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Hampton Court a disappointment this year?

Last post 21-07-2009 10:58 AM by gardenplanters. 13 replies.

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  • 09/07/2009 03:45 PM
    • RichB
    • 09 Jul 2009
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    Having been to Hampton Court every year for at least the last 10 years I would say this year was disappointing. Firstly let's not deny it, the loss of the Daily Mail Pavilion left a huge gap, despite dressing it up as an "eco" display, what we got was Marshalls showing us their latest Tegular paving blocks and the Met Office giving us the usual lesson in how to save water... and perhaps put a windmill in our (blue dyed) pond. I used to really look forward to seeing the Daily Mail garden because it was so imaginative, we've had seasides, tidal harbours, village greens, allotments and even a snowy winter scene once making a real centre piece, this year we got an "educational" screen and some scrubby grass with a few chickens.

    Also, did you notice there we no large water gardens this year? I saw one or two commercial sellers with ponds but the whole water garden area had gone as too had the hanging baskets to be replaced, it seems, with some bras and pants, what's that all about? As Alan Sugar might say, it was "pants man".

    Missing too were the smaller gardens that often form a row of town houses or front gardens indeed there weren't that many large gardens either 4 or 5 at most? As display of gardens it was poor.

    Finally can I mention my pet irritation, those folding box trolleys people drag around running over you toes and knocking your ankles, it's worse than Heathrow Airport with all the exec's dragging their wheel-along cabin bags around, OK so they make a bob or two for *** Cancer charity but they are a wretched nuisance!

    I've come to the conclusion that I'll stick to Chelsea in future, it's more of a flower show and not a mass commercial bazaar for gardening stuff which is sadly what Hampton Court has become. Wink

    What do you all think? Cheers Rich...
  • 09/07/2009 05:09 PM
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    • miranda
    • Oxfordshire
    • 17 Nov 2004
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    I avoid these shows, but I do wonder if the lack of the usual gardens might not be down to no one having enough money to put displays on rather than Hampton Court wanting to turn the show into a shopping centre. 

  • 10/07/2009 04:45 PM
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    I am not sure that yet another twee chocolate box cottage in yet another cottage garden year after year could be called imaginative so I don't much regret the passing of the DMail garden.

     

    Boggy

    Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
  • 10/07/2009 04:53 PM
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    • RogerBee
    • Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
    • 14 Jan 2009
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    My first time of visiting Hampton Court Palace Flower Show tomorrow, never done Chelsea. In fact I've only done the Malvern Spring Show and Gardeners World Live, both also for the first time this year so very new to this show malarky (big or small). But I'm determined to go and enjoy myself, and hopefully not spend TOO much.

    Give it a go - it might just work!
  • 10/07/2009 05:31 PM
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    • Linnea
    • Hampshire
    • 10 Jan 2008
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    I'm off to HCFS tomorrow too. Will report back on Monday!
  • 10/07/2009 05:39 PM
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    • RichB
    • 09 Jul 2009
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    bogweevil:
    I am not sure that yet another twee chocolate box cottage in yet another cottage garden year after year could be called imaginative

     

    I agree with this point Boggy but remember the garden Pantiles did about 7 or 8 years ago? It even included and underwater section with wooden piles supporting a jetty & pier overhead which you could walk underneath, they creatively used plants to represent seaweeds and corals, they had driftwood and old nautical stuff and for a touch of humour had a topiary octopus! Now that's imaginative... there's no need to do a chocolate box cottage garden at all but a field of grass and a lecture on saving water (haven't gardeners been doing this for decades?) is no more imaginative to me.

  • 11/07/2009 04:14 PM
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    • David
    • Sevenoaks
    • 11 May 2009
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     My impression from todays visit was most favourable. I don't think I have ever seen a Saturday so busy. The queue at the riverside entrance at 10 am was enormous and throughout the show it was generally congested and, in the Pavilions,(especially when the sky started to leak) just as much so as Chelsea.
    I never bother with the Show gardens but I found the Floral Marquees to be as stunning as usual and the Growing Tastes areas really inspiring. I learnt a great deal as usual from my brief discussions with so many of the exhibitors who seem only to pleased to impart really valuable advice on their plants

    I do agree with the initial postperson that those boxes on wheels are a real pain especially when you get a group of three people not looking where they are going with five between them. I saw that several times.

