RHS News

RHS Gardening Events 2011

February
15-16: RHS London Plant and Design Show
Marvel at a spectacular array of spring flowers and be inspired to turn neglected urban outdoor spaces into areas of beauty
RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London
15: 10am-7pm, 16: 10am-5pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
March
19-20: RHS London Orchid Show & RHS Botanical Art Show
See rare and exotic orchids from across the globe and view magnificent botanical art from the RHS archives
RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London
Both days: 10am-5pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
29-30: RHS Great London Plant Fair
Make a garden wildlife-friendly and see stunning spring plants in bloom
RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London
29: 10am-7pm. 30: 10am-5pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
April
8-10: RHS Show Cardiff
The best of Wales and the best of spring all in one must-see show. Inspirational show gardens and nature trails make it a perfect family day out
Bute Park, Cardiff Castle
8-9: 10am-5.30pm, 10: 10am-4.30pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
12-13: The Daffodil Show
RHS Garden Wisley
12: 12pm-6pm, 13: 10am-4pm
 
16-17: RHS National Rhododendron Show
RHS Garden Rosemoor
Both days: 11am-4pm
 
26-27: Late Daffodil Show
RHS Garden Wisley
26: 12pm-6pm, 27: 10am-4pm
 
May
The Harlow Carr Rhododendren Show
RHS Garden Harlow Carr
 
12-15: Malvern Spring Gardening Show
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Malvern Hills, this show has gained a reputation for pioneering and showcasing new garden design talent
TCAS Showground, Malvern
12: 9am-6pm (Floral Marquee 10am-6pm)13-15: 9am-6pm
To book tickets call 01684 584900 or 01684 584 924
 
24-28: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The greatest flower show on earth. Nowhere makes gardening more fashionable, a catwalk of colour and creativity, the brightest new ideas, latest trends and the pinnacle of design makes this show the one the world wants to see
Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London
24-27: 8am-8pm, 28: 8am-5.30pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
June
15-19: BBC Gardeners’ World Live
The NEC hosts the BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2011 where visitors can take advantage of spectacular shopping experiences, special guest garden talks from a range of well-known names, and beautiful plants
NEC, Birmingham
9am-6pm
To book tickets, call: 0844 581 1340
 
July
5-10: Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
UK’s biggest gardening show, set against the magnificent backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, is a perfect day out for the family and great inspiration for gardeners of all abilities packed full of grow your own ideas and environmental initiatives for the home and garden
5-9: 10am-7.30pm, 10: 10am-5.30pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
20-24: RHS Show Tatton Park
Brimming with innovative ideas and incorporating quality craftsmanship with horticultural prowess, the show is a vibrant stage for fresh creative talent and celebrates the very best in community gardening
Tatton Park, near Knutsford, Cheshire
20-23: 10am-6.30pm, 24: 10am-5pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
 
August
Hyde Hall Flower Show – ‘A Celebration of Plants’
RHS Garden Hyde Hall
 
September
9-11: RHS Floral Event at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple, London
9-10: 10am-6.30pm (TBC), 11: 10am-5pm
 
Wisley Flower Show
RHS Garden Wisley
 
24-25: Malvern Autumn Show
The show is a beautiful mix of autumn flowers, harvest produce and family entertainment
TCAS Showground, Malvern
9am-6pm
To book tickets call 01684 584900
 
October
4-5: RHS London Autumn Harvest Show
Celebrate the wonders and colours of autumn, a floral and foodie feast to tempt both the eye and palate
RHS Horticultural Halls, Westminster, London
4: 10am-7pm, 5: 10am-5pm
More information and tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows
 
November
Late Fruit & Vegetable Show
RHS Garden Wisley

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011

5 – 10 July, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, KT8 9AT

Tickets from £14.50 – £32.50. Children under 16 free with an accompanying adult
To buy tickets:  www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt 0844 338 7528

Alice in Wonderland Rose Marquee and Rose of the Year 2012
Lovers of roses and English literature will be thrilled by the treat in store for them when visiting the Rose Marquee at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show as the inspiration for this year’s festival is taken from Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In the beautifully dressed marquee visitors can see what happened when Alice followed the White Rabbit – complete with waistcoat and pocket watch, down the rabbit hole. Around the Marquee, Alice’s exploits will be depicted in pop-up book style, based on the original drawings by John Tenniel for Lewis Carroll. The original illustrations were black and white line drawings, so to add texture and interest colour has been added to the 2D cut-out characters.  

Scenes depicted will include a shrunken Alice after sampling the “drink me” bottle; taking tea with the Mad Hatter and sleepy dormouse; the hookah-smoking Caterpillar; Alice struggling to play croquet with flamingos and hedgehogs, watched over by the grinning face of the Cheshire Cat as he appears in the clouds, as well as meeting the Dodo and other animals.

