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Wednesday 17 July 2013

Hot Hampton Court

I spent the last Saturday out with my folks and Mother-in-law at Hampton Court Flower show, the little sister show to Chelsea. They have use of the spectacular grounds of what once was the country palace to Henry the 8th. The palace and gardens alone are fantastic to look at alone but this date was all about the garden show so another time Henry.

We have been staying in Kent which is about and hour and a half from the show but with a 40 minute delay in traffic we were on the back foot arriving at the hottest time of day. The temperatures were in the 30's (at least 5 degrees hotter than the UK's average hottest days) so there were lots of melting people, gardens and without water it was pretty dusty. 

The crowds in one of the plant species tent
I'm not sure if this is a new lavender but I hadn't seen it before
Got to love a show dahlia that is bigger than your hand
A funky double green lilly
I liked the willow badger
I find it funny how weeds that are noxious to Sydney can be for sale at Royal Horticultural Show. There are plenty of privet hedges growing up and down the countryside. Variegated 'wandering jew' in hanging baskets. And to encourage butterflies....

Yes folks Lantana! After Mr R spend days pulling this stuff out of our garden I find it hard to believe it is for sale 
Now onto the show gardens. I liked a bit of each of them and wish we could grow as many of these pretties, but then I expect the English would love to not have to bring agapanthus or citrus inside during winter. I was surprised there were not more gardens growing more vegetables but I didn't get around the entire place. Here are a few highlights.

love love love bunting
Green, black and white combo 
 I was seduced by the rills running into the pool. Quite a tranquil garden.
Yeap the rill of water was just cool to look at
I do like the odd vertical garden
Orange worked well even with the silver of the olive
I wasn't sure if this was a show garden or a place selling the furniture but at least there were some herbs in this garden
Well I would have loved to spend more time but even I had to admit it was pretty hot and going home was pretty appealing. The Hampton Court Flower Show is run by the RHS in July each year so if you are about it is not a bad way to spend a day.

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