The Fifties House

Yes, I've seen it and found it fascinating. I really like programmes about the 50s and 60s

I liked last night's programme because it was mainly about the gardens. My grandmother would have grown vegetables throughout the war but in the late fifties it was a riot of colour - hideous by today's standards - but they were very proud of it. I can remember my father growing vegetables throughout the fifties because, although rationing had ended, good food was still scarce.

How things have changed - I remember when I got married in the early 70s and we planted out the borders of the beds in the front garden with red salvia, blue lobelia and white alyssum, then filled the middles with hybrid tea roses - blue moon, masquerade, iceberg and golden showers - very old fashioned in comparison with today. The hedge in the back garden was Queen Elizabeth floribunda roses, which grew to about 8 feet high, and was underplanted with purple aubretia. Very bright colours by today's standards. Now I like muted blues, yellows and whites, but I do fancy planting some more roses for their lovely scent. They seem to be getting popular again - there are some fabulous ones in the garden centres.

Yes we have been following the programme for a few weeks now and have enjoyed them.
Last nights programme about the garden has sort of come full circle, gardens were used for growing fruit and veg because food was scarce through out the war and for a long time after. Then when things improved flowers were grown in place of fruit and veg ,but now food has become so expensive that gardens are now being turned back to growing fruit and veg .