Starting gun sounds as flower spectacle gets up and running

PATRIOTIC red, white and blue blooms feature in the aptly named “Starting Blocks” as the Harrogate Spring Flower Show sets off and running from today at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Jan Verity from Birstwith, Harrogate, used red gerberas and carnations, white roses and blue delphiniums for her track arrangement which is part of The Yorkshire Flower Club’s “From Olympia to London” display in the floral art marquee.

She only took up flower arranging 18 months ago “and it has been a real eye opener just how much work goes on behind the scenes for such a show,” she said. Rowing, gymnastics and archery are only some of the Olympic sports included in the display.

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In the same marquee floristry colleges tackle historical events such as the Black Death while individual florists have been asked for a bridal bouquet for a cartoon character.

With seven show gardens in competition with each other, more than a hundred top horticultural exhibitors displaying their best blooms and plants, and everything for the garden from flower pots to dovecotes there is plenty for the visitor to see whatever the weather, according to show director Martin Fish.

“Of course we hope for good weather but with 75 per cent of the show under cover and most of the outside displays on hard standing rather than grass we can cope with whatever comes our way,” he said.

Those staging the show gardens have had every kind of weather to cope with while setting up over the last week, including hailstones, but still managed some impressive results.

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Plant nurseries entering the Innovative Displays this year have famous gardens for their theme with choices including Keukenhof’s spectacular tulips, complete with windmill in one entry, to the garden at Highgrove, the home of Show Patron Prince Charles, in another.