Malvern Memories: On the Road Again

This time, Anna shows us the delights of Hampton Court, somewhere not far from Malvern which is older than the place of the same name in London. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Helen and going round this garden with her in August last year :)


Leaving the occupants of the greenhouse to entertain themselves for a couple of days, we have just been to the Malvern Spring Gardening Show. We broke our journey down south with a stop at Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire . I could not wait to return to the gardens there after making my first visit there last summer. It was an ideal chance to call in again and I was not disappointed. Stepping into the walled garden we both commented on the rise in temperature - oh what would I give for a walled garden ! If we ever win the lottery jackpot a walled garden would be top of my list, followed by clean sheets every day of the year. Although it is still early in the season there was still plenty of colour. We met one of the gardeners who was cutting flowers for the house as the owners were visiting for the weekend. She had plenty to choose from including alliums, tulips, valerian, lilacs, euphorbias, both real and false 'Solomon's Seal' and tellima odorata - she highly recommended the latter for its scent.

Another week or so would have seen the wisteria arch at its peak ~

Instead I drooled over the one or two flower heads that had fully opened ~

There was not much planted yet in the vegetable garden but preparations for the new season were well underway. I admired these sweet pea supports where sweet pea 'Matucana' had been planted ~

Lusted after the greenhouses ~

before finishing our stroll with a visit to the restaurant ~

where it was warm enough to sit outside to eat - enjoying the views down to the river and the clouds of orange blossom ~

All too soon it was time to return to the camper van to continue with our journey to Malvern and the show. To be continued in my next post .......

Contents and photographs courtesy of Greentapestry.

Malvern Memories: The Other Malvern Spring Show

Staying with the theme of exploring outside of the Showground, Happy Mouffetard takes us back to the splendours of the Malvern Hills which can be seen in springtime...

What a weekend. I'll write lots on the Malvern spring garden show tomorrow when I'm back home, including which garden designer was upstaged by an egg-laying chicken [don't worry it'll get featured later on - Ed]. However, just in case anyone is thinking of going to the Malvern Show tomorrow [or even this year] and wants to round off a great day out with something even more spectacular, I'd recommend a trip to Cowleigh Woods in West Malvern.

And here's why...







And then we had a quick trip to Welland Village Hall, where there are these beautiful green-winged orchids.



Stunning!

Contents and photographs courtesy (and copyright) of The Inelegant Gardener.

My Malvern: Patient Gardener

In the first of our forays outside the Three Counties Showground, Helen tells us a little bit about The Malverns...



Everyone knows that Malvern is by the Malvern Hills but how many visitors to the Spring Show actually take time to do more than admire them from the showground?

The Malverns are a gentle range stretching from North Malvern to Eastnor where they are surmounted by the Obelisk. The Malvern Hills are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) primarily because of their geology. It is also part of the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark, one of 7 in the UK and 50 worldwide. You can find out more information on the area's geology, archaeology, industrial and cultural heritage and ecology via this link

The beauty of the Malvern Hills, to me, is their accessibility. I’m definitely not an enthusiastic walker and certainly not a hill climber but you don’t need to be when considering tackling the Malvern Hills. The Malvern to Ledbury road runs all the side of the hills, crossing over the top at British Camp where one of the biggest car parks is located. On the other side of the hills you can access various car parks from points along Jubilee Drive. You can access a map of the Hills via this link.


The walk to the top of British Camp is very popular with visitors. British Camp is a complex of earthworks built during the Iron Age. However, my favourite walk is from the Earnsilaw Quarry car park which is located on off The Wyche (road between Malvern and Colwall). I like this walk due to the range of trees and woodland in the lower parks, there is also a beautiful quarry which is now full of water and quite eerie at times. You can see more information via this post on my blog.

So if you are visiting the Malvern Spring Show and particularly if you are staying overnight why not build in some time to explore these beautiful hills.

Malvern Memories: Didn't I have a lovely day, the day I went to Malvern...

