It has been a few weeks since the last Genus blog. You won’t be surprised to hear that’s because we have been really busy, not just in the Genus garden, but also processing and sending out a huge number of orders for gardening clothes as gardeners get back out into the garden now that Spring has really arrived.
The other thing that has been on our mind is garden shows. This weekend saw the start of the garden show calendar proper with the RHS Cardiff Flower Show, and it’s just a couple of weeks until the RHS Malvern Spring Festival.
The reason the show calendar is occupying our thoughts is because Genus is going on the road this year. Our major event is a stand at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. Work on stand design and preparation of stock has been the other task keeping us busy this past month.
As well as the traditional stalwarts of the show diary, gardeners this year will be treated to some new alternatives. Not really a show so much as a festival, but a new event that we are very excited about none the less, is the Cherry Blossom Festival at Doddington Hall which also started this weekend. Visitors will be able to follow the Japanese tradition of Hanami and sit beneath the trees in contemplation enjoying the “snow” of falling petals. The other new show this year is the London Flower Show which is coming to Osterley Park between Heathrow and West London and accessible by Tube. This show aims to reach a broader London public and engage them in the idea of gardening, connecting to nature and sustainability.
Don’t forget too the Chelsea Fringe which is bringing new community-based events to cities around the UK. The programme is already filling up for the start on May 21st. If you fancy mixing gardening with great design the other show moving back into central London is GROW London which happens in June.
The other thing we notice is the increasing interest amongst gardeners and garden designers for the incorporation of wild flowers, and there are new festivals such as the Flowers of the Dales that are beginning to celebrate our natural heritage. With such a variety of gardening shows and festivals to choose from there is something for every kind of gardener.