Less ostentatious than Chelsea but filled with inspiration, here are our must-see highlights by our resident gardening expert
You could say that the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show is the more relaxed cousin of Chelsea. It's for one that appeals to passionate enthusiasts as well as the professionals that attend every year to spot trends, be inspired, attend workshops and see bucketloads of new blooms.
Set in the grounds of the historic palace, the show is laid out around a lake with bridges linking the two exhibition areas packed with eateries, stalls, show gardens, chill out zones with live music and the celebrity theatres where TV favourites like Bill Oddie and TV gardener Carol Klein will be holding court.
Most importantly for flower fans, the marquees for roses, floristry, and of course the massive Floral Marquee itself, exhibiting thousands of blooms from growers all over the world. If gardening is your thing or you’re looking for a great day out in the sunshine, here are seven reasons not to miss it.
- Find endless photo opportunities with wow-factor installations
Around the site are some fabulous installations to enjoy. The large RHS letters provide a floral display over ‘A River of Flowers’ created from towering purple hued Verbena bonariensis, planted like a dense meadow with a curving path transporting you far away.
An element of fun is captured in giant crocheted sculptures. A wheelbarrow, a plant pot and a watering can dotted around the site add a real festival vibe and a good meeting point, too!
- Experience time travel
Around the show are feature gardens which are not part of the judging but have been created for the visitors' experience and education. ‘Battlefields and Butterflies’ is a huge landscaped feature garden taking us to the World War I trenches and emerging through the other side into a land in the process of rejuvenation.
‘Evolve: Through the Roots of Time’ takes us on a journey back to 3.5 billion years ago when only single-celled organisms were present on Earth. Visitors enter a large dome and trace the evolution of these cells into the amazing variety of plant species that we have today.
- Discover a design icon
‘Iconic Horticultural Heroes’ celebrates the highly influential Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. Here you walk around a series of huge, meadow-style beds, packed with grasses and herbaceous perennials.
There is a variety of colour and form but an overall sense of movement and softness. His unique style has captured the hearts and minds of many, who have emulated his style. It is a highly popular and modern way of planting and we see the effect of his work all around us. Here you can get up close and really see the combinations, choosing the perfect matches for your garden.
- Step through the looking glass
In the witty show garden ‘A Very Modern Problem’, a giant frame in the form of a mobile phone screen divides up two very different scenarios. On one side, we see a normal family garden, strewn with toys (yes, I too have a Little Tikes car destroying my view) and a washing line.
It is the ordinary garden many of us own and enjoy. Through the window is what we believe our gardens should be – a manicured show garden. It is a rather ironic self-reflective garden, commenting on how social media can both inspire and make us feel inadequate.
- Discover a secret infinity room
Intrigue is a powerful thing, and the rusty cube at the centre of ‘Aperion: The Dibond Garden’ shouts mystery in the most beautiful way. Feel for the seamless door to discover a room filled with mirrors and heavenly planting in two diagonal beds, providing a small pathway to pass through.
You are surrounded with grasses and soft tones of pinks, blues, purples and whites. It is ethereal and breath-taking. It is as if you have entered into a dreamlike state; everything is soft, illuminated and magical. Lock me in and throw away the key.
- Learn how your garden can protect your home
It is well worth a wander down the pretty tree-lined avenue of the lifestyle show gardens section to see a particularly useful display aimed at people living in urban areas. ‘Secured by Design’ addresses the problem of home security, using clever landscaping and preventative ideas to make your garden a deterrent to would-be burglars – an important message when many break-ins occur using back garden access.
Top takeaways include using gravel for paths which would allow the sound of an intruder to be heard, adequate lighting, high hedges and spiky plants at the perimeter. Genius!
- You can get your face on the TV
And finally, you may even see the BBC doing some filming and a few of your favourite horticultural gurus hard at work in front of the camera.
From Gardener's World to the annual coverage on BBC 2, you're likely to see camera crews filming at the event - it certainly adds to the buzz and who knows, you might end up on TV.
All images courtesy of Amy Davis