Once again, Arabella Sock proves that blogger coverage of events such as Malvern can be far more varied (and funnier) than anything you see on the telly...

Thank you for all you birthday wishes Sockwatchers it was indeed on Wednesday! The Sock organised herself a jolly little jaunt to Malvern staying at a nice country hotel on Wednesday and Thursday night and sipping champagne on her ownsome. Thursday was first time at Malvern and the Sock had the bestest time ever!!!

So the Sockerazzi was out in the hope of snapping celebs and she bagged a big one! Yes.. a proper famous person..

Other than that it was just the usual suspects I'm afraid. Hundreds of photos of Toby, Alys, Joe, James A-S and of course La Belle Beardshaw. Chris was there with his minder but the Sock still managed to get close enough to steal one of his hairs as she brushed past and now plans to clone lots of little Beardshaws from it. The Sock does hope they come true to the original although perhaps a bit taller.Loads more exciting stuff to share with you, plants, people, impala impersonations... the Sockerazzi got it all on camera!

And lo, a promise of lots more to come! Contents and photographs courtesy of The Sea of Immeasurable Gravy.

Malvern Memories: All the Fun of a Country Fair

This is a real blogging discovery! When Victoria wrote about coming to Malvern a couple of weeks ago, little did she know her post would be read by someone who'd visited the first ever show 25 years ago. As a result of this marvellous coincidence, Edith Hope has kindly agreed to write a guest post for Meet @ Malvern about her memories of that time...

Aunt Winifred lived on Jubilee Drive in Upper Colwall, near Malvern. She later died an untimely death in Italy, but that is another story. What matters here is that she gardened, and gardened with a passion, and that it was through her that I came to know so many of the small nurseries and open gardens in and around that lovely Elgar countryside.

In the spring of 1985 I was with her, as was usual, for my annual visit. What was different was that that year saw the first Malvern Garden Show held on the site of the Three Counties Showground, a flat expanse of land lying in the shadow of the Malvern hills.

We went on the Friday which, I think, was then the first day. Certainly Aunt Winifred would not have countenanced the weekend crowds. Car parking was, I am fairly sure, free, cars being parked in random fashion in adjacent fields. I wish that I could recall what we paid for our entrance tickets [no pre-booking, no on-line then], but time eludes me now.

In that first year there was little to be seen outside, the majority of the stall holders housed within the gaunt cattle sheds with their huge sliding doors open to whatever the weather. Inside, ranged all around the outer walls, was a plantsperson's paradise. Local, and not so local nurseries were well represented, each one highly individual in both its display and stock. For, it should be remembered here, that in those days this was a provincial show, unheard of nationally and not yet affiliated to The Royal Horticultural Society.

But what treasures. Here was Rushfields of Ledbury*, an immaculate stand, beautifully presented, and displaying and selling [for unlike Chelsea, this was, and is, a selling show] all manner of rare and unusual perennials. And for me this was the start of a long and happy association with that nursery right up until the retirement of JH, its redoubtable owner, a few years ago. Then there was KD of Lingen Nursery**, an alpine specialist, whose tiny gems were as alluring as sweets in a sweet shop to a young child. From Derbyshire came Bluebell Nursery with a dazzling array of uncommon trees, shrubs and climbers. Are they still in business today, I wonder?

Show gardens were non-existent. In a more permanent building, a short walk away over rough terrain, we came upon the Floral Hall, although I think the title is mine, where the local Women's Institutes had put on an exhibition of flower arrangements, fruit, vegetables and jam. All very homely. I do recall in this building some refreshments but possibly little more than a cup of tea or instant coffee taken with a bun. We did, though, as most years subsequently, purchase a cheesecake, in the 1980s very fashionable, from the Dairy House of Herefordshire.

And so it was. The local town show. Unhurried, uncrowded, uncommercial. But that was all in another lifetime, now a quarter of a century ago.

