Sandy Felton reports from the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010.

Variety is certainly a key word in describing the gardens that visitors can expect at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show and the 2010 show has variety in abundance. Set against the fabulous backdrop of Hampton Court Palace the site is perfect for an enjoyable and interesting day out where garden lovers can get together, be inspired and challenged by emerging trends and ideas.

The world’s largest annual gardening show is renowned for providing a taste of the good life and there is plenty of inspiration for 'grow your own' enthusiasts as well as some spectacular show gardens.

The sun certainly favoured press day and we were treated to some stunning gardens brought to life as only sun can do. ‘Reflections of Thailand – Sala Rim Nam: House by the River’ (Gold) was one of the first gardens I saw (pictured above) and I have to admit that I was bowled over by James Clarke’s design which won Best Show Garden. This special garden represents a unique way of Thai life – a typical Bangkok riverside home – the planting surrounding the Sala an inspiring blend of towering tropical trees, aromatic herbs and scented flowers. The Hibiscus and Lotus flaunt themselves in the sun while the synergy with water perfectly balances the design. A delightful garden and worthy winner of Best in Show.

Judging by the excitement of an army of girl guides, the ‘Girlguiding UK’s Centenary Garden’ (Silver Gilt) designed by Philippa Pearson, is certain to be popular with visitors to this year’s show. Philippa cleverly weaves into her design a sunflower border, international and unusual vegetables and fruit in raised beds, a turf landform with audio speakers playing tales of Girlguiding UK’s story bank, a sail shade area in Centenary colours and an archway inspired by the original Crystal Palace.

Added to this Philippa somehow joins all these elements together with superb 1909 heritage border planting. A really fitting tribute to Girlguiding and well done to those girls who contributed to the design.

I have to admit that even in my advanced years I couldn’t design a garden but to design one at 17, which is in fact your second garden at Hampton Court, then I think Jack Dunckley deserves special mention (pictured left). I just loved his garden which was in the traditional cottage garden style and a pure riot of colour. ‘Birchfield’ was awarded a Silver medal and I found myself going back and back to this garden just to stand and stare at his colourful borders and revel in his Penstemons, Lupins and Heuchera. Well done Jack.

Sadie May Stowell’s ‘The Copella Bee Garden’ (Silver Gilt) perfectly  reflects the journey of the honey bees ‘waggle dance’ from plant to hive. There are wild flowers and grasses, rolling earth banks and standard apple trees with planting mostly to the blue and mauve end of the colour spectrum. Plenty of inspiration here for us to create a wildflower patch to attract bees in our own garden.

There were further squeals of delight from our girl guide and brownie friends when they happened upon ‘The Legoland Pirates Landing Garden’ (Silver) designed by Paula Young and Paul Howard. A fun garden with plenty for younger visitors to look at, planted with hues of green and colourful LEGO brick models.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council continued the playful theme with their ‘Playful Garden’ (Bronze) – a garden challenging perceptions about how plants can be grown. The Playground had all the elements for children to explore and play while at the same time allowing them to explore plants and discover the natural world.

I was totally unprepared for the large pink tap waterfall which seemed suspended in mid air on the ‘A matter of Urgency’ garden (Silver Gilt) designed by Jill Foxley (pictured above). This clever concept was certainly an appropriate garden structure to get people talking about OAB (overactive bladder) which is a condition that affects nearly one in five people in the UK over 40. The tap gushed water into a pool surrounded by plants in shades of pinks, silver and blue. Apart from the tap my abiding memory of this garden will be the Cosmos – just terrific!

Hadlow College students can be justly proud of their Gold and Best in Class for ‘Food 4 Thought’ in the small gardens category (pictured left). The courtyard design themed on the variety of crops that can be grown in Kent -  a contemporary design featuring an outdoor dining table and ribbons of vertically grown strawberries.

The growing popularity and quality of the Conceptual Gardens, sponsored by Tropicana, is clearly evident in the number of Gold medals awarded at this year’s show. Out of six gardens, three were awarded Gold with the Best in Category going to ‘The Pansy Project Garden’ designed by Paul and Tom Hartfleet. ‘A Fable for Tomorrow’ designed by Sue Radmore, Elektra Sanders and Scarlet Wheaton, from University College Falmouth, (Gold) attracted a lot of attention. The garden comprises an old Cornish seed bank that has been split in half to reveal its treasures, held back by great rusty steel walls. A great design and very eye-catching.

The Shakespeare Comedies Gardens category attracted six designers who brought their own interpretation of a Shakespeare comedy. Capel Manor College won the Best in Category and Gold for ‘The Merchant of Venice”. Gold was also awarded to Anthea Guthrie for her interpretation of ‘As you like it’.

I mentioned earlier that this year’s RHS Hampton Court was not only exotic but also fun and this certainly applies to the Girlguiding UK’s Centenary Recycled Container Competition. Everything from loo bowls to wheelchairs seemed to be utilised to bring us some really fun and entertaining arrangements. Each entrant choose a theme associated with guiding, from friendships to camping and cooking outdoors with some very unexpected vessels and props! Plenty of inspiration here for planting up those unwanted household items.

Among the new plants launched at the show, Fir Trees Nursery have brought a fantastic Pelargonium - ‘Quantock Double Diamond’ -  the first ever double angel pelargonium and a fantastic dark maroon colour. If you love Pelargoniums you will love this one. A miniature with gentle trailing habit and long lasting, exclusive to Fir Trees Pelargonium Nursery.

To celebrate the centenary of Girlguiding UK, two special introductions, which are paired in their garden are the : Girlguiding UK Centenary Rose, a shrub rose specially bred by Raymond Evison and Clematis ‘Guiding Promise’ which is a scrambling clematis bred to intertwine with roses and other shrubs.

Signature plants? For me the wonderful cosmos which appear on several gardens and the bright and sunny sunflowers en masse on the Home Grown Feature – fields of gold indeed.

There is so much to see and do at RHS Hampton Court, one day does not really do it justice but one thing is certain – visitors will come away feeling enthused, challenged and entertained – having enjoyed the very best of British and international garden design and hopefully feeling inspired to take on their own garden challenges.

Picture credits: Jack Dunckley on his garden; The Pansy Project Garden; Food 4 Thought; pelargonium Quantock,  © Julian Desborough, LaunchPlusOne Ltd,
Thai Garden, Best in Show, and A Matter of Urgency, © Reckless Gardener.