Welcome to the first draft of 2010 events calendar.
I attend a wide range of shows, charity garden openings and plant fairs each year and I am somewhat picky about where I go!
I know my customers want quality as well as value and a nice garden, a good cup of tea, yummy cake and other like-minded nurseries all help to ensure a good day out. The venues listed below, some of which are new to me this year, fulfil most of these criteria and I hope that you will try some of them.
The Rare Plants Fairs are going from strength to strength. Now run by nursery people, they are the perfect venues to see smaller, quality growers offering home grown plants and expert advice for everyone from novice to experienced gardener.
FEBRUARY
MARCH
9.30am-1pm In aid of St Margaret’s Hospice
Bishops Palace, Wells. 10am-4pm. Rare Plants Fair.
APRIL
Abbey Cottage, Itchen Abbas, Winchester, Hampshire.
12-5PM Superb plantsmans’ garden, difficult site, lots of
interest and ideas, totally organic. NGS
Abbey Cottage, SEE ABOVE
Mapperton, nr. Beaminster, Dorset 10am.-4pm.
Fabulous gardens and a great mix of nurseries.
Herringston House, nr Dorchester, Dorset. 10am.-4pm. Charming garden, just outside Dorchester and a good mix of nurseries from across the SW.
MAY
Bath Show, Victoria Park, Bath.
In the Floral marquee for the first time at this show
Minterne House, Minterne Magna, Dorset.
10am.-4pm. Lovely house and garden
Lytes Cary Manor, nr Kingsdon, Somerset. 11am - 4pm.
Fabulous NT house and many unusual nurseries from the SW
There will be another Nusery Open Day in May when I have finalised other venue details - keep looking out!
JUNE
Arts & Crafts at Stourhead, Stourton, Wiltshire
10am.-5pm. A chance to see and buy quality crafts,
artworks and plants as well as visit the world famous
Stourhead landscape gardens.
Conholt Park, nr. Andover, Hampshire.
12-5pm. Amazing themed gardens and a fiendish maze
topped off by really good cake! NGS
Note new earlier opening time. Why not bring a picnic and
make a real day out of it!
Conholt Park, nr. Andover, Hampshire.
12-5pm. See above