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Garden Shows - which ones are worth it?
Montyfangirl
Posts: 66
I want to get to some shows this year - been meaning to for quite some time and this year I am going to do it. Any recommendations please?
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Chelsea is crowded and cramped, no plant shopping available, but you see the creme de la creme of garden design and the atmosphere is amazing
Hampton Court is much more spacious, a lovely day out, plant stores galore.
Hope you get to one ths year ...enjoy 🌺🌸🌼
Where are you based? I also go to Wisley Flower show as it's free entry for RHS holders.
Chatsworth is local, so I went last year and it was a very different type of show, but I enjoyed it and will go back.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I went to Hampton Court in its first or 2nd year and wasn't impressed but I expect it has improved greatly since. Malvern is small and pleasing and you can buy plants and local foods too. The show gardens aren't great but there are some good exhibitors and plants people to chat to and buy from.
Tatton is bigger than Malvern and has the back to back garden displays and the young garden designers and lots of great nurserymen and women happy to talk about their plants.
Haven't been to Cardiff or Chatsworth or the garden shows at the RHS gardens themselves so can't comment.
My advice for all would be to get there early, take a good picnic, a bottle of water and a big bin liner to sit on as food is expensive, queues long and seats hard to find at peak periods. Make sure you wear layers to deal with heat and wet, take a backpack to hold all the leaflets and catalogs and make sure your camera is fully charged and the memory is empty before you start. You'll need lots of photos to remind you of colour and plant combinations you really liked.
RHS membership costs the same as an annual subscription for a magazine and you get a magazine, free access to the RHS gardens and many more plus privileged access to the shows and free access to experts for advice and problem solving and they have a members' seed scheme. What's not to like?
Gardeners World Live is okay, but unless you get there early or arrive mid afternoon, it can be a bit of a nightmare. Lots of "stuff" other than gardening, e.g. pashminas, handbags etc. There is also the Good Food Show as well included in the ticket price.
@Obelixx advice is good re food,camera etc. I would also add comfy shoes, loads of bags for all those plants, and a packet of wet wipes for dirty hands, cooling down etc.
Edited to add, whichever show you go to, if you get there early, hit the floral marquee and plant sales first. If you leave it until later, it can get very crowded and you can't get near. I once spent a very enjoyable time at Malvern looking at the Show gardens in the pouring rain, as the heavens opened and everyone headed to the marquees! I got soaked, but it was worth it !