Today I went to. my first ever flower show. The weather forecast was good (warm) and my friends were great company. I didn’t have to drive so could sit at the back of the car and relax.
I’ve seen television footage of the Chelsea Flower Show so pictured themed gardens with stunning examples of horticultural skills. I was also looking forward to getting ideas for my own garden and possibly coming home with a few plants to fill gaps left by the current heat wave.
I wasn’t expecting masses of pop-up stores selling food, clothing, gin (not that I mind an occasional gin!), cheeses, garden furniture, wooden chalets, food, drink, the list is endless. There were some excellent school gardens based primarily on artists and a handful of aforesaid themed gardens, but they were few and far between.
There was a large under cover plant stall which housed some amazing examples of perennials, ferns, trees, bulbs, cut flowers etc and these stands were the closest that I got to my vision of a flower show.
But, it was a good day out with friends, albeit a bit too commercialised! I did, however, buy a stunning rose called ‘Nostalgia’ which has a deep red edge to the petals and a cream centre. It also has a deliciously sweet smell which is rare in new hybrid varieties.
It is Thursday afternoon. I didn’t spend the morning sitting at a desk answering emails and peering at a spread sheet through the glare of a computer screen! The outing this morning is not a complaint, just not what I had imagined! But still enjoyable and significantly better than being at work! 👠
Jenny Burrell 