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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 14, 2017 19:50:52 GMT
On July 9, my very last day in England, I attended the very last day of this year's Flower Show. Billed as the largest flower show in the world, it began in 1990 and has been a Royal Horticultural Society show since 1993. I'd chosen the morning entrance time as it was supposed to be less crowded. The day was already hot and bright. The approach to the grounds delivers the same excitement and feel a jousting tournament must have generated in olden times ~ Right inside, this calls to me ~ Just a small portion of the line waiting to get in. I'll try again later ~ This was an anti-poaching display, which can hardly be called a garden. Of course I'm anti-poaching, but this is just silly ~ Right away it starts feeling as though it's all about stuff for sale ~ Admittedly, some of the stuff is insanely desirable. As the world's foremost proponent of gazing balls, this display made my heart go pitty-pat ~ Ooooo! A fabulously different variation on the theme ~ Gazing balls as fountains. Be still, my heart! More spheres ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 14, 2017 20:18:03 GMT
I can see how integrating some of these tall sculptures into the garden would be effective ~ I have to say that I was expecting each display garden to be much bigger. But the two tiny gardens shown in the last two pictures of the previous post give some good ideas for plantings in small spaces, as does this garden ~ Sticking my head into the Floral Display marquee ~ I just love the expression on the lady's face on the far right in this picture and the one above. That's how you want to feel at this kind of show. Knocked out by these fabulous fabrics? They're by the Bath School of Art and Design ~ I wanted to go into the Rose Marquee, but the throngs deterred me ~ Back outside and admiring the airy tangle of color in this garden ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 14, 2017 21:34:55 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2017 0:36:21 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 15, 2017 12:15:36 GMT
I wish I hadn't missed it now!
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2017 16:13:32 GMT
Next year, Mr. Cactus! Moving now through a zone of impressive things to put in the garden ~ The moment I saw this striking display I remembered Kerouac's reporting on a Villa Arpel exhibit ~ I see I cut off the artist's name in this picture, but here is her website. There was every kind of greenhouse, shed, and multi-purpose pod you could imagine ~ I wanted to go into a pod, but every single one was occupied. This section was mobbed with people ~ It was beautifully dressed inside and out ~ What a setting!
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2017 16:32:39 GMT
The name on the marquee makes it sound like a big store, but I believe nothing is taken away until late on the last day. This is a very big tent -- thirty meters wide and two hundred twenty-five meters long. It looks as though every inch of those 6,750 square meters is occupied, but I take a deep breath and plunge in ~ Carnivorous plants ~ The look of wonder on the faces of this family are because the exhibitor is explaining that some of the big-pouched plants capture mice ~ Honestly, I think many of these are as pretty as orchids ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2017 17:48:11 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2017 18:02:25 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 15, 2017 19:06:17 GMT
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Post by bjd on Aug 16, 2017 6:08:37 GMT
Well -- sorry, Bixa, but I much prefer the gardens of the big houses you have shown us or the public parks. This just looks like one gigantic plant nursery where everything is for sale. There is even one man in a line with a green plastic box on wheels for his purchases!
Another problem I have with this artificial setting, is the amount of plant fertilizer and other chemicals put on everything displayed, so that it will be at its maximum number of blooms, even if it is not the right season. There is little natural about this place. Bah, humbug.
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 16, 2017 7:34:17 GMT
Well, I like it......
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 16, 2017 16:12:21 GMT
Bjd, you can hardly compare a flower show to an established garden or public park. The very name indicates that, like a state fair, it is something temporary for the purpose of show. The flower marquee is a great opportunity to see varieties in real life that we might only know from catalogs, or not at all. And of course those exhibitors want to sell their plants instead of having to drag them all the way home again. I was there on the last day, the day everything is for sale, therefore many attendees were looking to buy. As far as fertilizer, etc. -- anything we buy from any plant nursery is undoubtedly not "pure". Thanks, Mick. And there will be more!
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Post by bjd on Aug 16, 2017 18:07:28 GMT
Bixa -- it wasn't a criticism of your thread. I just enjoy your other garden photos more.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 16, 2017 18:38:37 GMT
Oh, I didn't take it personally. I was just, you know, disagreeing with you.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 16, 2017 18:41:07 GMT
Faaaabulous.....glorious pics Bixa. I've never been to Hampton Court altho I did think of going to the show (with Bixa!) but circustances at home got in the way. Your photos are so good. Typical RHS show every time I go I get something from the Dibleys stall, Fernatix and some of the other regular exhibiters. I'm afraid that the shows are all pretty similar these days...same exhibiters and similar 'concept' gardens (usually 85% concrete,weeds and the obligatory water feature) even the bug hotels are pretty generic these days. It's still thrilling to go to a garden show, I've not been to a show for a couple of years. I may go with my sister next year to Malvern
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 16, 2017 18:47:21 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Aug 16, 2017 18:51:40 GMT
Scrolling through all the photos just made me feel happy today. This would be an overwhelming experience in a very good way for myself. I would like to share this with my mom, she would love this place/event.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 17, 2017 5:09:10 GMT
Thanks, Cheery! I looked up Malvern and they have both a Spring and an Autumn show -- nice! This Hampton Court show had a morning price (higher) and an afternoon price. The morning price was worth it as the crowds got really dense around 2 pm. I'm tickled that I took so many pictures of Dibley's Streptocarpus, without knowing that you are a fan. What a lovely thing to say, Mich ~ thank you! I see that your area has "Canada Blooms" every year, and was surprised that it's in early March. Their website says the theme in 2018 is "Let's Go to the Movies". Should be fun!
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 17, 2017 7:19:21 GMT
That was so good Bixa - thanks.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 5:05:29 GMT
Definitely some fabulous flowers. Since you say you went on the last day, I am wondering how much the displays evolve during the week of the affair. I suppose that various people comb over the blooms with clippers and other tools every evening, not to mention some potted items being held in reserve. A heat wave that week would probably be a real challenge.
Some of the decorative items on sale seem totally inappropriate for a natural garden, but then again there's no accounting for taste. No garden gnomes on sale there, or little windmills, plaster mushrooms? Or perhaps, as I would, you turned heel when your camera was in danger of spying any such items? A few of the embellishments look okay, but they are not the majority.
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Post by breeze on Aug 19, 2017 21:26:30 GMT
Those orchids are perfection. Almost unbelievably perfect.
Those are some big begonias! It's a pleasure to see all those warm colors together.
I love the duck photo too.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 20, 2017 18:30:16 GMT
Aww ~ I really appreciate that, Mick! Kerouac, you must be right about how those exhibits were kept so nice and fresh looking. It had in fact been very hot that week. Of course, with the volume of people in the flower marquee, the plants must have luxuriating in all that carbon dioxide! Oh heavens -- I'd have been snapping away if there had been any gnomes or flamingos to see. I noted on that Canadian show I looked up for Mich that it had only allowed gnomes back in this year. Re: appropriate ~ gardens themselves are in effect un-natural, so sticking in other things that make you happy is perfectly okay. In the 8th picture in the OP there is a wavy fountain marked down from £499 to £299. Trust me when I say I would have snapped it up if I could have figured out a way to get it home (and if I had a place to put it). Thanks, Breeze! I didn't think I'd spend too much time in the Flower Marquee, but it contained so many marvels. I believe there are some huge established garden shows in your part of the country, aren't there?
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