Interview with Bar Lawson

"Life without Shoot would be intolerable.” By Bar Lawson, Shoot Member since May 2013

About me:

I grew up with plants. Mother was always lifting, dividing and pruning. Father was a science teacher with a passion for finding and photographing as many wild species as he could, he took thousands of slides, many of his plants are now extinct. I read Botany as part of my Science degree, and am used to the Latin words. I don't take any gardening magazines, not even in the grey depths of winter. Mother did they kept her going. Too many adverts and too many repeat articles, some stunning photos though. I've never gardened professionally. I joined a local Gardening club once in Somerton, Somerset, I was the youngest by about 30 years and it was introduced by a bulb fanatic, who showed many hundreds of slides including friends, family and the pet poodle...never again.

In my garden:

In my garden I aim for overflowing, colourful, bee friendly and be daring beds. Cottage more than modern, but there is a strong design element that keeps it 'edgy'. I've owned bigger gardens, but as I learn more, I become a better gardener. I think Shoot has helped me improve, the monthly reminders are a real incentive to do the right thing at the right time. So last year I lifted and divided perennials, sorted my clematis, got bulbs planted in time etc.  This will be the first year that I won't walk around my garden wishing that I'd moved plants last season, done this or that.  Knowing that I can ask any question, about anything and get a raft of intelligent/ useful answers is a massive bonus. I've tried keeping gardening diaries in the past, but they invariably didn't last, so I don't know why I regularly add to the notes in 'my plant list', dates, details etc...probably because on the same website I can easily refer to a huge plant detail data base. I fail to see how Shoot could be bettered, you are an inspiration to all amateur enthusiasts.

How I found Shoot:

I found Shoot by happy accident, I'm sure many did/ do, and we are the dedicated ones. I Googled a plant, can't remember what, and Shoot came up, I followed the links and there you were, I joined up because it all looked so complete, useful, a year later I paid for my subscription, and will continue to do so.

How Shoot could be used to help new gardeners:

I’d like to see Shoot offered in Plant Nurseries, which often don't know diddly squit about the plant that they've just sold you, how many hundreds of people buy and walk away with something that was bought on a whim and will possibly not thrive because the kind of information they need is lacking? Obviously they want to grow a garden. They don't know that they can ask Shoot and receive sound advise, do they?  So their impetus is thwarted, maybe they'll just give up. Now if one was to buy a plant and be given a 'flyer' come business card explaining just how simple being part of the Shoot family is, then it takes the pressure off the retailer/ work experience student and the customer walks away with a new plant and a guaranteed support system....bingo, every one is happy. I do feel like I'm part of a gardening family, new gardeners deserve to feel that too, more so, one failure can do a lot damage.

How I’d feel if Shoot didn’t exist:

I would definitely miss Shoot if you weren't there! I would have to revert back to my now almost retired 'bibles' the RHS A-Z, and a book by Alan Titchmarsh. I used to spend hours trawling book shops trying to find information, invariably the books weren't worth buying. I do use the RHS website, but only if I can't find what I want from Shoot. I particularly like the forums, it's great to feel connected with other gardeners, I like to try my hand at identifying a plant before the experts do, I've only managed it once, but I was ridiculously chuffed with myself. I'm off to Chelsea Flower Show again this year, and I originally found out about the volunteers positions on Shoot last year, so thank you again for that, I love it, my idea of heaven.

I tell as many people as I can about Shoot, you all make a big difference to our lives.