RHS Tatton Park Flower Show – 20th Anniversary visit

I cannot believe that it has been 20 years since the very first show at Tatton, I was 18 years old and I went with my friend Lesley. Here is a special picture of the first visit

I haven’t been every year but I have been to most, with Tatton Park being only half an hour drive away. I remember always coming back from flower shows with far too many plants that I needed and even wanted. I was always so excited.

I have volunteered for the RHS over the past couple of years, but this year Sue and I enjoyed a fairly varied weathered day of talks and plants!

I always love to head to the Floral Marquee first thing, this year was no exception.

Here are a few pictures from inside the marquee:

A huge display of Chrysanthemums.

The first hosta stall I came across was Bowden. Here it is.

The local Cacti and Succulent stall with a great array of shapes sizes and spikes!

I love this aloe, they are so hard to get a hold of!! I still haven’t found one for sale!!

Some great tropical looking plants.

Lots of alliums and bulb flowers.

Air plants displayed as I’ve never seen before.

I couldn’t help but take a picture of this lily. Nepalensis, stunning flower.

Some stunning colours is in the Hydrangeas.

Another plant display, this time by Mickfield Hosta Nurseries.

The Bonsai always have a timeless class.

Acers are great trees for every garden, looking super as a bonsai.

Dibley’s always have a great colourful display, filled with begonias and streptocarpus.

If I’m honest, I am not the biggest fan of roses but who can not like this stunning display?

A display of grasses with a multitude of colours.

If there’s one plant that popped up it was this stunning Eucomis. Sadly didn’t get the name but may appear on my wish list.

Air plants are colourful and intriguing with their lack of soil, simply absorb nutrients and moisture from the air through their leaves.

Extremely vibrant of colours of gladioli.

This rainbow of colour comes from pelargoniums, some less known and flowering forms I believe.

Probably one of the most unusual know varieties including Schlefferas, which I was very tempted by.

As always Plantagogo have a huge variety and mix of colours with their heucheras and heucherellas.

It’s always great to see what Craig House Cacti offer, they are a home run nursery who just prove that with enthusiasm and determination they can beat the rest. Amazing plants on offer.

I’ve never seen Wacks Wicked Plants before, this display is certainly a different way to show off carnivorous plants to their best.

Bromeliads are bright, colourful and have different growth habits, sadly one species I am not great with! I love the purple and red one that follows!

Brugmansias aka Daturas have huge, mainly pendular blooms that steal the show. Many are highly scented. This is a display by GreenKoos

More Hosta’s, Brookfield Plants showing off a variety of hostas. From miniature to bigger.

For the first time, Sue and I went to some talks, the first of which was held by Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek with his touring ‘Weird and Wacky Plants’.

The talk was fun and interesting; it certainly engaged all the audience, with regular outbursts of laughter, trying unusual flavours and learning the background history and facts about different plants was made fun and easy to understand.

Here I am with Michael, after following him on Twitter and Instagram for some time, it’s great to finally meet him. Check out his website for interesting facts, plants and more – https://mrplantgeek.com/

Taking a walk around the show gardens is a must. Here are some of the gardens.

Here is Sue and me in the field of yellow flower, a new addition at Tatton as far as I am aware.

Before I visited Tatton I had heard that Soil Blockers were going to have a stall, I had seen these on BBC Gardeners World not long ago, and was eager to see how easy they were to use. The team were friendly and demonstrated how to use these simple yet useful tools.

I also saw a local Manchester plant stall here in Tatton which was nice to see. Flourish

I mentioned that we had been to talks, the second of which was a wine tasting held in the ‘Feast Tent’ by Wine GB. We tried 5 different drinks from the UK, these were delicious and well worth the wait until the last talk.

Recently there have been bus stops and a great bar in a huge red bus.

This last stop was designed by a local shop to us, Plant Shop Manchester

We leave this years show passing the large RHS floral display.

I feel that I have been rather well behaved this year with my spending. Partly as I could not find any of the plants on my wish list, though here are some of my purchases.

I could not resist buying the Soil Blocker set, I look forward to using these sturdy tools and growing many more seeds! Watch this space, I’m sure that you’ll see more of these soon!

I have been interested in space saving ideas for some time, especially vertical planting and I have never found a reasonably priced option until now. I purchased these Wonder Wall pockets and cannot wait to get them in use!

I bought some very reasonably priced plant supports.

The only actual plant I bought was this African Blue Basil (ocimum basilicum) from Pennard Plants

I did also buy some more ‘unusual’ bulbs.

Calocasia esculenta

Remusatia vivipara

Calocasia Black Magic

Hedhycium Griffithianum

Sadly my wish list wasn’t ticked off. I do find that if you are a plant enthusiast, searching for something more specific or particular, you’re probably best not resting your hopes finding it here.

I had three plants on my wish list and I didn’t find one.

Over all I think RHS Flower Shows are a great day out and you learn new things and get lots of ideas. It’s a great way to meet new people and to finally meet those social media contacts that you’d always wanted to meet in person.

There also food and drink stalls offering everything from cheeses, spirits to fine wines.

If you’ve never been it’s worth a visit, plan your day and make the most of this colourful day!

Heated hostas

I hope you are all enjoying the summer wherever you may be!

I absolutely love heat and sunshine, which is odd because Hostas do not! I am finding it an ongoing struggle to find shade in my yarden and many of my plants are struggling.

I have never had an issue before, however after a recent holiday in Greece I have almost lost my ostrich ferns due to the lack of water. The Hostas are generally surviving but some are getting burnt leaves.

Here is a miniature Hosta called ‘Teaspoon’. I’ve managed to shelter this from the harsh sun and it appears to be doing great.

Another of my Hostas – ‘Frances Williams’ has been growing great until recently where the sun is scorching its lovely large leaves. Very sad.

Here is my very sad looking ostrich fern, which before I went away was lusciously green and very happy. I’m doing my best to keep it alive to regrow next year.

Please don’t be put off when some plants are having a hard time. They are resilient and want to do well. Next year they’ll bounce back and maybe we have to reposition them.

Well hopefully soon we will have downpour, preferably overnight and give the ground a good soak. It’s what the plants and us need!!

Whatever you’re up to, enjoy your green space!