Editor's notes:

* = Rushfields may still be trading. It's listed in a number of business directories for Ledbury, but doesn't have web presence of its own. Graham Rice lists it as a purveyor of choice perennials, particularly Hellebores derived from stock bred by Helen Ballard. It so happens that the north border of the accommodation where myself, Victoria, Yolanda, Gail and Frances are staying is where Helen Ballard developed her renowned H. orientalis strains.

** = Lingen Nursery in Herefordshire has ceased trading and the property is now up for sale. It's a rather attractive red brick house with a good portion of land. It looks like the nursery buildings - polytunnels, cold frames and raised beds - are still intact, so perhaps it's the ideal property for a wannabe nursery owner?

Malvern Memories: Heucheraholics!

Today's Malvern Memory is our first from the reknowned Ms Arabella Sock of The Sea of Immeasurable Gravy. She takes us away from the the show gardens we've been enjoying over the past couple of weeks and propels us firmly towards the exciting nurseryman's stands in order to indulge in one of her favourite plant genera, the Heuchera...

Look what the Sock got!!!!

It is a pen from the eponymous 'Heucheraholics' (previously Solva Plants) and it says on it 'Heucheraholics for the hopelessly addicted!' Bet you are all really jealous now!

The Sock couldn't resist visiting the gorgeous 'Heucheraholics' stand at Malvern but had instructed herself not to buy any more heucheras for her already burgeoning collection.

Obviously she bought another one, the irresistible 'Sugar Frosting' because let's face it you can't have too many. The Sock mentioned to the nice lady on the stand that she had to buy one to blog about. "Oh, what blog is that" asked the lady. The Sock realising her identity might be discovered quickly blurted "I can't tell you it's a bit scurrilous". "Not the Gravy one?" Too late - the Sock's cover was blown.

It turned out that the lovely 'Heucheraholics' people were Sea of Immeasurable Gravy fans, finding the bloggywog after the Sock mentioned their stand at the RHS Inner Temple flower show last year. How funny is that! You must all buy lots of lovely plants from them. They will be at Chelsea next week and giving away fridge magnets - go and demand one and tell them the Sock sent you.

And to finish my eulogy to heucheras here is a 'pome' the Sock wrote a few years ago on getting home from a fruitless heuchera search, proving that the addiction has been going some time.

The Heucheras

(with apologies to William Wordsworth's 'The Daffodils')

I wandered lonely as a cloud

In search of heuchera 'Pewter Veil'

Or 'Can Can','Geisha' - names that wowed

Please let my favourites be for sale

A 'Strawberry Candy, 'Vanilla Spice

'Or 'Purple Petticoats' sounds quite nice

I dream of heucheras in line

Of 'Silver Shadows' 'Starry Night'

A 'Frosted Violet' would be fine

A 'Peach Flambé' would be all right

There's nothing from my list of faves

Just one sad pot of 'Amber Waves'!

And oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood

I think of heucheras and sigh

Those lovely plants with names of food

And then my heart with pleasure fills

(I want the one with Chocolate frills!)

We don't get nearly enough bad poetry on the gardening blogosphere these days and the Sock blames J-AS for proclaiming his dislike of it. But what does he know? Hmmm.. that is possibly like asking what the Romans did for us.........

Content and photographs courtesy of The Sea of Immeasurable Gravy.

Malvern Memories: Whoo Hoo!!

Lola's front...

Lola's back...

Lola's medal!!
Too tired to type. Will post more later.

xx

NB This is the last in a series of 6 posts taking a show garden from design drawing to judgement day in 2009. Click here for Day 1. Content and pictures are courtesy and copyright of Beholder's Eye.

Malvern Memories: Is That You in There Lola?

I am (in no particular order):

• Exhausted
• Exhilarated
• Ripped to shreds by chicken wire
• In love with Priorswood Clematis
• Panicking (just a little)
• Entirely incapable of sleeping for longer than 90 minutes at a time.

