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Harrogate Plant Fair

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Last week was the Harrogate Spring Flower show and I was unable to get there due to family commitments. But today there was a plant fair in the grounds of RHS Harlow Carr garden.

Victoria asked to come with me, so I got up at 7am to make a picnic for us. That was sort of a mistake as it was very cold and showery. After a 1 1/2 hour drive we arrived at 9.20 and when the doors opened at 9.30 we were the first through into the garden.

I made a bee line for the NCCPG stall where I picked up Hemerocallis lilioasphodel and Polygonatum x hybridum ‘Striata’. At a neighbouring stall I found another Hemerocallis, ‘Tangerine Dream’ this time.

After a quick coffee I met up with a friend who had gone the the Spring fair last week. She had been given a task, to pick up for me 2 Epimedium and didnt she do well?

Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’

Epimedium ‘Arctic Wings’

I was stopped several times to ask where I had got them from. They were from the Edrom Nursery stall, at the flower show the week before. They do sell on line. I have had a ‘drool’ for several hours, several times this last week.

Spurred on by these I kept my eye open for more and came across this pretty pink one.

Epimedium roseum

A gentle wander round brought me back to the same stall and this time I saw what I thought was another epimedium, but it wasnt. I bought it anyway as it is evergreen and a good ground cover plant.

Vancouvria chrysanthia

We stopped at Holme farm nursery, owned by another friend and former chairperson of my local HPS group. She has some wonderful plants especially Phlomis but what caught my eye was this unusual poppy.

Papaver trinifolium

Victoria and I then deposited the plants in the car and headed back into the garden to look for a sheltered seat, which became our lunch spot. After a little chocolate we wandered around the garden taking photos of the glorious Rhododendrons and the beautiful Tulips.

Re vitalised we had a second sweep of the stalls and I found a little specimen [10" with buds] of Daphne tangutica. On a third and final sweep I picked up Aster amellus ‘Pink Zenith’ and Victoria spotted this and suggested she would like to try and grow it.

Yes I bought it for her.
Anthyllis vulneraria.

So 4 hours, a picnic, a lovely walk and 11 plants later we left the gardens and set off for home. Victoria enjoyed the trip, especially persuading me to buy her a plant and a couple of items from the gift shop.

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Comments

 

sounds like you had a lovely time sea,,, nice victoria has same liking for plants, nice to share,,;o)

2 May, 2010

 

Good choices... lovely pics... and great idea to have the chocolate to give you energy for a bit of extra shopping ;o) x

2 May, 2010

 

Sounds like a great day out.Your Epimediums are great...especially the "Arctic Wings ".

2 May, 2010

 

i have one of these with a yellow flower,never knew what it was called,ive always loved it and it has grown realy well this year,thankyou

2 May, 2010

 

lovely plants so fragile,only gardeners could...drool over plants lol..flowers and chocolate im drooling now ..lol...

2 May, 2010

amy
Amy
 

What a lovely day out .. I'm envious of all those different colour Epimediums .... and the chocolate .. :o))

2 May, 2010

 

thanks, the epimediums are lovely and fully hardy. Arctic wings is almost 1" across too. I was good and didnt have much of the chocolate :o)

2 May, 2010

 

Well, you two had a great time - did it make up for missing the Harrogate Show? Sometimes you find 'little gems' at smaller events - and it looks as though you did! Love that Vancouvria - does it flower?

2 May, 2010

 

yes and it was less busy too. according to my book it has a flowers, similar to epimedium. 'Loose pannicles of yellow recurved flowers.'

2 May, 2010

 

Great day, great pics.....great plants and great....okay, not sure I could do the picnic in this weather but sounds like a productive and enjoyable day out!

2 May, 2010

 

I've had 'worse' picnics :o) At least we had a hot drink to warm our little hands.

2 May, 2010

 

:0)) Good on ya SBG. The plants would have made up for the weather I'm sure.....lucky you!

2 May, 2010

 

A very productive day out....some lovely plants there. I've had plants from Edrom before; they are very good. One of these days we will go the their nursery....not too far from us.....
That Vancouveri looks lovely...such unusual shaped leaves......
Did you go to Betty's..?

3 May, 2010

 

I think I'll put the Vancouveri on my 'wish list'! Those leaves are lovely, and if it flowers as well, that's a real bonus! :-))

3 May, 2010

 

What a 'haul' - definitely a worthwhile trip. Looking forward to your spring photos next year.

3 May, 2010

 

Some very nice plants, Sbg. We are also into Epimediums, I love how delicate they are.

3 May, 2010

 

You have some smashing plants Sbg, it must have been hard not to have bought even more! I really liked Vancouvria chrysanthia, I might look out for one for myself. Glad you had a great day out. :o)

3 May, 2010

 

I was a little bit like a child in a sweet shop. :o)
I am relatively new to epimediums and I have fallen for them. they are so delicate looking but fully hardy when I am.

3 May, 2010

 

It sounds like you had a wonderful day. Very good :o)

4 May, 2010

 

hi hywell, yes a great day even though very cold. typical bank holiday weather:o)

4 May, 2010

 

lol - Yes, it never seems to be nice on Bank Hopidays. :o(

4 May, 2010

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