We went to a very soggy, damp RHS Tatton Park Flower Show this weekend (https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park).  
Tatton Park Flower Show as a title really doesn't do it justice.  It's really much more than just a flower show - although the floral displays are amazing.  Here is a tiny selection of photos of some exhibits .... and you can imagine the wonderful perfume in the floral displays tent!

There were several show gardens, both small and larger.

As 2015 is the International Year of Light, we particularly enjoyed looking at the Reflecting Photonics Garden (supported by the University of Southampton).  

To quote 'the 21st century will depend as much on photonics as the 20th century depended on electronics." UNESCO).  The design of the garden was inspired by the design and concept of cutting edge  

At Lunchtime it was incredibly cold and breezy - and pouring with rain.  More like October than the end of July!  So we took shelter in the cookery dem area, mainly because it was under cover, although it was still absolutely freezing.  

There was an excellent demonstration by recent 'Bake Off' winner, Luis Troyano who was an excellent demonstrator and very personable.  I can see why he was the winner.  He made baking look straightforward and fun.





Then I started eating my packed lunch and on came the Wythenshaw Food Project team (Real Wythenshaw).  

Their aim, with the help of several years' lottery funding help, is to get the folks of that area growing, cooking and eating well.  They showed that eating good, nourishing food needn't cost a lot, or take up buckets of time. 

Out of many entries, they have now reached the final seven for   the Best Environment Event with the National Lottery: https://wythenshawereporter.wordpress.com/ (voting is til 29 July); and also see  http://www.communitieslivingsustainably.org.uk/project/manchester-international-festival/


We saw Field to Fabric - a garden inspired by the Lancashire textile industry, in conjunction with the WEA, Lancashire County Council and the Lottery.  Then I went into their tent where there were several displays of WEA members' work and tried my hand at decorating a felted bird.  Something it would be nice to do with our U3A Craft Group some time.  Here are some of their projects:
http://www.nw.wea.org.uk/fieldtofabric

 

Ena Harkness

We've had trouble growing roses at our previous two homes so were interested, now that we have 'better' soil (clay, better for anything?!) to see what was around.  I noticed three companies in particular: Hardys in Hampshire (http://www.hardys-plants.co.uk/); Harkness (remember the famous 'Ena Harkness rose?) (http://www.roses.co.uk/); and Austens (http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/english/advanced.asp).
Reaseheath College  (http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/) was well represented with representatives of the college on hand to give out information and their garden reflected very much the courses they offer.  It represented an exploration of the structural layers of a leaf, represented by the plantings and sculptures.