Four days to go
x

NB This is the fifth in a series of 6 posts taking a show garden from design drawing to judgement day in 2009. Click here for Day 1. Content and pictures are courtesy and copyright of Beholder's Eye.

Malvern Memories: Stop Me and Take One!

Things to hand out at Malvern!!

Many thanks to my rather talented friend MisterJIB x

NB This is the fourth in a series of 6 posts taking a show garden from design drawing to judgement day in 2009. Click here for Day 1. Content and pictures are courtesy and copyright of Beholder's Eye.

3 Men Going to Malvern

A tempting trailer to get your pulses racing...



There was a problem with the sound on the embedded version earlier on today, so here's a direct link just in case the same thing happens when you're watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5uBAdO6Y-c

Malvern Memories: Ouch

Day one of my border build!

Got loads done (but, of course, not nearly enough) and learned plenty.

Such as:

• No matter how grown up you are, and no matter how clever you think you are, your Dad is always right.
• To admit to your Dad that he was right and you are wrong can be quite difficult.
• It's amazing how much timber you can fit into a knackered old Ford Escort.
• However long you think it's going to take, double it. At least.
• It's never a good idea to spend a day in a field with no shade without slapping on some sun protection.

This evening it really hurts. Worst thing is I know I'll hurt more in the morning.

I'm not back there again until Wednesday, by which time half of my plants will have arrived.

Most exciting!!And I'll pack the sunscreen...I promise

NB This was first posted on 24th April 2009 and Malvern Spring Show commenced on May 7th, so the build took just a touch under 2 weeks. This is the third in a series of 6 posts: click here for day 1.

NB Content courtesy and copyright of Beholder's Eye.

Malvern Memories: Her Name Was Lola...

...She was a show(garden)girl

One mannequin.

Ceremoniously named Lola by Small Boy following a brief debate on the inappropriateness of Charlie for a very definitely female model.

A bargain on eBay.

She won't have yellow feathers in her hair, she may not stay this colour, but she'll soon be adorning some terribly comfortable chicken wire.

And no, she's not in some surreal bondage get-up, just not out of all of her protective packaging yet...

NB This is the second in a series of 6 posts taking a show garden from design drawing to judgement day in 2009. Click here for Day 1. Content and pictures are courtesy and copyright of Beholder's Eye.

OMG - Meet @ Malvern Goes Global!

Firstly, we had the gardening contingents from Wales and The Netherlands agreeing to join us... :)

Then over the weekend excited negotiations of the kind only seen in the corridors of power such as the UN or at the signing of major international treaties resulted in...

THE YANKS ARE COMING!!!!

Yes, the first Transatlantic cultural exchange (sub classification: horticulture) will be taking place at the Malvern Spring Show. The fair southern State of Tennessee has agreed to the pilot project proposed by the Meet @ Malvern organising committee and have duly selected Frances and Gail to be their representatives. As you can see from the photograph, negotiations were of a rather sensitive nature and we have had to protect the identities of the envoys involved in the deep and far ranging discussions in case there are repercussions later.

Here's an excerpt from Frances' first e-mail following her appointment:

Gail and I are like schoolgirls, giddy and phoning and emailing each other every five minutes. We might have to bother you with questions about what to pack, footwear, raincoats, cash and/or credit cards, dress up clothes for dinners? We will try to keep it to a minimum of one email per day. :D

Here's to a truly successful global bloggers gathering :D

Picture courtesy and copyright of James Alexander Sinclair.

Malvern Memories: Hort Couture

As promised here's Deb's series of posts republished from last year to lead you from the accepted design drawing last January, through to judgement day at the show in May. However, this year the instalments are served up as daily slices :)

May I introduce to you: my design for the Malvern Spring Show 2009...

Based on this year's Borders Without Gardens theme of Handbags and Gladrags, hedging recreates the wall of a dressing room within which sits a mannequin on a carpet of turf, wearing a bodice of climbing hedera and clematis falling away to a train of ground level plants. The background incorporates mirrors which reflect the gown back into the space.

