Great Dixter Autumn Plant Fair, October 4 and 5

Autumn is the time of year when the garden takes on a mellow and relaxed mood but us gardeners are far from relaxed and already planning for the year ahead.  In many ways this is the start of the gardening season, the best time to order and plant spring bulbs, mulch the beds, divide and move perennials that may have spread a little too much.

Also, the perfect time to start buying plants and planting, with the hottest and dryest days well behind us.  One event etched into many gardener’s calendars is the Great Dixter Autumn Plant Fair, always held on the first weekend in the month of October (there is also a spring fair in April). Held in the plant fair field at the next to the nursery, it starts at 11am and closes at 4pm.  Saturday is always the ‘serious plant buyer’s day’, cars will be already filing down Dixter Lane long before opening time, those new to the fair will be surprised to find Head Gardener, Fergus Garrett on car parking duty.  Personally, I think this is his way of making sure that he meets and greets everyone.

Before Brexit, the fair was jam-packed with nurseries from all over Europe but gone are those days, now you will find nurseries from the length and breadth of the British Isles.  Some will be well-known such as Hardys Cottage Plants and some will be the new, rising stars such as Hootens Nursery from Rotherham.  Over twenty-five nurseries, who each give a short talk about their plants during the day.

And although we attend under the pretence of buying plants, it is one of the most sociable events in the horticultural calendar.  A place to meet friends and fellow plant lovers and over tea and cake we chat about which plants have stolen our hearts this year.  Maybe see you there?

For more information: Great Dixter Autumn Plant Fair