by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
On Monday, July 5, 2010 (Press Day) I had the opportunity to visit, for the very first time, I would like to add, the Royal Horticultural Society's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
I really should have allowed myself two days for my attendance of this event as it is much larger than what I had anticipated. But this is something to bear in mind for next time.
Having never been to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show before I cannot judge as to whether it is bigger or better in regards to previous years or worse, or the same. So, you will just have to bear with me on that one.
What caught my immediate attention upon arrival was the fact that many stall holders, amongst which are well-known companies in the field of garden tools – especially cutting tools – could not be bothered, so it would seem, for some were not even ready by 4:30pm, to be ready for visiting members of the media. This, in my opinion, is a very bad way to conduct one's public relations.
On the other hand, other companies, and Rollins-Bulldog, a great British tool maker, comes to mind here as one of them, were ready to talk and show what they have on offer.
The main target of my visit, so to speak, at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show was for me the “Home Grown” Marquee and display area outside the big tent.
The “Home Grown” displays range from large-scale farming, though rescaled to fit in, over orchards, market gardening, growing cut-flowers to, basically, backyard food production and allotments.
On the other side of this marquee was a growing area, divided into quadrants, showcasing the growing of herbs and other plants for pharmaceutical uses.
The “Home Grown” definitely is worth a visit.
Many of the show gardens also were of interest and especially here the “Combat Stress Garden”, the “Playful Garden” by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, and the one that stood out for me, the “Bangladeshi Allotment” (B9) in another section.
Some companies are using the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 as a launchpad for new products, amongst which is the “Upside-Down Patio Garden” by Flambeu. Hopefully I shall be able to review this product soon.
Flambeu also now owns the company that makes the “Cable Buddy”, a great little device to keep those trailing leads of electric lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and such out of the way.
Burgon & Ball were represented with their range of high quality garden tools promoting especially this year their “Harvest” range of products, from tools used for harvesting produce, including the Potato Harvesting Scoop that I shall be reviewing shortly, to bags, sacks, etc. for storing your produce, including canning jars and everything you will need for that.
Burgon & Ball, together with the Royal Horticultural Society, also bring the visitor to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 the “5 A Day” Garden where they showcase that from just 10 square meter lots of food can be gotten. The show garden, and the website that goes with it, should be visited by everyone who is thinking about growing their own food but think they haven't got enough space to do so.
The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 runs from July 6-11, 2010.
© 2010
