Events

RHS April London Flower Show
15-16 April 2008

Theme: Daffodil Festival

Words: Phil Clayton, Images: Tim Sandall

Burncoose Nurseries of Cornwall displayed a spectacular shrub Toona sinensis ‘Flamingo’. Its young foliage emerges bright pink, then gradually fades to green as the season progresses.	Tender Pandorea pandoreana ‘Ruby Bells’ climber was displayed by the Old Walled Garden, Kent. Its tubular reddish pink blooms each have a yellowish throat and are held in panicles. Plants may be hardy enough to survive outside in sheltered city gardens.	The Botanic Nursery of Wiltshire had an unusual lilac on display with attractive lacy foliage; Syringa x laciniata. The small scented flowers appear earlier than many other lilacs, and it has a compact habit making it a good choice for the smaller garden.
A relative of the daphnes, yellow flowered Wickstroemia gemmata ‘Sceringa’ (above left) was displayed by Foxgrove plants of Newbury, whose stand also displayed delightful Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’, in combination with the pink flushed foliage of an emerging Adiantum fern (above right).		Also of interest was an early flowering South African Watsonia, Watsonia laccata shown by Pennard Plants of Somerset ,with pink tubular blooms held on 40cm (16in) tall stems
In the Lindley Hall the various competitions displayed a dazzling array of different narcissus, grown to perfection by competitors from around the UK.	In addition, the Alpine Garden Society show included many choice, demanding and often diminutive species and selections including rarely seen Iris paradoxa (above left) and a sumptuous clump of Podophyllum delavayi (above right) with its young parasol-like leaves seemingly made of shot silk.

Award winners

Gold

Broadleigh Gardens: The NCCPG National Collection of Alec Gray hybrid daffodils
The Old Walled Garden: Shrubs and climbers from the Southern Hemisphere
Walkers Bulbs @ Taylors: Daffodils

Silver-Gilt Flora

Burncoose Nurseries: Trees, shrubs and ornamental plants
Dibleys Nurseries: Begonais and Streptocarpus
Foxgrove Plants: Spring perennials
Harveys Garden Plants: Woodland and shade plants
Brian and Pearl Sulman: Pelargoniums
Trehane Camellia Nursery: Camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, Pieris and Vaccinium

Silver Flora

Jacques Amand International: Fritillaria and other spring bulbs
The Botanic Nursery: Lime tolerant perennials and shrubs
Richard and Sheena Drane: Succulents and exotics
Fibrex Nurseries: Hedera , ferns and pelargoniums
Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants: Spring flowering herbaceous perennials
HW Hyde and Son: Tulips
W E Th Ingwersen: Sempervivum and Jovibarba
W and S Lockyer: Auriculas, primulas and other spring plants
Rose Cottage Plants: Hardy bulbs and perennials
Wilford Bulb Co: Lillies and other bulbous flowers 

Bronze Flora

Pennard Plants: Tender plants and irises