants for beginners, where to plant, lasagna beds, good bugs vs bad bugs, new plants on the market, pushing the zones, etc. There are so many things to discuss other than the front of someone else's home and how much it costs to change it from this to that!
My two cents worth and the reason I've gone back to books and the 'net' for great info!
(You can probably sense that I am angry with the world for not having anything anymore on TV for ME, the gardener, to watch! LOL!)
Nicole.

And it should be on in the winter when we're not playing outside! You're right, Nicole - stick to the Net! :)

Marciaz,
Yes, Yes, Yes!! Ken Beatty's program, albeit good, was on the TV here in the Maritimes at noon on Sundays!! Yes I could have taped it, but I am much more adept at gardening than using the VCR... LOL!!

I can't think of it, but there is one program on TV which I truly enjoy. The guy has a white/gray beard. It's not The Victorian Garden, but instead is about bugs in your gardens, and birds, and plants - how they grow and interact - what's good - why things function the way they do in nature, etc. The close-ups are amazing - seeds germinating, flowers blooming, hummingbirds and bees collecting food, the life of ants - soooo full of info. You have a tendency to look at the gardens in a different way after seeing one of these programs.
Don't know what station, or the name of it, or when it's on, but it's GOOD!! When I catch it, NOBODY in the house touches that remote!! LOL!

Nicole.

Bugs and Blooms - i've seen it a few times. It seemed to be one of the more informative shows they had on. However, since this spring, every time i've checked the tv, it's all house renovation shows, and i haven't seen any gardening shows at all. I'm not much of a tv watcher anyway, and dh has custody of the control usually (clutched in his hand as he snores on the couch), so i don't bother. He does't know how to turn on the computer! :)

Although Bugs and Blooms is one of the better gardening shows on HGTV (and done by Calgarians, no less), the program Nicole is referring to is 'Secret World of Gardens'. It's great, but each time I watch it turns out to be a rerun (lots of those on all the cable specialty channels).

Bugs and Blooms, Flower Power and Gardener's Journal seem to be the only ones that are not reruns at the moment (possibly Recreating Eden, too). David Tarrant's "Spring" is worth a look if you missed it the first time around. I hope it comes back for a second season next year, but I'm sure it was fairly expensive to film.

What really bothers me about the cancellation of Ken Beattie's show (aside from the fact that I can no longer watch it!) is the seemingly abrupt way it happened, with no reasonable explanation or forewarning. Ken had mentioned a few weeks ago that the people who put together the opening sequence had won an award for their work. And why would the network have paid for a new set if they didn't intend for the show to be continued for a good while? There seemed to be a huge nationwide audience for the show, so that couldn't have been why it was slashed from the schedule. To be replaced by what?

I wouldn't mind losing "Get Growing" so much if it just showed pretty gardens (you can get that much from magazines and US shows). But I learned a lot from Ken Beattie...advice and tips suitable for Canada that you can't always find elsewhere. He and his show are missed, at least by this viewer. (I emailed the network twice to let them know my feelings and opinion...the first time, I got a form letter in response; there has been no reply to the second email.)

Yes, 'The Secret World Of Gardens' it is!!

Nicole.

Sigh. It's just after 12:00 in Calgary. Normally, I'd be watching (or taping) Ken's show at this time. Another Saturday without his humour and advice. Still no news as to WHY the show was cancelled?? If there were a logical reason, maybe I could accept the cancellation. Sigh.

I felt this bad when David Tarrant's Canadian Gardener was taken off the air, too. But now he's back (at least temporarily) with his new show, so maybe I should just be patient.

My gosh!!!! I just asked, what does the "G" stand for in HGTV. I have to agree with you on the "Secret World of Gardens" I think it is one of the "BEST"garden related shows I've seen,the whole family will get something out of it. I would like to see more episodes made, and those that are done,put on tape. Rai

I e-mailed HGTV last week with the following. I wanted to share that e-mail and the response I got today. If more people sent the same message, something might come of it.

