Shaggy on show (From York Press)

Shaggy on show

12:10pm Saturday 28th July 2007 in

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WE TRAVELLED to Cheshire last Saturday afternoon, going over the M62 in driving rain and wondering if the journey was going to be a waste of time.

This route can be bleak at the best of times. Even though we know it well, having relatives north and south of Manchester and our eldest son at university in Preston, we still feel uneasy when the weather is poor.

The purpose of the trip was to stay the night in Knutsford and then go to Tatton Park Flower Show the following day, so it was important the weather was dry for at least part of the day.

I could see my husband thinking his generous offer of visiting what he considered to be the biggest garden centre on the planet could be a big mistake, so fingers were crossed for a break from the rain.

In the event, we were lucky. The next day dawned quiet, no pattering on the window and an odd, small patch of blue in the heavy cloud. So we donned walking boots and waterproofs, shouldered a picnic-filled backpack and set off for the shuttle bus to take us through Tatton Park to the white tents we could see in the distance.

Once there, we picked through the mud, thank goodness for the boots, into the relative dry of the floral marquee, where the smell of damp earth and greenery met us. It was busy, as people made for favourite stands or simply wandered, intrigued by the sheer amount on display.

Floral marquees at these shows can be bewildering and they seem to get bigger as each year passes. I have found it best to walk the length of each aisle, following a careful plan and resisting the temptation of running amok at sheer joy in being surrounded by such a mass of treasures.

Once the initial excitement subsides, you begin to spot the same plants appearing on different stalls. A double form of Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle' was much in evidence, for example, and Echinaceas appeared on many stands in interesting shades, ranging from dark purple through to orange and white.

I am always drawn to the hardy perennials and flowering shrubs, but there are many more delights to look at, including collections of plants that don't come into one's gardening sphere at all.

Cacti and succulents from Southfield Nurseries were beautifully displayed and made an amazing sight, so many different types, with many bearing bright blooms.

There was a lot of interest at the North of England Bonsai stand, where several exhibitors were on hand to give information about the tiny trees on display.

This ancient craft produces the most amazing results. One tree had even been grown around a piece of rock, exposed roots clinging to the sides looking like an ancient specimen struggling to survive in harsh, mountainous conditions. North of England Bonsai is based at Old Earswick, near York.

Of course it was impossible to resist the temptation to buy new plants. Most stalls have a selling area next to their displays, and there is also the Plant Plaza in another part of the showground.

It is difficult to choose, but a decision had to be made. I went for a shaggy-headed Leucanthemum called Phyllis Smith'. Eventually growing 1.5m or so tall, this daisy has large yellow-centred flowers surrounded by thin white petals that curl this way and that.

New shoots emerge in early spring followed by blooms in July and August. It needs full sun and well-drained soil, and will be useful for flowers between earlier delphiniums and later michaelmas daisies.

I also added to my small collection of heuchera. New heuchera seem to come out every season. There were plenty to choose from in many shades, with interesting names such as Ginger Ale' and Midnight Rose'. I toyed with both of these, the former having veined pale-brown leaves the exact colour of ginger ale, and the latter with the darkest foliage splashed with rich pink. In the end, I went for one totally different. Key Lime Pie has bright green leaves on light-green stalk flushed pink at the base. It will grow 30cm tall with a similar spread and likes sun or part shade. The white or pale pink flowers are carried in summer.

Flower shows are not only about the floral marquees, although this is where my heart lies. Outside there were the large show gardens, smaller back-to-back gardens and entries to the National Flower Bed Competition, as well as a multitude of stand selling all manner of garden sundries.

Tatton Show has finished for another year but there is always Harrogate Autumn Flower Show to visit at the end of the summer. It runs from September 14 to September 16 at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Reduced advance tickets are now available, ring 0870 758 333 for further details. See you there.

Open gardens

Tomorrow

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

39 Market Place, South Cave, on the A1034 12 miles west of Hull.

Small walled garden with established trees, cottage garden plants, evergreen shrubs, gravel fernery, grasses and a water feature. Open 2pm to 5pm. Admission £2.

Thorpe Lodge, Knaresborough Road, Ripon.

Twelve-acre country garden with extensive colour-themed borders, a walled rose garden, pleached hornbeam walk, mature woodland and courtyard with exotic shrubs and tender plants in pots. There is a picnic area. Open 1pm to 6pm. Admission £4.

Gardening TV and Radio

Tomorrow

8am, Radio Humberside, The Great Oudoors.

9am, Radio Leeds, Gardening with Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, BBC Radio 4. Gardeners' Question Time. From the West Midlands with John Cushnie, Bob Flowerdew, Bunny Guinness and chairman Peter Gibbs.