As I mentioned before, Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is my favouritte RHS show, and so the excitement reached a peak as I entered the showground from the Stud car park.
First stop the Press Tent to top up on cold water. I really admire flower show exhibitors who have to battle through all the elements - rain, wind and heat etc. - without complaining, or complaining much. And it's amazing what the plants have to put up with and tolerate during the show too. I think both will be topping up with water on a regular basis if the heatwave continues.
Once refreshed, I had to have a good look round the Floral Marquee to see how things were developing and to check out any new plants that were being launched.
As always on the Saturday, the marquee was in a state of mild anarchy - plants, plant trolleys, soil, bags of moss and compost, pots, cups of tea, bottles of water, sandwiches and people everywhere. Some nurseries had nearly finished setting up, others looked like they'd only just started and some hadn't even turned up yet - they're either well orgnised and know how to put up their stands at break-neck speed or they just don't understand what's involved and how easily time just drifts away - or maybe they were flaked out in a heatwave somewhere, probably in a traffic jam on the M25.
The great Tony Devine was putting together his great display of chrysanthemums. Although he hates me saying it, he really is a great flower arranger! He can also grow good plants too.
As for my preparation for the show, I've still got a bit of work to do this evening before trying to get a good night'ssleep, so I can get down to the show at the crack of dawn and endeavour to start reporting on it in earnest. So, time to crack on...
