RHS Flower Shows

what do you think of the tv presenters for gardening?

eastwood — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:55:46 GMT

As I have seemed to have created a great debate over the show. How do you all feel about the presenters of gardeners world? What kind of programming do you want to watch about horticulture? Who has been your fav presenter and why? What was your fav show Ground force for example? Will this debate be as passionate?

Member tickets to Chelsea Flower Show

Anders Ljusberg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:02:37 GMT

I'm considering an RHS membership as a gift to my partner for christmas, partly as a nice gift but also in order to be able to go to the members only days at Chelsea Flower Show. Now to the question.. Do we both need to be members in order to go or is one membership enough?

Wisley Flower Show

David — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:38:29 GMT

I did observe that preparations were well underway for the show during my visit to the gardens on Tuesday and it seemed quite different from last year. My Pater, now 100 plus, is super grumpy if he feels I am wheeling around a display of indifference. He was very impressed with his visit again to the excellent glasshouse a couple of weeks ago although he felt obliged to remove his favourite fleece but does anyone have a positive opinion of this show. I would really appreciate some encouragement.

Thank you

Chelsea 2010

David — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:43:05 GMT

It is good to see tickets are now available so you can purchase now and help the RHS funds at the same time.

However, if you are a full member and wish to buy one ticket for both the Tuesday and Wenesday private view days, to which one is entitled, the online system gets somewhat tiresome and will. apparently, only allow you to buy for one of the private view days with the other would having to be a public day. The solution is to telephone 0844 209 1810 where you will find the very helpful young lady much more understanding.

Tatton 2009 visit

Douglas — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:09:20 GMT

OK it was a dry sunny Saturday morning as I headed down the A556 to the show

As usual ( ok from the second year onwards ) the traffic control was excellent

The first problem was the mud ruts and general slidiness of the field roads following the torrential rain earlier in the month. Surely there must be a better way to move and park thousands of cars without causing so much damage to the parkland.

Well I joined the queue to get in at 0940 and the first niggle was the very late movem,ent of people with children across the lines of queues to get the "free entry" child armbands. This was probably a teething problem and better earlier signage would help next time.

The real problem is with the directions ( or lack of ) within the show area. Plenty of signs to food areas or the Country Living tent or the Plant Plaza. None I saw ( and I was looking ) for the Floral Marquee nor for the National Plant Societies Marquee. If anyone from the RHS reads this ***PLEASE*** put directions for all the main plant areas in place next year

The show itself seemed quieter than last year.

Certainly the Floral Marquee seemed to have fewer exhibitors but those who were there were excellent ( Cath's Garden, Fernatix and Dibleys really stood out for me but Fryers and Beales and Robinsons came close ).

The National Plant Societies marquee had more of the familiar stands but even here the tomato display was good but a bit subdued ( 2 gryphons and a car ferry in tomatos ??? ) and the herb society seemed to be the same as last year down to selling the same magazines.

The flower beds and back-to-backs were a mixed bag and the show gardens ranged from the good ( That Awkward Corner, Ness Botanische, the Bluebird garden and the Edible Trends ) through the disappointing ( Thyme and Money ) to the wierd and very boring bamboo garden for Radio Live Transmission

One or two days at Hampton Court

Annie — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:11:41 GMT

Hi There,

My friend and fellow gardener will be in England for the show and to visit several gardens (haven't selected them yet - there are SOOO many). We are avid gardeners, and I do some garden design and she has a garden clean-up business. Is one day sufficient to see the show? If so, should we get tickets for the first or second day to avoid the largest crowds?

Thanks!

Annie

Tatton 2009

Rodnyette — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:31:02 GMT

Someone told OH that I Can show my allotment groups veg at Tatton. Is that correct or no

Trailing Bamboo - Hampton 2008

marianne — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:50:41 GMT

Does anyone know where I can buy a speciman of the trailing bamboo (I think 'Babylon') which was shown at Hampton Court show last year?

It was a gorgeous, lush plant displayed in a basket and available for sale......but as I was travelling by train and figured I could get it from the internet, I didn't buy it.....and now can't find it anywhere!

Thanks

Mari

Chelsea Flower Show Presenters

Gayle — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:42:33 GMT

I am very new to gardening and its very refreshing to watch Nicki Chapman on the show. She also wears some fabulous outfits and brings such glamour to the show. I am now back to the website for some inspiration on my own garden.

Which is your favourite Chelsea garden of 2009?

sue1002 — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:18:08 GMT

I haven't seen the footage of all the gardens yet but my favourite one so far is the 'Nature Ascending' in the Urban garden section, I just love the log wall for the insects and mammals to live in.

It will be interesting to see if James May gets an award for his 'Paradise in Plasticine', I found it amusing and a lot of work has definitely gone into making everything. I was half expecting to see Jeremy Clarkson pop his head round the corner

Vegetable Displays

just as it is — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:11:36 GMT

Haven't been to Chelsea this year, unfortunately as pleb have to go with everyone else which means enormous crowds and a loss of full appreciation of each display. However have a serious problem when Chelsea has gone down the road of a village biggest pumpkin display contest and judge vegetables on the way they look and not on the way they taste. Personally i think that is rather irresponsible as it encourages supermarkets perfect size and look fruit and vegetables complex, completely forgetting that primary purpose of growing vegetable is their taste and not their look. A tomato which is small and slightly deformed might have much better taste than the one which is perfect size, colour and perfectly displayed above all. Wrong, very wrong.

Wishing Arbor?

Artylad — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:26:41 GMT

I am hoping someone will be able to help me on this one. I saw the highlights on tv thursday 21st and they were showing the various stands of which people could buy things for their gardens. In one shot there was a beautiful arbor that the presenter mentioned was called a wishing arbor and it was made of metal and had apples on it. Does anybody know who the manufacturer is or how else could i find out please. Many thanks x x x

Chelsea flower show - dress code?

