Snowdrop events 2015

[emma T]

No John Finch

[chasw]

But John will be at the CGS day today Jennie which is in Kent this year

[Tim Ingram]

It may be impolitic to say this but when the demand becomes for more and more and better and better, from personal experience this can leave you floundering. The Avon display is stunning as have been many displays from specialist nurseries (especially alpine ones) over the years at the RHS Halls - think of John Massey's hepaticas, Blackthorn on several occasions, Pottertons, Edrom... plenty more. These displays make the Shows, not design, because they come from growers who know so much about plants and grow them so well. Design comes after not before. At least this is my reading of it but I expect I have become grumpy and disillusioned . Where snowdrops look and are best of all is growing in gardens and woodlands, and for the nurseryman, propagated, shared and sold to people who are excited by them. Potatoes and snowdrops are both simply plants that we can learn to grow well when it comes down to it. I have certainly lost the feeling that I used to have going to the RHS Shows but maybe that is just looking back with rose-tinted glasses?

[Maggi Young]

A very sad notice from Avon Bulbs - but has Foxgrove Plants really met its demise or just ceased attending this show?

Simply ceased attending the London Show - http://www.foxgroveplants.co.uk/ - they had an open day last week "So, as we shall not see familiar faces at the RHS in London, call down to us on 14th February instead."

[Maggi Young]

The Avon display is stunning as have been many displays from specialist nurseries (especially alpine ones) over the years at the RHS Halls - think of John Massey's hepaticas, Blackthorn on several occasions, Pottertons, Edrom... plenty more. These displays make the Shows, not design, because they come from growers who know so much about plants and grow them so well. Design comes after not before.

Tim, I agree with you wholeheartedly - I despair of the proliferation of "design" in the world of horticulture - it seems the world and his wife has a "design qualification" ( I remember when flavour of the month was taking a cordon bleu cookery course- now it seems everyone is a garden designer ) but where are the plantsmen and women in all the hype around the RHS events.  For Chelsea et al the bulk of the publicity and coverage is for the "Designer Gardens" - which to my mind have as much relevance to real life as private jets have to the average commute to work 

[johnralphcarpenter]

I went yesterday, and (call me a grumpy old man), I think that the Westminster Shows are a shadow of their former selves. Not to denigrate the splendid displays by Avon, Broadleigh, Ashwood et al.

Sad.

[Matt T]

I think the specialist nurseries and plantspeople are to be congratulated for continuing to engage the wider public and represent horticulture in the face of these challenges. Maybe RHS needs a brand refresh as the Royal Design Society? 

[emma T]

It has gone backwards , the potatoes were an improvement from the plant and design show from a couple of years ago .

The potato hall seemed quite empty when I went in it for all of 3 or 4 minutes .

It's a shame , but I'm not sure what can be done ....

[Richard Williams]

Tim, I agree with you wholeheartedly - I despair of the proliferation of "design" in the world of horticulture - it seems the world and his wife has a "design qualification" ( I remember when flavour of the month was taking a cordon bleu cookery course- now it seems everyone is a garden designer ) but where are the plantsmen and women in all the hype around the RHS events.  For Chelsea et al the bulk of the publicity and coverage is for the "Designer Gardens" - which to my mind have as much relevance to real life as private jets have to the average commute to work 

Teaching in horticulture I would definitely agree that garden design is a very popular subject. The trouble is that there is a basic lack of understanding of plants, plant growth and plant needs, both with the public and dare I say it some 'garden designers'. I suppose the recent financial restraints people have been suffering has had an affect on garden makeovers slowing them down a bit but people are still fascinated by the instant gardening phenomenon.
Emma dare I say it but the RHS now can do what it wants as there is no real competition out there, especially show-wise. These shows are vast money making operations and the likes of Malvern spring show (or whatever they call it these days) has seen it significantly change its focus form plants to a food/vintage/clothing/country living? thing. O there goes my RHS membership when my decent is tracked down and I'm neutralised.

[emma T]

I gave up on renewing my membership to the RHS because I just wasn't getting what I thought was value for money ...never ended up reading the garden , now if I could get the plantsman magazine instead of the garden maybe I would change my mind .

I guess if people aren't buying the plants , or taking an interest there's little point pretending it's a plant show or fair anymore

[Blonde Ingrid]

I had not attended any of the London Shows for a number of years and whilst I think it is 'a good thing' that the RHS are trying to engage 'the gardeners of the future', I think that they are going about it in the wrong way. The Shows and the magazine are suffering from the dumbed down, mass market, instant gratification phenomena.  Yesterday was a sad experience.

The RHS seems to have fallen victim to the same malaise as many organisations, which is to rely on 22 year old 'Marketing graduates from new universities' to determine their target market and thus strategy. Their 'demographic analysis' is lifted from the current marketing textbook du jour instead of actual experience in gardening. 'Plants person' is not in their demographic jargon.

A great show used to be at Cottesbrooke, plenty of plants people and lots of chance to discus gardening and plants. Sadly, marketing consultants were employed and decided it could be 'improved' by aiming it at 'Bowden man and Waitrose woman'...unsurprisingly it then had to close as it was not making money!

[Anthonyh]

I enjoyed the show... and seeing the stands (especially the excellent Avon, Ashwood, Trewidden (oh for more greenhouse space... or to live in Cornwall) and the irises on JA).

I'm only a relative newcomer, but it has gone downhill just in the few years I've been going. It had a different feel to the event yesterday...
 I grow potatoes, but I didn't even go in the potato hall (so thanks Emma for showing me what I 'missed'...) I only really went to chat to people (and it was nice to see a few of you) and look at a small number of stands.

It does seem a little ironic that gardening is supposed to be increasing in popularity yet things seem to be increasingly dumbed-down... as for what has caused this... and whether the RHS should follow the trend or resist it...? 

[Tim Ingram]

I enjoyed the show... and seeing the stands (especially the excellent Avon, Ashwood, Trewidden (oh for more greenhouse space... or to live in Cornwall) and the irises on JA).

I'm only a relative newcomer, but it has gone downhill just in the few years I've been going. It had a different feel to the event yesterday...
 I grow potatoes, but I didn't even go in the potato hall (so thanks Emma for showing me what I 'missed'...) I only really went to chat to people (and it was nice to see a few of you) and look at a small number of stands.

It does seem a little ironic that gardening is supposed to be increasing in popularity yet things seem to be increasingly dumbed-down... as for what has caused this... and whether the RHS should follow the trend or resist it...?

[Tim Ingram]

... or whether as the major gardening charity in the country it is part of this? I think perhaps this Show indicates a change in outlook...

[mark smyth]

Today I put in my holiday request for the Norfolk snowdrop weekend and Shaftesbury 2016!