Truth be told, I'm at the stage now where I can't see the wood for the trees.

The design has consumed my mind since I completed the autumn show and I can't work out now whether it's ok or actually really, really not ok.

But, as with most things, I'll do it anyway and see what comes!

NB Content and pictures are courtesy and copyright of Beholder's Eye.

A Vague Plan is Emerging...

As of yesterday afternoon we have 17 people confirmed for Meet @ Malvern, with another 17 interested. This includes James, Claire, Deb and Cleve who will all be working at the show in some capacity. Helen and I are planning to be there most days and the rest of you will be mainly popping along for a day.

Of the bloggers not working at the show, the potential attendance numbers are looking like:

• Thursday = 4 confirmed + 10 possibles
• Friday = 12 confirmed + 10 possibles
• Saturday = 7 confirmed + 11 possibles
• Sunday = 0 confirmed + 9 possibles

On the basis of these numbers Helen and I have devised the following cunning plan:

Thursday 6th May

• Daytime - at the show, where else? :) Highlights include the judges doing their stuff re the awarding of medals, there'll be the bestest selection of plants and the Chris Beardshaw mentorship will be awarded to one lucky designer
• Evening - optional pub meal. This is likely to be on the Colwall side of the Malvern Hills as this is the area where the majority of people who've said they're staying on Thursday night have booked their accommodation

Friday 7th May

• Daytime - at the show. The live debut of Three Men Went to Mow beckons. Details of further highlights to follow
• Evening - informal gathering at Helen's house. Bring your own drink, plus any nibbles you'd like. If you can squeeze in a cushion into your luggage/car (allowing for the fact you'll be stuffing it with plants later) that'll be most helpful as it's looking like seating will be at a premium. Takeaway menus will be available for you to choose a meal of your preferred international cuisine (or fish and chips). Helen will be providing puds... and cake

Now everyone (adopts stance like her mum does), you've got to promise you'll be on best behaviour at Helen's. She'll be frantically tidying up her garden, but blindfolds will be provided if you approach that area as she doesn't want you peeking and making rude comments. So there.

Saturday 8th May

• Daytime - at the show
• Evening - we've taken the plunge and booked a table for 15 at Ask. The usual pizza and pasta fare, but pretty good nevertheless. Apparently they were quite taken aback at Helen booking so early until she explained it's the Malvern Spring Show weekend!

Sunday 9th May

• Daytime - at the show. Helen's planning to flop, Victoria, Yolanda and I will probably be walking and chilling out in the lovely garden of our B&B, the rest of you will be either fighting over the bargains at the plant sell-off, or wending your way home
  

Meet @ Malvern Goes International

I'm delighted we'll be welcoming several friends from abroad to Meet @ Malvern.

Karen, Dobby, Elizabeth and Ryan will be mounting an expeditionary force from across the border in Wales ;)

Yolanda will be leaving her vast Bliss Team at home and joining us from The Netherlands. It also means I have to start tidying up right now as she's staying with me on the Wednesday night :0

I've linked to their top-notch blogs, so you have a chance to get to know them before May, if you don't already. I've also started an attendees blog list in the sidebar for the same reason. You'll find Dobby is a regular commenter on Karen's blog as well as being her good friend :)

Now, how about starting a cross-cultural exchange from the USA guys?

Thanks For All Your Help & Be Our Guest

The great thing about organising something like Meet @ Malvern is how everyone in the blogging community gets stuck in and helps to make an event so much better. Helen and I have been overwhelmed with your response so far, both on here and on Twitter. There's a real buzz of excitement about our first bloggers' get together here in the UK and so many more of you are interested in coming than we ever imagined.

