Having spent two full days at Hampton Court this year it’s really hard to pick out favourites but I think I’d have to pick the Floral Marquee as the most inspiring, colourful spectacle ever. In the year of encouraging biodiversity, as designated by the United Nations no less, it is the perfect example of celebrating horticultural biodiversity I’ve ever seen.
Normally split into three sections, this year the Floral Marquee had moved to the other side of the Long Water and into one spectacular display.
Slightly daunting but completely breathtaking the displays were phenomenal, a fact that is borne out by the plethora of gold medals awarded to the nurseries there.
I couldn’t pick a favourite, it was all WOW, but I did succumb to some shopping opportunities and bought three species of pelargoniums and a pair of Sarracenia (more about them later). Oh and a gorgeous lavender from Downderrry Nurseries called ‘Gorgeous’.
I was tempted by many more potential plant purchases, but managed to resist.
So my positive memories of Hampton are, in no particular order, as follows:
Working with a swan under my desk in the press office. The Long Water was right outside the window and I could hear the swan filtering the pond water through its beak.
The Edulis display in the Growing Tastes Marquee where there was a fascinating range of edible plants I’d never seen before.
Jack Dunkley’s new style of planting, where park bedding meets herbaceous/mixed border. It sort of worked and was stunningly colourful, harlequin, eclectic and haphazard in a controlled kind of way and brilliant for a teenager!
The Copella Bee Garden because I am rather obsessed with bees at the moment (in case you hadn’t noticed).
Chatting to Eric Knowles about Parsnips and Moorcroft Pottery.
Swapping gossip, news and scandal with my colleagues and friends.
Dinner with the RHS Online and Editorial Team (better not say any more about that).
Actually getting to see the show on Gala night and spending some time looking around without the pressure of deadlines.
Driving back to the peace and tranquillity of the West Country and not finding a disaster waiting at home!.
