'Willpower & sheer idiocy combine in harmony'
Horticultural shows: great British days out
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, September 16-18
I CAN really recommend the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.
It's been voted Britain's best flower show by Which? magazine - beating even Chelsea.
There's loads to keep non-gardeners entertained, with handmade crafts, gifts and specialist regional foods.
It's held at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 8NZ.
There's free onsite parking, but no pets other than assistance dogs are allowed on the showground or car parks. Do not leave your pets unattended in the car – there is no shade.
For more information, visit www.flowershow.org.uk.
'The best show of all,' says Which?
North East designer wins top award
NORTHUMBRIAN landscaper Peter Cunliffe has scooped top honours in the 2016 Harrogate Spring Flower Show's show gardens.
His design for the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) won a Premier Gold Award for its ‘pick me up’ plot, Tea for Two, comparing the traditions of English high tea with the Japanese tea ceremony.
Featuring an authentic Japanese Tea House, it is designed to evoke an atmosphere of
peaceful solitude, flowing effortlessly from East to West.
Other show garden results (professional):
Viking Höfn (Haven) – Askham Bryan College, near York: A traditional Nordic landscape as the backdrop for a Viking themed garden inspired by a village near York. SILVER
Transition – North Leeds Garden Design: Based around a circular theme, this space aims to demonstrate how a place of relaxation can be created even with limited space. SILVER GILT
A Circle of Life – Stepping Stones in Suburbia, Harrogate: Natural stone forms the basis of this circular water garden, complete with large rock pond and waterfall set against a back drop of graduated stone monoliths. BRONZE
A Wildlife Paradise – Brookside Nurseries Ltd, Harrogate: Treading lightly on the landscape and exploring the myriad of ways to welcome nature into our outdoor space. SILVER
My Family – The Association of Professional Landscapers: Designed with a family in mind, this garden features a fire pit and an evergreen wall connecting with an outdoor dining area. GOLD
Relax in Peace – PRW Garden Services, Doncaster: A haven of peace and comfort designed for a young couple to unwind after a hectic day, complete with night lighting to extend use after dark. SILVER
George’s Garden – Yorkshire Garden Designs, Green Hammerton: A sensory garden for disabled children, inspired by the designer’s son George and aiming to encourage outdoor enjoyment in a safe environment. GOLD
Community Spirit:
A Grand Day Out – Horticap Ltd, Harrogate: A fun garden designed for horticultural theatre with a display inspired by the famous cartoon characters Wallace and Gromit. GOLD
THERE'S nothing quite like a trip to a big gardening show, enjoying the exhibits, show gardens, plants, food and shopping. Here's a rolling programme of the season's best.
RHS garden addresses
RHS Garden Harlow Carr: Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 1QB (SatNav HG3 1UE).
Telephone 0845 265 8070.
Opening times: All year except Christmas Day. Until 28 February 2016, 9.30am-4pm; 1 March-1 November 2016, 9.30am-6pm. Last entry one hour before closing.
RHS Garden Wisley: Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB.
Telephone 0845 260 9000.
Opening times: All year except Christmas Day; Monday-Friday 10am-4.30pm; Sat-Sun & Bank Hols 9am-4.30pm. Last entry one hour before closing.
RHS Garden Hyde Hall: Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET.
Telephone 0845 265 8071.
Opening times: All year except Christmas Day; March-October 10am-6pm; November-February 10am-4pm. Last entry one hour before closing.
RHS Garden Rosemoor: Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH.
Telephone 0845 265 8072.
Opening times: All year except Christmas Day; April-September 10am-6pm; October-March 10am-5pm. Last entry one hour before closing.
Casting a royal eye over Hampton Court
RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
5-9 July, 10am-7.30pm, Sunday (July 10), 10am-5.30pm (plant sell off 4.30pm)
THIS year at Hampton Court, there's more show gardens than ever, as well as two new categories.
The Capability Brown Gardens will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the 18th-century Northumbrian, and to contrast, the City Garden category will focus on small outdoor spaces.
Wander through free-flying butterflies from Indonesia and South America in the Butterfly Dome.
Keep the kids entertained on Family Saturday, packed with activities like sowing seeds, a family trail, story telling, and children's cookery classes. It’s fuelled by rocket science, the theme of each activity, including space-themed scarecrows.
The Floral Marquee will showcase exhibitors and specialist nurseries. It's the perfect place to stock up on unusual seasonal plants, both here and in the Plant Village.
The Festival of Roses offers lovely displays, and around the showground there are inspiring talks and demonstrations by celebrity gardeners.
Getting there; Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU. The closest railway station is Hampton Court, a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. This service is run by South West Trains. For more information, call 023 8072 8162.
Disabled tickets/access: For information about wheelchair access, wheelchair hire or parking call 0844 581 0787.Tickets range from £20.50 to £37, dependng on RHS membership, whether bought in advance or for a full or half day. Visit www.rhs.org.uk for more details.
'King Henry VIII' admires a maze garden that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in 2015. Picture; Bethany Clarke/RHS