You've been great already by posting about Meet @ Malvern on your blogs which is really helping to spread the word. It means our transatlantic cousins in particular are watching us with interest. I'm imagining them with their faces pressed against the 'windows' of their computers longing to join us. I'd love them to be able to come to Malvern and who knows? Someone just might. But if they can't be with us for real, then I'd like them to join us in a virtual way. Tweeting during the event will help them to do so, as will posting both during and after the show. I'm also trying to think of other ways: perhaps they could send in a greeting and photo and we set up a virtual visitor's 'wall' at Malvern in some way. What do you think? Perhaps you have other idea(s) for us to consider?

This week has also seen the start of a series of guest posts planned to take us all the way from now up to the start of Malvern. We've had two of them already this week, from Happy Mouffetard and Anna, so I've started a blog list in the sidebar as a little way of saying thank you. As others join them, they'll be added to the list too. All next week there'll be a marvellous series of posts from Deb chronicling how Lola, her show garden, went from the drawing board to best border at last year's show.

If you have an idea for a guest post which would be suitable for this blog, then do get in touch at malvernmeet at gmail dot com with an outline of your idea. For example, you might be coming to the show for the first time. What are your expectations? How do you feel about the show or meeting your virtual friends? What else would you like to know? Would you mind writing a short piece for us? It'll help us to ensure we provide exactly the kind of event you'd like - as will any comments and questions you care to leave here, on Twitter or via email - and give you all the information you need in one handy place. If you'd prefer to write your post for your blog then that's fine: we could either post on both blogs or I can link to you.

Michelle
xxx

Hot News: Just the Ticket!

Stop right there if you're getting ready to buy your tickets for Malvern!

The show's organisers are going out of their way to ensure we have a very warm welcome in May, which includes a generous ticket deal. Helen and I are meeting with them on the 25th to iron out the fine details, so will be able to tell you everything very soon.

It'll mean more cash available to buy plants, so do hold off buying for now :)

Hello Campers!

Anna has the insider lowdown on the campsites around Malvern, plus tried and tested details of some of the B&B and self catering accommodation she's stayed in whilst visiting previous shows. Fellow Meet @ Malvern gatherers looking at the campsite option may like to know that her trusty campervan is already booked in at Blackmore. So here's what she has to say:

Looking for somewhere to park up your camper van/caravan or pitch your tent at Malvern? If so early booking is advised as last year I was scabbling around in April to find somewhere and was getting seriously worried that I might miss out on my favourite gardening show! Our normal resting place is the Caravan Club site at Blackmore. This is a 20 acre site with a glorious backdrop of the Malvern Hills. Click on the link to find out more about pricing/facilities or have a look at their slideshow on YouTube:


You can also contact the site directly on 01684 310505 during office open hours. The site is open to non - members but they are unable to make advance bookings for the 2010 season until 19th March.

We have also stayed at the adjacent Caravan and Camping Club site. You can contact the site during office open hours: 01684 310280. Again non-members are welcome.

Both sites are in close proximity to the Three Counties Showground. It is possible to walk there but it will impede your plant buying activities. Both sites are also within walking distance of the village of Hanley Swan which has a small but well stocked Post Office store, a butchers shop and a pub 'The Swan' which serves both lunches and evening meals.

Last year when looking for alternatives to The Caravan Club site I came across this website which lists other campsites in the area.

We stayed at the Marlbank Inn in Welland. This is a small 22 pitch site at the back of the pub. Although the views are not as picturesque it was still a good place to get our heads down for the night. The pub served evening meals and again the site was near to the showground. We have also stayed at the Three Counties Park in Malvern also mentioned on this list but I have no
recollection of the experience - it was a good few years ago.

Anna also has some insider information on comfortable B&B accommodation close to Malvern:

We stayed at the The Old Drinkhouse last autumn when we went to the Malvern Show. It sleeps 2, well recommended especially as it overlooks a walled garden with courtyard area for visitors. In Hanley Swan village, the year before we stayed at Mere End Cabin, a pine cabin about ten minutes walk from Hanley Swan. Sleeps 4, very comfortable with pleasant sitting out area. Would return to both. The pub at Hanley also has accommodation but have not stayed there.

