Gardening Shows

Afternoon ALL Forkers, as a matter of interest what gardening shows have you visited ? if any, if you have'nt is there a particular show you would like to attend ? if you have been to a show ( lets say Chelsea for example ) what show would you recomend to visit this year ?

Chelsea.  It' sthe 100th edition thi syear and should have some extra oomph and fun to it.  I laos like Malverna nd tatton.  Haven't been to Cardiff or GW and didn't like Hampton Court because access is so difficult for people who have to come by car and, as  I did the year I went,  have a pushchair and toddler to drive along with all the plant purchases.

Okay thanks obelixx, didn't realise its Chelsea's 100th edition ...........

Any Alpine Garden Society and Scottish Rock Garden Club shows are worth visiting.

These are some of the plants on display at the last one in Blackpool.

http://www.ideasforgardens.net/palustris/AGS_Blackpool_2013/

Thanks Berghill, nice plants

The only one Ive been to is Chelsea and I found it a rather strange experience. The show gardens were beautiful but you could not really see them as the crowds wre 10 deep. It was something I had wanted to visit for years but I ended up a bit dissapointed. Better on the tele.

My tip for Chelsea is to get one of the afternoon only tickets - you are allowed in at 3pm.  It is cheaper, for a start, and by the time you get to 6.30pm the crowds really thin out.  By 7.30 (it closes at 8pm) you have Main Avenue to yourself - wonderful.  I guess it only works if you live close enough to London not to worry about travelling home after.

I also love Hampton Court - agree that parking can sometimes be a nightmare - but the last few years has been much better.  It far more spacious, and easier to look round the nursery stands than Chelsea - which is really just show gardens and the flower marquees.

You can't beat Chelsea. I'm almost embarrassed to admit this to real gardening enthusiasts, but I love Shrewsbury. It is lowbrow compared with RHS shows, and the show gardens are relatively few. but as a magical experience it is great. There are the usual show-tents and floral displays, gardening forums and speakers, gardening magazines and free gifts, plant sales and displays. There are also military bands, choirs, and a truly marvellous firework display in the evenings. There is show jumping and dog shows, children's entertainment and even, in some years, concerts with the likes of Katherine Jenkins and Hayley Westonra. There are lots of related stalls, a food hall and displays of gymnastics, military motorcyclists and horses, etc. We take out membership of the horticultural society and use the members' enclosure and facilities, so we get a bit of  comfort for the two days of the show. It is now a family tradition to attend every couple of years.

I have been to Chelsea and Hampton Court. Last visit to latter was disappointing... too much lifestyle, too little gardening. My favourite is now Malvern and I see you live close enough for a day visit. I go to the Spring show to buy my plants etc for the summer, and to the autumn show to buy my bulbs and plants for the following spring. Brilliant selection of specialist growers and plants etc. Also much cheaper than the other 2 which are now very expensive.RHS please note.

You going this year GG apparently its the 100th show ?

Thanks for the info wonderboy shall bear this in mind, alot of gardeners i have spoken too have recomended the Malvern show

Wish I were, Brumbull. We're going on hol with the family at the end of August, financed by us, and have decided that it is too expensive to go to Shrewsbury as well. Might change my mind if we seem reasonably flush a bit closer to August, but it looks as though we will have to spend quite a bit on the car, so.... maybe. Last time I went, it had shrunk and seemed rather sad, although apparently the charity which runs it has plenty of money in reserve (I'm told). f It was absolutely rained off a couple of times and Hayley Westonra did an entire concert to an empty arena, save for a few diehards like us in the members' marquee seemingly a quarter of a mile away from her. Prices for stalls went up a lot too (again, hearsay) and fewer exhibitors and sellers went. I really hope it has recovered.

Yes GG , ive heard its relatively expensive ? also been told that this year will see a price hike !  

still nice holiday to look forward too ?

be a real shame if it went downhill

There's also a monthly show in London organised by the RHS at its own halls.  I went a couple of times when we were still in teh UK and they were very good - excellent plants and also a lecture.   Local shows are good too.

Here in Belgium there are spring and autumn shows I like to go to.  No show gardens but lots of good stalls selling plants and gardening goodies.  I have developed good relationships with a couple of nurseries who will happily let me order plants for collection at the show and save me a trip to the Ardennes to their nurseries and I have a favourite clematis Man who tells me which will cope with teh cold in my garden and labels his plants with hardiness in degrees centrigade to -25C.

If anyone else is gardening in Belgoum, PM me for a list of shows this April, May and June.

The AGS Show in Whitworth Manchester for tomorrow has been cancelled because of the weather.

Berghill wrote (see)

The AGS Show in Whitworth Manchester for tomorrow has been cancelled because of the weather.

Dont suppose that will go down well !?  cancelled due to weather at the end of March ?