I helped at Hampton Court Flower Show with the Plant Heritage Committee in the Plant Heritage tent. Several societies had displays and were to be judged on their plant quality and presentation etc. There was a miniature
Hosta display,
Mytaceae Family display,
Lobelia, Hypericum, Tillandsia, Hemerocallis and my favourite Bristol Zoo's
Calendula display to show collaborations of many different community groups etc. growing different types to
Calendula as a way of getting them involved and interested in Conservation etc.
The committee picked up on the smallest of details even below the immaculate
Hosta display got critique about the small pots above - some being tilted and some not, and the large pots perhaps not tilted enough or maybe shouldn't be used.
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| Photo 1: Miniature Hosta display |
Things looked for in a display - best sides, signage at right height & amount of info - not too much but concise, labelling (not too distracting from actual plants), info sheets, accuracy of info & of the right kind - habit, propagation, pots - good ones but not too dominating, tipped plants in pots if it helps them look better, uniformity of plants? Less is more. Framing. Continuity of theme & context.
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| Photo 2: Bristol Zoo Calendula display. This received some good responses. |
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| Photo 3: Different Calendulas from around the world. |
Good diagrammatic explanations of taxonomy were important. There were ongoing disparagements of flowers looking like they're in the wild & garden worthy display especially with the
Lobelia display, which I enjoyed because I didn't realise there were so many different varied types.
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| Photo 4: The Lobelia display. |
The
Hemerocallis was critiqued for not having flowers open - as they can be forced with a hair dryer/ hot flask of water for steaming them open. This can be done to daffs too. There was debate of what would be the best for triangular island displays, info in the middle and inset in corners?
NBs
- Hosta sieboldiana, H. Halcyon are the ones Japanese eat.
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Eugenia uniflora,
Psidium littorale - edible myrtaceae, frost free conditions
Other things at the show - Synaesthesia garden.