My message, which I sent to feedback@HGTV.ca:

"Considering the imbalance of good gardening shows vs home improvement shows on your network, is anyone at HGTV thinking of recruiting Ken Beattie to do a phone-in program? Apparently, he is no longer under contract to a competing network, and I, along with many other gardeners in this country, would love seeing this fine Canadian gardener given a prime spot in your schedule. I have read countless messages on recent gardening forums that have suggested this very idea. Canadians need the gardening help and advice he so ably provided each week! Your netword would acquire a huge new audience . Please consider the possibilty. "

HGTV's response:
Â

"Thank you for contacting Home & Garden Television Canada. We appreciate your suggestion to acquire and broadcast Get Growing.

Your message has been shared with our Programming department for further consideration and review.

Thank you for taking the time to write to HGTV. We hope you continue to enjoy our programming.

Sincerely,

Viewer Relations
Home & Garden Television Canada
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc."

They used to have "form letters". Now they have "form emails".

Thanks for doing that, calinriley - it would be nice if something comes of it!

This thread is really making me MAD/CROSS etc etc. Was thinking seriously of getting DSL & TV cable. Guess I'll have to read TV guide for awhile to see what there is on HGTV. No point if all /most of the decent (read gardening) shows are not around any more.

Rats ... Inanda

Another show that I really like is Mark Cullens gardening program. It discusses gardening topics, showcases a regular persons garden at the end- And I really like his on air personality. I know it comes on HGTV- but am not sure of airing times. Those who have not seen it- should check it out.

I'm an avid gardener an have been so for many years now. I almost loathe the gardening programs TV has to offer. I guess there's not much geared for an agressive zone 8 / 9 coastal British Columbia gardener. There isn't a show that is specific to a small interest and market such as ours. In my dreams I might imagine a show full of info on New Zealand, Mediterranean, South African, Mexican, Asian and South American discoveries. Garden tours of such areas that would inspire us coastal exotic gardeners to expand our gardening palate. For many of us here, those eastern shows are too much to bear.
I know, too much to ask for a unique niche market in Lostus Land. LOL ;]

Cheers, Barrie.

I, too, am really ticked off at HGTV for their lack of gardening shows at a time when most people can watch them. I'm retired, but I still resent having to stay up until 2:00 a.m. to see Flower Power or any of the others. By the way, there's another show called Get Growing, which was made a few years ago (I guess) in Victoria, BC. It's now on Pridevision TV, but they're switching to all porn in the new year and starting a new station that will be bundled with other "lifestyle" stations and so perhaps the show will be on that one. There's a new one on CBC Mewsworld called "A Year at Kew", and for anyone on the west coast, there's "Gardening with Cisco" on KING tv from Seattle.

Maybe we should all get after HGTV. I already sent them an email and told them that here we garden most of the winter, and that in the rest of the country people want to watch gardening shows in the winter when they can't do anything outside. In the warmer months we're too busy gardening to sit around watching t.v.! They didm't seem to care and just put on more stupid decorating shows!

On another forum, I found contact information regarding a petition to get Ken Beattie back on the air. Check it out and then send an e-mail. There's power in numbers!

Here is a link that might be useful: Ken Beattie petition information

I don't like most "gardening" shows anymore(Victory garden is still ok) before we had tons of good gardening shows. Today all we have are lame garden makeover shows. How are they suppost to help me? I don't have $1000 each year to redo my garden. Sure these gardens like nice but what will they like a year from now? I can't believe they would take Ken of the air.

The cold zone list on yahoo says that ta ta - Ken Beattie is coming to Winnipeg, family and all . To be the Horticulturalist at the Conservatory. Hope it is true.
Inanda

I'm totally with ya'll on this one! I do enjoy the "H" part of HGTV because we still have lots of decorating and renovating to do, etc. BUT the "G" shows they have on I cannot stand. I do not like watching designers come in a just re-do a yard. I love watching the person who LOVES to garden and what THEY have done! I also love watching shows like "The Secret Life of..." and "Victory Garden".... and stuff like THAT!