Thanks Anna for your help and for supplying the photo of your campervan to illustrate this piece - I'll update the original accommodation post with a link to this information :)

So Who's Coming Then?

I thought it was about time I attempted to put together all my 'virtual scraps of paper' (i.e. emails, blog comments, tweets and direct messages) into a summary and publish a first cut view of who's coming so you can see the information I have from you plus who else is coming to the show. I tweeted a couple of days ago I needed a spreadsheet summary, ideally to publish on here and the lovely Frugilegus came up with the goods by suggesting I try this simple scheduling tool. It's done the job, shame it can't tell me when I don't put something in alphabetical order - so sorry Anna and Dawn :(

If you click on the link at the top of the box below, you'll see a summary of who's coming and when. I've also split each date into two, so you can see who'll be at the show or meal each day. You'll also see most of it's in yellow which means I don't have firm information from you yet. It's also quite possible I've interpreted the information I do have from you incorrectly. Therefore, I need you to have a look at the schedule and confirm what you're doing and when. The most important events to clarify right now are who is coming to each meal. Helen needs to book this for us ASAP, especially as there could be rather a lot of us.

You won't be able to change the information online as I need to know who's responded with an update. I'd love to give you a free hand, but it would make it impossible for me to know who's updated, who hasn't and who's happy with what's on there.

Please email me at Malvernmeet at gmail dot com with the changes needed for you OR confirming your details are correct by 5pm Friday 5th February. I'll be chasing any stragglers after that! I'm be posting this over at Veg Plotting (my first blogging simulcast - imagine!) and tweeting this most important post shortly. I'd appreciate it if all my fellow tweeps could retweet the link, particularly as there's a danger I might have missed someone out (Frugilegus in particular?) who thinks they're coming. Many apologies if I have :(

Press Cuttings

All publications like to keep all the nice things people say about them and Meet @ Malvern is no exception. Of course being a blog, press cuttings are kept that little bit differently: in the form of links to the posts other bloggers have written. So there's a new link list in the sidebar today as a way of saying thank you to everyone's that's posted about Meet @ Malvern so far called (rather unoriginally I fear) What They're Saying About Meet @ Malvern. Naturally, this has been put there to tempt you further into coming and joining the fun and also to introduce you to anyone you may be unfamiliar with.

Rest assured if I've missed out your post about Meet @ Malvern, it wasn't my intention. Get in touch in the usual way with your post's link and I'll get it on there ASAP.

Malvern Memories: The Show Gardens

Here's the first post taking a nostalgic view of last year's Malvern Show, designed to give you a taster of what to expect in May. Last year's blogging visitors have been absolutely fantastic and have willingly agreed to let me re-publish their posts in full, without too much in the way of arm twisting from me. The result is so much better than just giving you a few links to go off and look at. Thanks guys :)

First up is Happy Mouffetard aka The Inelegant Gardener [shorely shome mishtake - Ed], who takes us on a walk around some of last year's show gardens:

Several people have already put up photos of the show gardens at Malvern, including Patient Gardener, VP and Arabella Sock. I have to say that, to my untutored eye, the gardens seemed of better quality than I have seen in previous years. And there were more, too. Having the creative imagination of a gnat, I can only admire the way that the designers can think up a concept and then bring it to life with living material.


Debs at Beholder's Eye won a silver medal with her imaginative and romantic Lola

Having forgotten which other gardens are which by now, these photos hopefully show some of the exuberance of spring.

Sarracenia surrounding a circular pool were eye-catching.

Beyond here be dragons...

Alliums featured in a lot of the gardens, which is A Good Thing as far as I'm concerned.

Sorry Joe Swift - there weren't many gardens which concentrated on the colour green.

And just for Arabella, who missed out on a hug...

NB Content and pictures are courtesy and copyright of Happy Mouffetard.