We went yet again as it's a bit of a tradition, taking the teens along As they too have a keen interest. All I can say is how utterly disappointed we were, leaving shortly before 230pm.
The floral marquee just lacked any kind of wow factor this year. If it wasn't for the succulents/jungle/tropical stalls we'd been round in half an hour. Totally agree in that all the stalls both in the marquee and the plant village sold lots of the same plants. The air is usually filled with the heady scent of so many lily displays, colourful fuschias so many 'wow' plants to chose from.
Pushing my mother in in a wheelchair was very easy this year as the marquee was half empty. Yes, the whole show was busy but if you you ask me more had been done to attract crowds to the good food bit.
I usually fill the boot of my car to point I can just see our but this year I came home with two bags of allium bulbs.
My mother tried to by some fox gloves but each one she picked she was told that's not on sale until tomorrow. Now these flowers were not on a display but on a sale stand with price tags so why put them there if theyre not for sale.
As for the display gardens, a lot were stunning but the proximity of each one to its neighbour compared to most years made it very difficult to get in to see properly.
Obvioudky the weather was lovely and I always enjoy how visitors have a common intrest, chatting to some a getting some great advice from stalls even when not buying anything. I was particularly impressed with the stall selling the Alstromeria's, my mother was going to buy some yet the lady discouraged her after learning of mums soil type. She could've easily sold them just for making money but getting good advice like this is vital
Mitchbo1,sorry to hear you didn't have a good day.We were lucky to get there just before the show opened so I was able to get in and around the show gardens right at the start, also the floral marquee was not too crowded - I thought the Birmingham city council exhibit was fantastic.I also appreciated the ease of getting round the marquee- those blasted trollies can be a nightmare .We went back to the car for a quick snack and then back around the trade stands and Good food show,all together 3 hours there which was more than enough with the heat and the crowds.
As regards more "northern" shows,Tatton is the first that springs to mind,but there's also the Harrogate autumn show & I think one at Shrewsbury if that's classed as North? I seem to think there may be one at Gateshead but not sure
As regards Chatsworth, we went this year & obviously the weather was a factor, but I'm not sure how easy it would be pushing a wheelchair around there.
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Thanks, if we did go it would def. be an early start and finish !
We went yet again as it's a bit of a tradition, taking the teens along As they too have a keen interest. All I can say is how utterly disappointed we were, leaving shortly before 230pm.
The floral marquee just lacked any kind of wow factor this year. If it wasn't for the succulents/jungle/tropical stalls we'd been round in half an hour. Totally agree in that all the stalls both in the marquee and the plant village sold lots of the same plants. The air is usually filled with the heady scent of so many lily displays, colourful fuschias so many 'wow' plants to chose from.
Pushing my mother in in a wheelchair was very easy this year as the marquee was half empty. Yes, the whole show was busy but if you you ask me more had been done to attract crowds to the good food bit.
I usually fill the boot of my car to point I can just see our but this year I came home with two bags of allium bulbs.
My mother tried to by some fox gloves but each one she picked she was told that's not on sale until tomorrow. Now these flowers were not on a display but on a sale stand with price tags so why put them there if theyre not for sale.
As for the display gardens, a lot were stunning but the proximity of each one to its neighbour compared to most years made it very difficult to get in to see properly.
Obvioudky the weather was lovely and I always enjoy how visitors have a common intrest, chatting to some a getting some great advice from stalls even when not buying anything. I was particularly impressed with the stall selling the Alstromeria's, my mother was going to buy some yet the lady discouraged her after learning of mums soil type. She could've easily sold them just for making money but getting good advice like this is vital
Oops pressed post by mistake- im guessing you get that I wasn't impressed and I think next year we will be trying Chatsworth.
Just a Shame as it's likely to have been my mum's last GW Live due to cancer so would love to have been a successful day.
if anyone can recommend other shows 'up north' it'd be great to know which are the best
Mitchbo1,sorry to hear you didn't have a good day.We were lucky to get there just before the show opened so I was able to get in and around the show gardens right at the start, also the floral marquee was not too crowded - I thought the Birmingham city council exhibit was fantastic.I also appreciated the ease of getting round the marquee- those blasted trollies can be a nightmare
.We went back to the car for a quick snack and then back around the trade stands and Good food show,all together 3 hours there which was more than enough with the heat and the crowds.
As regards more "northern" shows,Tatton is the first that springs to mind,but there's also the Harrogate autumn show & I think one at Shrewsbury if that's classed as North? I seem to think there may be one at Gateshead but not sure
As regards Chatsworth, we went this year & obviously the weather was a factor, but I'm not sure how easy it would be pushing a wheelchair around there.
Last edited: 18 June 2017 15:58:02
Steve, which Hostas did you get?
Irish Luck and Avocado, both scented?