Hampton Court

As usual there was plenty to see at Hampton Court this year but unfortunately the weather was not kind and press day loomed dark and cold. There were some bright spots during the day and the rain was not continual, so there was some comfort in that, but the dull light meant that the lovely colours on so many of the gardens were unable to shine to their best.

There were some changes with the layout and I did feel that the far side of the ground seemed a bit bare. With only two water gardens this year, that whole section seemed to lack something, however, the long water was certainly livened up the Thai floating market which more than made up for the lack of sun.

I really liked the Homebase Garden (below) which had plenty of inspiration and ideas for planting as well as being colourful. It also had a veg plot (it seems the essential must have nowadays) and the Holiday Inn Green Room which had a fantastic green wall thingy which was really impressive although I think I might have problems watering it if it was in my living room.


The stone spheres from Silverland Stone Limited also caught my attention. They are very tactile and looked as though they were made of wood rather than stone, but very effective - a handsome addition to any garden and so many ways they could be used. The rain made them come to life and accentuated the marking.

The wall made from tree roots (see below) on the Magic Garden was also something else and very clever. I had to do a double take on it at first and couldn't believe it was made of roots at first. The kids visiting the site for the scarecrow competition just loved that garden and were running through the magic wardrobe into the garden and enjoying being gusted with fake snow from a machine. Quite clever.

I also liked the garden from Emsworth Horticultural Society which was Spot the Art in the Garden. This was a colourful and cheerful garden and we just loved the sunflowers.

Having seen Al Gore's DVD on climate change a few days before going to Hampton it was perhaps not a good idea to go into the Met Office Tent as I had been depressed enough after the Video. However, they did have a good display and plenty of information on how climate change is affecting gardeners. They anticipate that by 2080 the growing season here will be extended to around forty days with earlier spring and later autumns. However, if Al Gore's warning on Greenland and the polar ice cap are anything to go by it might all be academic!

We stood and watched as HRH the Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to the Heritage Plant Marquee and then we went off in search of some serious roses inside the Floral Marquee. This year the exhibition of roses really was superb, one of the best I have seen.



The kind man on the Marshalls garden allowed us to sit in his arbour and eat our lunch - well I like to think that we added something - and then after our tour of the Daily Mail tent, always one of my favourites, it was time to cast a critical eye over some of the larger gardens.

We strolled back along the river bank of the Thames and past the Palace to get our train as the skies darkened yet again and claps of thunder combined with the traffic noise over the bridge.
We made it onto the train before another deluge.

So another Hampton Court press day is over and we move onto Tatton Park, which is a little nearer home for us. Let's hope the weather is kinder for everyone as it is the 10th Birthday of Tatton, so quite a celebration.