Lennie — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:35:19 GMT

Im wondering if there is a dress code for Chelsea Flower Show members day? Anyone?

Hampton Court Flower Show - Last day

GeoffLondon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:06:30 GMT

Having not been to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show before, I'm not entirely sure which day to go on. We were wondering about going on the final day, do they sell off the plants as they do at Chelsea? I don't want to buy an afternoon ticket for the final day only to discover that half the show gardens start getting dismantled as soon as I've arrived! However, a few cheap plants are always a HUGE bonus!

Which Flower Show?

Buttercup — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:06:08 GMT

Hi there, I wonder if you could offer me some advice? This year I went to the Scottish show at Ingliston with my mum. We quite enjoyed it, but decided that we'd like to go to a bigger event next year. My question is which show would experienced show go-ers recommend for show novices like us?

A few point to consider; we live in Scotland and we can travel, but obviously there are some practicalities to consider, we are interested in garden design and plants, not really in buying loppers and wrought iron furniture and we are not members of the RHS (but this could and possibly should be rectified), we are fit and active and are not afraid of schlepping round for hours and we'd probably like a leetle plant or two to buy, just as a memeto you understand .

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Hampton Court a disappointment this year?

RichB — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:45:51 GMT

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.

What do you all think? Cheers Rich...

RHS Collection

JenniferH — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:38:33 GMT

I've uploaded 11 edited photos of Show, Urban and Courtyard Gardens. Peruse for garden design ideas or just for the memories! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhenderson/collections/72157618763172275/

The Floral Ladies Lineup

JenniferH — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:19:57 GMT

One of the highlights of the show was the RHS Chelsea Florist of the year contest. All the entries were creative and colorful hats made entirely of flowers balanced on a mannequin head. I've posted photos on Flickr with appropriate credit. (If you know the creators of the 3 without credit please e-mail me and let me know. jlhhenderson at gmail dot com. Thank you.) Enjoy! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhenderson/sets/72157618763244593/

Jenn's Survival Guide to Surviving the Chelsea Flower Show

JenniferH — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:14:32 GMT

After my 3rd year visiting the show, my second year visiting as a photographer, I have prepared Jenn's Guide to Surviving the Chelsea Flower Show. This guide is for everyone who wants to have better memories of such an incredible event. You can read the short guide here on my blog:

http://curiosityquotient.blogspot.com/2009/05/jenns-guide-to-surviving-chelsea-flower.html

Enjoy!

Jennifer

BBC Gardeners' World Live Earlybird ticket code GWN

carolyna — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:39:03 GMT

If you buy your BBC Gardeners' World Live tickets before the 31st of December and quote GWN in the promotional code box you can save up to 24%. The discount works best if you buy the general admission ticket for a specific date rather than the anyday ticket.

NS&I Growing gardens today competition

NS&I — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:00:59 GMT

NS&I is giving aspiring garden designers the opportunity to showcase their talents at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. The event takes place on 10 – 14 June 2009 at the NEC Birmingham. As a supporter of the RHS Grow Your Own campaign, NS&I are launching the competition to help encourage and nurture new talent.

More information on the NS&I Growing gardens today competition, including details of how to enter, can be found at www.nsandi.com/rhs

Chelsea 2009

David — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:37:41 GMT

Autumn Show - Bromley Horticultural society Sat.25th oct

emikobcat — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:13:48 GMT

Urgent invitation to our Autumn Show this Sat. 25th Oct. 2:30- 4:30pm.

We are RHS affiliated, National Chysanthemum Society, Nat.Dahlia, and Nat.Vegetable society.

Our show is held at Carey Scutt Hall, Plaistow Lane Bromley (opposite cricket ground).

free entry, exhibition of above categories, as well as pot plants, cakes, crafts, ruffles,

teas and cakes for sale, auction off exhibits for charity. WELCOME ALL!!

(show entry are open till Thu.23rd. -9pm, by phone, to Show Secretary - Emiko 0208 461 2909 for details.

and, latest will be on the day between 8am- 11.50 am, at the venue, though please check categories.)

new members always welcome. we have a party in summer, and Summer Show.

best regards,

Ms Emiko Yamaguchi

London Flower Shows

David 29971 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:12:19 GMT

I do understand that consumer demands change all the time and that the excellent Vincent Square Flower Shows may not now be viable. Congestion charges, exhibitors rewards , etc being insufficient etc.etc.etc.

However, I did attend the Wisley Flower Show a couple of weeks or so and and from the the number of coaches, cars etc it was a great success. From my view it did seem substantially smaller than the previous year shows, number of exhibitors, RHS displays and so on.

I also attended that Temple business yesterday and again, commercially, it must have been a great success. People and queues especially for the meagre catering etc everywhere . If I had a pound for every time I said sorry to someone I had bumped into I would be able to buy Wisley,a Jaguar and a couple of Bentleys. Also those "musicians" in the main tent - Well, I did not realise my hearing was so good!!

I must add that everyone appeared to be content (Visually) but I do wonder how many will return for future similar shows

Both events did from my myopic view appeared to be "over marketed"

I am a really great supporter of the RHS and those prestige events of Chelsea and HC are outstanding but I do wonder whether the Society should really forget about these junior shows and promote their excellent gardens with more vigour.

I am sure that the other 369,999 of the Society members will, "comme d'habitude,|" disagree vigourously.

Malvern Autumn Show

James1664 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:22:10 GMT

Did anyone go to the Malvern Autumn show and are there any photo's anywhere? I seemed to have missed out on this show this year!!!