I love this show. I always seem to find what I’m look for, and then some more. I’ve been debating whether I should use a cloche for my winter leaves or not and then I came across this nifty and stylish solution for those with petite growing (and storage) spaces. Some bamboo canes and a bit of fleece (or plastic) added to these rusty wire hoops will do the trick perfectly.
Plant Belles supply hoops in different finishes and sizes to suit all needs and have other gorgeous plant supports online too. I plumped for a set of 5 smaller hoops for £15.00 and I know I’m going to use these time and time again.
I’m always irresistibly drawn, as if by a magnetic force, to the Crug Farm Plants stand, and this year I was delighted by this deliciously scented Pachysandra axillaris ‘Crug Cover’. So similar are its flowers to that of a Sarcococca, that I thought it must be related, but the Pachysandra genus is part of the box family. The ‘axillaris’ leaves are sizeably larger than the more common Pachysandra (terminalis) ground cover that you see in many gardens, and growing in light to dark shade, to about a foot high (and of creeping habit), this new plant discovery is definitely on my ‘shady bits of the garden’ must-have list.
After a bit of plant gazing and shopping, I was onto the serious business of seed buying. I do want to start some mustard leaves off soon in my mini greenhouse (and new cloche) and called by to the very friendly Sea Spring Seeds stand. They always have a really good selection of leaves and I plumped for some ‘Broadleaf’ and ‘Red Knight’ Mizuna (fast becoming one of my favourites) and Flaming Thrills and Golden Streaks Mustards-always very decorative. But Sea Spring Seeds are also a Chilli specialist and I’ve ordered some Super Chile plug plants to be delivered later in the year for our community veg growing project. I think they’re going to look fantastic in sunny window boxes and pots along our street come summer.
I also dropped by Pennard Plants to discuss seeds potatoes. These will be for growing in growbags at the end of March and I’ve plumped for Salad Blue Early (a handsome dark purple tuber for some great lilac-coloured mash), which I can collect at the Potato Day at the Garden Museum in Lambeth on Sunday March 10th.
And I picked up plenty of packets of seeds so neighbours can grow these gorgeous rainbow coloured carrots this year too.
As ever, there was a glorious array of spring-flowering bulbs and perennials on offer, and I snapped up a few Lathyrus vernus for another shady spot from the Hardy’s stand. And a few of the darkest of Hellebores and some Hollyhocks for tree pits from The Botanic Nursery. This is my favourite sort of shopping!
As you leave Vincent square, there’s a garden nearby (attached to some grand old purpose-built flats in Ashley Gardens-thanks for local knowledge Nicolette) that always looks as good as the show stands. This year was no exception and the cyclamen, primroses and hellebores made the route home a perfect ending to a very enjoyable day.
P.S.
Following Claire’s comment below, here’s a pic of Jacques Armand’s lush Iris display. Have a look at her fab blog for her review of the show.
Out of my shed 
Looks like a great day. I got some of those plant belles hoops from Malvern last year and they are a brilliant idea and like you say perfect for small spaces. Don’t know if my bank balance could take a visit to such a place, 😉
Hi WW, Luckily I was buying for a couple of clients, as well as for myself (and our veg project), so slightly easier on the bank account! Many temptations none-the-less though!!
Thank you for covering this. I was sorry not to be able to make it, but it’s good to see what I missed.
Hi Helen, It’s such a lovely show as many of the nursery owners are there to talk to you about their fab plants. My favourite show of the year!
I saw a lot of these stands last summer at Cottesbrook – if only I wasn’t skint! I’d have the lot…!
Hi NMG, Difficult be restrain oneself I know. Just tried to stay focused and add tempting plants to future wish lists. Just as well I was going home on the tube!
Loving those hoops, I’ve been after something like that for ages!
My thoughts exactly!
We admired the planting in Ashley Gardens on the way home too, and thought exactly as you did that it was as interesting as a stand! Very enjoyable and inspiring couple of rooms, we thought.
Hurrah! You know the name of the street! Whenever I go to shows in Victoria, theses gardens are always so impressive. Next show at the end of March – looking forward to it and the walk down Ashley Gardens!
I went on Tuesday and had a great time. It was intensely busy as I was there in the morning, perhaps because it had just opened. Hence it wasn’t really possible to talk much to anyone. I missed the chilli specialist but thanks for the link as I will definitely buying from them. Plantbelles had my dream trellis but they could only make it to order and bring it with them to another garden show – probably a good excuse to go to another show really! The display of irises from Jacques Armand was my hit of the day.
Hi Claire, Loved the Irises too and have added a link to your pics for others to see more of the show. Funny how each year you have a different focus. This year it was definitely plants for shade and seeds for our veg project for me. Hope you manage to acquire your dream trellis…..
What brilliant hoops and good to have a variety of sizes- I am on the case this instant. And I like the look of the pachysandra especially since it offers scent in the shade.
Hi Sue, yes, that Pachysandra is a real winner. I can already think of a few spots in clients’ gardens where it would be the perfect plant. Good luck with the hoops!
I loved the Plant Belles stand too – the perfect mix of rustic but contemporary. Took a pic on my phone for future inspiration!
Yes, they’re brilliant aren’t they. I was thinking about weaving a rose in and of out one of their ‘George’ Plant Belles
That lamprocapnos spectabilis in your picture is the same as the one that the ivy strangled! I will be looking for a new one now I know the name 🙂 The hoops are a great idea too, Thanks Naomi x
Hi Lindsey, I did think of you when taking this pic! If you’re on the hunt for a new plant, Lamprocapnos may well still be called by its previous name which is Dicentra spectabilis. N x
We went on the Tuesday, was a great show. The Crug stand and also Trewidden were our personal favourites. The Pachysandra axillaris stood out for us too, although we didnt buy one.
Hi Mark and Gaz, It was a great show this year wasn’t it. Couldn’t buy a Pachysandra as they’d sold out on the first day, but it’s definitely a really useful plant to keep in mind for darker areas in the garden. As Sue says above, great to plan for scent in a shady area.
Soo glad to find that I am not the only waiting with impatience the moment in which the first bits of Ashley Gardens are visible from the Cathedral square! I love them! They are always a fixed part to my journey to Vincent Square!
Hi Noemi, think I may have to track down the gardeners at Ashley Gardens, just to thank them! (or write a post about their garden!)
New to your blog via wellywoman and really enjoying your posts. Love the hoops and fleece idea.
Hi Andrea. Thanks for dropping by via Wellywoman! Yes, those hoops are a real winner. Hopefully will get planting some mustartd leaves using them next week.
Hi Naomi
Just to say thanks a lot for the link to my blog. Good luck with the book as well – enjoying reading the reviews.
Thanks Claire!
Those hoops look great, so practical, doesn’t matter if you leave them outside. I was going to make some timber frames to take fleece and netting, but I have nowhere to store them, this would be much better. And some lovely plants and seeds too. Great day out.
Hi Janet, storage is always an issue in my garden and I think it’s a great plus with these hoops that they can be easily packed away-as well as looking so good. Yes, was a lovely day out!
I love those hoops too! Very easy to store. The rainbow carrots are really cool. I would have loved this show and it’s definitely my kind of shopping too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Anna, had such fun with these carrots this year. I grew them easily in a biggish bucket and I hope my neighbours will have great results with them too. Roll on spring!…..