In addition to the spectacle of Alice’s adventures, the Rose Marquee will also highlight glorious rose displays by rose nurserymen from around the country.  About 8 million rose plants were sold in the UK in 2010, proving that the love of the rose remains constant. New roses making their debut this year include Rose of the Year 2012, ‘Moment in Time’ and ‘Camelot’ and ‘Pure Poetry’, bred by Rosen Tantau and introduced by Pococks Rises. The actress Virginna McKenna will receive the creamy-yellow shrub rose named for her by Harkness Roses.

 
New roses at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011:

Rose of the Year 2012: ‘Moment in Time’ (Korcastrav) Introduced by Roses UK and Mattocks Roses

Bred by Kordes of Germany, this extremely healthy floribunda is proving to be a worthy winner of the Rose of the Year title. It repeat-flowers throughout the summer with an abundance of lightly fragranced, semi-double, intense ruby-red blooms.  With dark glossy leaves, its compact and upright growth habit makes it an ideal option for containers as well as mixed borders and traditional planting schemes. The rose grows to a height and spread of 60x40cm and will be available from rose nurseries and garden centres nationwide from autumn 2011.

‘Virginia McKenna’ (Harsong) Introduced by Harkness Roses
A charming shrub rose that shares some of the qualities of the hybrid musks, created by the Rev. Pemberton in the early 1900s. There is similar, elegant habit, broader than it is tall, ideal for a mixed border, or as a flowering hedge. ‘Virginia McKenna’ flowers early and repeats reliably over a long season. In 5 years of nursery trials it was consistently easy to grow and willing to flower, showing hardly a trace of disease, despite not being sprayed at all. The rose grows to a height and spread of 120cm x 100cm.

Virginia McKenna is best remembered for the 1966 role of Joy Adamson in ‘Born Free’, in which her late husband Bill Travers played the role of naturalist George Adamson. Filming Born Free led Virginia and Bill to become active supporters of wild animal protection, and to found the organisation Zoo Check. In 1991 they established the Born Free Foundation with the aim of keeping wildlife in the wild. The Born Free Foundation will receive a royalty from sales of this rose.

 

‘Pure Poetry®’ (Tan04179) Introduced by Pococks Roses
A burgundy-red hybrid tea bred by Rosen Tantau of Germany. Spiral buds open to very fragrant full blooms, carried singly or in small clusters on stout stems. The leathery foliage is dark green with a lighter reverse. Suitable for containers, bedding and mixed planting, the vase life of the blooms is excellent, making this variety suitable for cutting.  This rose grows to a height of approximately 80-100cm

‘Camelot®’ (Tan05372) Introduced by Pococks Roses
The first of a new range of climbers bred by Rosen Tantau. The light-pink flowers are uniquely marked with dark pink veins, deepening towards the centre. Borne in small clusters, the spiral shaped buds open to double, rosette shaped flowers with a moderately sweet fragrance. Foliage is mid-green and glossy and stems are very pliable, making it easy to train this variety on trellises, arches, columns and gazebos. This rose grows to a height of approximately 3m.

‘Truly Scrumptious’ (Smi35-4-02) Introduced by Style Roses
Bred by the late Edward Smith, the attractive blends of pink and orange with a very dark deep pink reverse petal make this an unusual Hybrid Tea. Foliage is a glossy bronze and olive green, which contrasts well against the glowing brightness of the flowers. With a long flowering period from early May to the first severe frosts and excellent disease resistance, this rose would be an eye catching addition to a mixed border or large container.

 

‘Norfolk Glory’ (Horregina) Introduced by Bill LeGrice Roses
A floribunda rose bred by Heather Horner and named for the Norfolk branch of the Women’s Institue. This stunning new variety produces an abundance of dark-orange lightly scented blooms, complemented by mid-green, glossy foliage.

 

 

‘Katie’s Rose (Horrapture) Introduced by Bill LeGrice Roses
A further floribunda rose, this time bred by the late Colin Horner. Dramatic, dark purplish-red hybrid-tea type blooms with a slight fragrance are offset by very glossy mid-green foliage.

 Other exhibitors in the marquee will include Blue Stevens (who has helped colour the Tenniel images) with a selection of Alice in Wonderland cards, prints and mugs and Wonderland Bronze with their exquisite bronze Alice characters.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll for the daughters of his friend, the Dean of Christ Church. Lewis Carroll’s real name was Charles Dodgson. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford University and later became a mathematics lecturer there. He was very fond of puzzles and some readers have found mathematic jokes and codes in his Alice books. He was also an influential photographer of his time.