RHS Show Tatton Park report

[FrazerHenderson]

Went along to the show last weekend. Thought that it was the best for a number of years. The show gardens were uniformly good. The visionary gardens were exceptional - I'm not a fan of avant-garde gardening, however, I liked them so much I could cheerfully have lived with a couple of them within our policies. There were 16 large show gardens, 14 back gardens, 6 visionary gardens, 3 school gardens and two by young designers.

The RHS had organised a Fruit and Veg competition - the standard was not a patch on the quality to be found at the Dunde show but the RHS are to be applauded for championing allotments and grow-your-own initiatives.

The Floral Design hall contained some truly stunning displays.

I particularly enjoyed the National Plant Societies Marquee which confirm that Britain has a club for every gardening interest- Bonsai Society, British Beekeepers, National Allotment Society, British Clematis Soc, Orchid Soc Chrysanthemum Soc, Herb Soc, tomato Growers, Japanese Garden Soc, Dahlia Soc, Streptocarpus Soc, Hardy Plant Soc, National Veg Soc, Cottage Garden Soc, Pteridological Soc, Cactus and Succulent Soc and a super display by Plant Heritage (NCCPG).

The plant marquee seemed somewhat light in numbers and a chat with a few exhibitors confirmed a general downturn in nurseries attending the big shows. Better returns, apparently, can be had at specialist shows or via internet sales (which don't have the costs of attending a show).

One of the real highlights of the show is the national flower bed competition as 20 local authorities battle it out in summer bedding. I wouldn't give bedding space at home in the garden but even I was won over by the ingenuity of the growers and the sheer exuberance of the displays - and to think bedding is only allowed in hanging baskets and window boxes at home!

Anyway, enough chat, time for some pictures. The first batch is of the sempervivum display by Fernwood Nursery.

Please note these are merely random snaps not the quality photos from the likes of Cliff Booker or Ian Young!

[FrazerHenderson]

A dragon in tomatoes.

A couple of rockery troughs.

Some floral art

[FrazerHenderson]

and some gardens

[FrazerHenderson]

and a few more.

[mark smyth]

Thanks for showing us. I didnt see any of those gardens on the BBC coverage. I like the one with the section raised and under planted with ferns

[Paddy Tobin]

Good report, Franz.

I watched the coverage on BBC but good to see some other aspects of the show not shown there.

Paddy

[Heather Smith]

I agree with Paddy.
I, too, watched the TV coverage but have seen more with these pictures.  Excellent photos!
Thank you.

[Maggi Young]

Frazer, I clean forgot about the TV coverage but I am confident that I have enjoyed your report as much, or more, than I would have the repetitive and formulaic presentation on the tellybox.

[FrazerHenderson]

a few more of Lynn's photos...


...that's all folks as the heaven's opened and for 20 long minutes we sheltered from a Asian facsimile of a tropical storm.

A couple of things worth remarking - South African plants were very well represented and there appeared to be a surge of interest in carnivorous plants..is this the future of gardening?

[Maggi Young]

Please note these are merely random snaps not the quality photos from the likes of Cliff Booker or Ian Young!

a few more of Lynn's photos...

 Frazer! You cheeky  devil..... I think you should apologise to Lynn right away.... nothing wrong with her photos at all.   I think you owe her breakfast in bed tomorrow for that naughtiness.

[FrazerHenderson]

Damn it Maggie, she read your post and now has ideas above her station... I'll now have to get up earlier than my usual 5.50am to boil that egg.

[shelagh]

Think your tomato Dragon might be a Phoenix