Harrogate Autumn Show to highlight plants of pleasure

Visitors to this autumn’s Harrogate Flower Show will be able to explore the naughty but nice plants that have given gardeners pleasure for millennia. How did the bitter taste of coffee become so popular and what made the leaves of a relatively boring Camellia such a treasured possession? Visit the show and find out at the UK’s premier autumn gardening event offering everything to create your perfect plot.

The show, staged at the Great Yorkshire Showground from 14th to 16th September, 2018, will feature several new highlights including an exhibition called The Great Improver, celebrating Humphry Repton’s work in this, his bicentenary year.

There will also be a display of over 5,000 beautiful autumn blooms in Britain’s biggest exhibition by specialist garden societies and the world-famous giant vegetable competition, featuring everything from monster marrows to colossal carrots and the annual world record weigh-in for heavy onions.

Among the Plants of Pleasure displays will be a special chocolate garden, showcasing sumptuous, dark planting on the outside and working towards a rich, gooey centre of real chocolate plants and flower, complete with a chocolate fountain!

The garden, created by Ripon designer Helen Hays, Harrogate landscaper Nick Fryer and York Chef-Chocolatier Ashley McCarthy, is a playful horticultural tribute to a human obsession with all things cacao that has thrived for thousands of years.

There is a packed programme of talks and demonstrations taking place across four theatres, including the cookery theatre, gardeners Q&A sessions and expert grow your own advice.

From gloves to greenhouses, there are thousands of top quality garden products at the show, plus the chance for early Christmas shopping in the crafts and gifts marquee. There is plenty of free parking and children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult.

For show information, tickets and further details please visit: www.flowershow.org.uk