What's New and Let's Meet!

It's Showtime at Malvern- will you be there?

It's a year since the Meet @ Malvern blog was launched, so I've tweaked the layout in celebration to launch our 2011 get together. I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible this year :D

Helen and I have various work, family and exam commitments over the next few months and so we won't be able to do very much in the way of organising this year. This also reflects what a number of you said in last year's feedback too, and our informal get together at the Autumn Show last September proved an organisation-lite gathering can still work successfully.

However, I'm also aware there are a number of people who are interested in coming who didn't join us last year at either show, so I'd welcome your views on how we can best ensure we all can find each other easily for a natter with the minimum of organisation.

I've used the Blogger Page function to bring together most of the useful information you'll need to make your own arrangements to attend this year. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to add to the information, particularly the Accommodation, Getting There and Hints and Tips pages.

You'll also see there's an Attendee page: this is very much in the early stages of development, do let me know if and when you're attending so I can keep this page up to date. If last year is anything to go by, this won't really reflect what's happening until late April! And do pass the word round to your fellow bloggers and tweeters who may be interested in coming. This post is the invitation for everyone, so it's up to us all to ensure no-one's left out.

The exception to the useful stuff at the top of the page (isn't there always one!) is the all important contact details for obtaining your tickets. This is in the sidebar under Tickets Please! heading. If you click on the picture, it'll take you to the official Malvern Show booking page. NB The countdown clock has been reinstated too - though you'll have to look a bit harder to find it this time!

I won't be posting as much on here this year as I believe what's already here is enough to give anyone a flavour of what the show is like either by going through the blog in sequence or using the Labels in the sidebar (towards the bottom) to home in on what looks interesting. There'll be the occasional update of news as and when I get it. If anyone would like to write a guest post to help lighten the load, then do get in touch :)

As the posts will be less frequent, you may wish to sign up for Updates or Follow this blog to make sure you don't miss out on anything. You'll find the appropriate buttons in the sidebar. I'll also be updating via Twitter, but experience showed last year that this is a bit hit and miss in keeping you updated.

NB as for last year accommodation is already filling fast, so this is something for you to consider NOW if you're wanting to stay over during the show.

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 :)

Let's Meet!

Malvern Spring Show is rather special: it's one of the first outdoor gardening events of the year, its setting is superb and the Three Counties Show Ground is very roomy. So when I met up with Helen (Patient Gardener) last year, it struck both of us that here's the perfect excuse and venue to organise a garden bloggers get together for the UK.

When we got home, our good idea was confirmed: many other bloggers had gone to Malvern that weekend and not only blogged about how much they'd enjoyed it, their reaction to the possibility of meeting up this year was most positive. We'd already met up with Anna (Green Tapestry) whilst we were there, who knows how many others we'd passed on by without knowing it? So here we are: organising a get together for this year's Malvern Spring Show. The dates are 6-9th May.

This blog will be used over the coming weeks to find out who's interested, make arrangements, post links to any useful information and news. We'll also be using Twitter to publicise the event.

We'd love you to come and join us! James will be strutting his stuff on stage as usual plus Claire and Deb (that's Lola, her wonderful creation at last year's show in the photo above) will have show gardens for us to admire. Maybe Nigel will be judging there again this year?

Our initial thoughts are to keep it simple: we'll probably be quite a large group, so going around the show together won't be that practical. Besides we'll all want to spend our time focusing on the stands and talks which meet our differing garden tastes. So we're thinking of having a place and times to meet during the day (for coffee and lunch) and do our own thing in-between. There's also the possibility of having a meal together afterwards if you'd like to stay on into the evening.

As Helen lives in Malvern we'll be getting all kinds of insider information about the event. Her advice on the best day to go is as follows:

I think Friday is the best day since Thursday is more expensive and Saturday is when all the locals go so v. crowded and lots of children!!! Friday, to me, is for the more serious gardener.

Then there's Sunday of course, for the plant sell off if you're into getting some bargains from the show stands or gardens.

Now to your bit: would you like to come and if so what date(s) can you join us? Are you up for a meal afterwards? Any other ideas or thoughts? Let us know in the Comments in the usual way. And do feel free to use the above photo to advertise Meet @ Malvern on your own blogs. I can send you a copy of the photo if you'd prefer to use the original.

This post will be kept as a 'sticky post' at the top of the blog to welcome any newcomers. Keep an eye out for more news as it comes in the posts below. Or you can subscribe to the Feed or Follow the blog in the usual way to keep in touch. Twitter will be up as soon as I've got to grips with the technology ;)

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Michelle (aka VP of Veg Plotting)

xxx

Welcome :)

Welcome to the blog telling you all about our garden bloggers' get together at Malvern Spring Show!

If you're new around these parts, then it's best if you look at the Let's Meet! introductory post here.

Otherwise, do scroll down for the latest on what's happening as we count down towards the show...