Just happened to look up the info earlier for the Edmonton Home & Garden Show on March 24-27. They have 7 celebrities listed as appearing, including Andrew Dan-Jumbo - "While You Were Out" and Jim Caruk - "Real Renos". Interestingly, when you go to the section on seminars, there is a seminar presentation with Ken Beattie, entitled "Growing For Our Future Together". Funny, he's NOT listed as a celebrity on the celebrity website but he's giving a seminar. Go figure.

Shauna

TV is no good anymore. All channels have moved to "reality TV" of whatever sort fits in with their mandate. Hence all these stupid shows of remaking someone's front garden, or the neighbour's living room. That is where W channel has gone and that is a lot of where HGTV has done. I packed in HGTV a couple yrs ago. But Kennnnnnnn!! I was waiting and waiting for him to come back after the winter until I had to finally tell myself that winter was long gone and he was not coming back.

Heavens, even if CBC would show all the past episodes of his show as reruns I would watch them.....

The link above to find the petition info didn't work for me. Is it gone off the web now?

Does Mark Cullen have a show anywhere anymore? I'd watch that happily.

Sandy

Please help me. It's been awhile since I have seen "Get Growing" and I don't remember the sponsors of this show/program,can you help me with some names?
The reason for this request is that I,as one individual, would like to boycott the station, and also , more importantly, boycott the sponsors. I'm an old fart and I'm sick and tired of a bunch of yahoos shoving a bunch of crap down my throat. If you can't give the public what they want, get out of the business.
That's my rant for today, maybe my arthritis will act up again, next week and I'll have something more to say. Rai

Hi there,

I to, was a BIG fan of Ken. I can tell you he's in Winnipeg and apparently has been since last summer. He's the mastermind behind our conservatory at Assiniboine Park. Might be worth googling for the park to see his work. I just saw him yesterday at a show at the Convention center, and I almost passed out when I saw him!

A friend of mine claimed to know him, and mentioned me to him last summer (my HUGE love for plants). When I saw him yesterday, I said "my friend may have mentioned me to you in the summer" and would you believe, he remembered my name!!

I was touched!

Happy Gardening!

I too was just wondering yesterday what Ken Beatie is up to since the show was cancelled. I think I would faint if I saw him, I just love his style and sense of humor. I am going to look up the park site and see what I can find. How flatering for you that he remembered your name. Janet

i'm so happy i read this. my mother and sister are such big fans of ken's show. they were shocked when he was canceled.. at least i can report he is alive and well..
as far as most gardening shows go.. all the information one gets, one learns on there own the 1st.year there gardening.. i've learned little from them.. there are exceptions of course..ken's show is one..

I did not know he was involved with the Assiniboine Park.
Do you mean the English Garden as well or just the Conservatory? Gardengirl you must live in Winnipeg.
I would like to join a forum for Winnipeg gardeners. (No offence to other places!!) Do you know of one?

Hi Rosedust. There are lots of Winnipeg and area gardeners that post on the Far North Forum here on the Garden Web; I doubt there would be one just dedicated to Wpg gardeners but would be happy to join it if there was. Debbie.

Ken will be hosting an escorted tour to Borneo in Feb '08. More details will be coming out in the coming weeks. Anyone who remembers Ken will know that he will be an outstanding host and guide through the world's oldest rain forest. The sights and sounds will be fantastic! Stay tuned for more details at www.80ways.com

Ken Beattie is still around and loves to hear your comments. Let's try to get him back on the air.. I hear Oprah is looking for new people on OWN!!! LEts send out the word

no one mentioned Kathy Renwald who had a very good garden program from Hamilton Ontario for several years.

I don't know why it is that television is so lame nowadays

One thing you all might do is listen through the internet to radio garden programs. They are on blogs many of them, and from around Canada and the U.S.
Some interesting garden programs and all sorts of characters doing the show

One in Ontario who has a nice enough program and you can listen to it when you chose, is Marjorie Mason's program, Lets Get Growing.