    Unfortunately and despite searching most carefully I could not find the plant I was looking for. Most disagreeable

    Member 29971
  • 11/07/2009 04:35 PM
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    • Jules
    • Stanmore
    • 11 Jul 2009
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    This was my first time to Hampton Court this year and dispite the weather enjoyed it.

    My only quibble was that the organisers let too many people into the grounds and yes the box trolleys are a pain, but who wants to carry things around all day I find it's down to people not looking where they are going and thats why their feet get the trolley treatment.

     

    Jules

    Love, light and laugther

    Jules xx
  • 11/07/2009 06:37 PM
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    • David
    • Sevenoaks
    • 11 May 2009
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     Jules,

    My sentiments entirely. Well put

    Best wishes

    Member 29971
  • 13/07/2009 10:53 AM
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    • Linnea
    • Hampshire
    • 10 Jan 2008
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    I thought Hampton Court was great again this year. lots of smaller gardens and loads of cottage garden plants which I love. Most of the designs were something that could be transferred to home. and I got loads of ideas for my own and my sisters gardens. The grow your own gardens were great and gave me loads of ideas for the allotment.

    The queue to get in at 10am on Saturday was the longest I've stood in but the only place that seemed crowded was the country living marquee, but i think that was cos it was raining at the time.

    Yes the wheelled boxes can be painful but mostly cos people put their feet in the way of them rather than the people using them deliberately running people over with them.

    My favorite flowers were again in abundance and I loved it!
  • 13/07/2009 11:22 AM
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    • RogerBee
    • Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
    • 14 Jan 2009
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    I got to HCPFS at about 10:20 a.m on Saturday and yes there was a queue, but it was moving at a reasonable speed - the queue is just a sign of the popularity of the event. I left again at about 5 p.m having been round just about everything, although I must confess to abandoning the Country Living marquee - it was just too congested. Too many stalls and not enough space between them for comfort. The show gardens were better than Malvern and infinitely better than Gardeners World Live (sorry I'll try not to swear any more) and some were a positive delight to see. I do struggle with the conceptual gardens - maybe I'm just too much of a traditionalist to appreciate a slab of concrete with half a dozen plants in a an odd shaped groove in the middle.

    The rest of it was great, and I behaved myself - a few plant supports and ONLY 3 plants (Penstemons - 3 for a fiver - I was well pleased with myself!

    Next year, I may even take the plunge and visit Chelsea FS too.

    Give it a go - it might just work!
  • 15/07/2009 11:07 AM
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    • AmeliaB
    • Hitchin
    • 15 Jul 2009
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    This was my first time at any flower/garden show - I have only been into gardening for the last few years and this is the first time I could persuade somebody to come along with me.

    I found the show in the main really enjoyable but completely agree with you about the box trolleys - I just think people in general need training on how to wheel a trolley case!! I work in London & have the same issue with commuters/tourists with small trolley cases (most of which could be carried if they weren't so lazy!).

    Anyway - back to the show - I was disappointed in the actual gardens or lack of them - In fact one of my favourite garden displays was the black and white Rachel's Organic garden - which wasn't listed as a show garden. However the exhibitors had lovely displays and gave me stacks of ideas for my own garden. It was also really helpful to be able to approach experts at the stalls in the floral marquee and ask advice on particular plants. I actually liked all the 'bazaar gardening stuff' but would have liked to see more show gardens. Those that were there weren't that stunning (nice but not show stopping).

    I will definately go again but would love to see more gardens - the water gardens from previous years sound great. I also like the idea of having more front garden displays!
  • 17/07/2009 10:26 AM
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    I do tend to agree with the comments below. The weather did not help. On the positive side however, I felt that the Growing Tastes marquee was very inspiring and we were able to get some great salad and oriental veg seeds on offer from Marshalls (the Kitchen Garden Seed company, not paving!). I loved their fruit cages made out of reclaimed wood and saw quite a few people, like me, taking photos in an effort to recreate them back home! So many gardens you see at these shows make you think it is all very well if you have a large garden and tons of time and money. But growing the salads in any old pot or grow sacks actually demonstrated how even in a credit crunch and with only a patio, we can all give it a go. I may even try their soft fruit next year too

    I also loved the new Golden Garks, something of a cross between a light weight rake and a shovel. Been using it lots back home, I wish I'd bought one for my dad!
  • 21/07/2009 10:58 AM
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    I've only done the Malvern Spring Show and Gardeners World Live, both also for the first time this year so very new to this show malarky (big or small).

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