.. Anyone going?
I am planning to go on sunday.
With a list as long as your arm of plants to look for for the new bog garden!
Seriously, I think its the best show to visit (after GW Live). Others are either too small or too posh (Chelsea).
I do though think the admission (£23 on the day, £20 in advance) is a little steep, but probably worth it overall.
Not planning to, and I live within walking distance (so we get all the traffic congestion and not even the offer of a free ticket!). Can't afford the time off work, and the weekend crowds are just insane.
My folks went a couple of years back though, and said that they really enjoyed it. I know they were both completely knackered when I picked them up in the evening (I lived a bit further away then, and they couldn't carry all the plants on their own!).
Have fun!!
Provided I don't come down with anything ridiculous, I'll be there on Friday.
Went yesterday & enjoyed myself. Did lots of retail therapy which is always good. Have been going almost since it started & must say it felt alot less crowded than in the past. I presume that is because they have made the area alot bigger rather than less people, & the layout was a bit different. I thought the main show gardens were generally disappointing, no wow factor,tho' the best in show was lovely in a traditional way. There were some lovely small gardens & I thought the water garden with big bonsai in the middle was great. The hanging baskets were generally pretty c**p, anyone on these boards would have done better I reckon. However a very good day.
Hmm I looked at the show gardens on the BBC website and thought they looked a pretty mediocre lot - and i guess the RHS judges thought so too (agreeing with me thats a rarity!) considering the solitary gold awarded. In some ways I hope they look a bit better in real life than in the webcam pictures, or i shall be a touch disapointed when i go to the show.
Anyone else noted a trend in the 'Best in show' awards at the 'Big three' shows this year? Seems as if the 'olde worlde/retro garden look is the 'in' look this year doesnt it? Not complaining mind, I like 'olde worlde' cottagey gardens! Better than some of the modern stuff that you get sometimes.
although modern gardens have their place I would rather have the traditional 'chocolate box' look. When you build a show garden you have to realise that you can only lose points for the hard landscaping and structure, but you gain points for good planting, so I think I will stick to more plants, as the public seem to give them their vote. Last year although we got a silver gilt from the judges the public voted it their favorite.
This year we were disapointed with silver gilt but the gold was very well deserved.
It was not our garden we were doing this year, it was the daily mail garden my partner was working on for Hardys cottage plants.
She had to place and plant 600 roses 'ouch'
Just had a look at the Hardy's cottage garden Heritage. I must say that is my type of garden also. Although cleverly designed, I am not too keen on some of the modern hardens. Call me old-fashioned ;) ;D Well done to your partner for planting all those roses :) Beautiful :)....and congrats on the silver gilt. Well deserved although IMO should have been gold :)