Events
RHS November London Flower Show
Show report and images: Tim Sandall, Oliver Sandall and Christian Worley
Theme: Winter greenery
The last RHS London Flower Show of the year took place in the Lawrence Hall and what an ending it was. There was a range of colour and surprisingly a wide variety of seasonal plants. One of the striking displays came from H W Hyde & Son, who won a Bronze Flora Medal for its collection of radiant tulips grown and imported from Holland. There was a spectacular Apple Competition and although it was slightly smaller than last month's show it was still most impressive. The show also held a fine exhibition of botanical art for visitors to inspect and enjoy while the images were assessed by judges for medals.
The judges awarded five Gold Medals to the floral exhibits. These were awarded to: Choice Landscapes for its conifers; Dibleys Nurseries for foliage begonias and other houseplants; Fibrex Nurseries for hardy ferns and ivies; Mary Green for her late autumn colour and evergreen foliage; and Pembroke Farm Nursery for its large display of cacti and other exotics.
Whether it's conifers, topiary, trees, hedging or berries, winter greenery is an important component of gardens, and the show was a great opportunity to see these winter stars at their best. It included displays from specialists who demonstrated the best plants to grow for winter effect.
The winners
Gold
Choice Landscapes: Conifers*
Dibleys Nurseries: Foliage begonias & other houseplants
Fibrex Nurseries: Hardy ferns & hederas*
Mary Green: Late autumn colour & evergreen foliage*
Pembroke Farm Nursery: Cacti & other exotics
Silver-Gilt Flora
Coghurst Camellias: Camellia sasanqua & autumn-flowering hybrids*
Oak Tree Nursery: Ornamental grasses*
Potash Nursery: Cyclamen
Silver Flora
Aldo Airplants: Airplants & associated plants
Jacques Amand International: Cut hippeastrums
Foxgrove Plants: Ornamental grasses*
The Old Walled Garden: Plants from the Southern Hemisphere
Pennard Plants: Evergreen plants*
Rougham Hall Nurseries: Ilex*
Topiary Arts: Topiary*
Wilford Bulb Co: Lilies & hippeastrums
Silver Grenfell
National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies: Winter greenery*
Bronze Flora
The Botanic Nursery: Evergreen shrubs & ground cover*
H W Hyde & Son: Tulips
Southcombe Gardens: Foliage plants including ferns*
Trehane Camellia Nursery: Autumn- & winter-flowering camellias*
Bronze Grenfell
Somerset Postal Flowers: Flower arrangements
* winter evergreen themes
Botanical art
Gold
Noriko Watanabe: Hydrangeas in watercolour
Silver-Gilt Grenfell
Jacqueline Dawson: Flowers of walls & waysides
Dr Sue Nicholls: Proteaceae in watercolour & pencil
Yoko Uchijo: Violets of Japan in watercolour
Hazel Wilks: Pen & ink new trees in cultivation in temperate zones
Silver Grenfell
Olivia Chalmers: Watercolours of fruits, woods & exotic flowers
Gillian Elsom: Native plants from Newlands Corner & the Albury Downs in watercolour
Sheila Etchingham: Common fungi in watercolour & pencil
Jill M Hallett: Euonymus species in watercolour
Noriko Hasegawa: Hostas in pencil & watercolour
Kimiyo Maruyama: Orchids
Jean Ricketts: Dahlias in watercolour & pencil
S W Illustrations: Orchid species
Sue Wickison: Endangered New Zealand native plants in watercolour
Amanda Jayne Willoughby: Dry dehiscent & dry indehiscent fruit with seeds
Bronze Grenfell
Dianne Aigaki: Wildflowers growing in Tibet & in exile in watercolour
Moya Davern: Climbing roses in watercolour
Miyako Takahashi: Izu Peninsula plants
Sundries
Chi-Africa: Recycled metal sculptures & hand carved stone
Access Garden Products: Lean-to mini greenhouses & cold frames
Carpenders Park Nursery: Gardening sundries
Ceramica D'Arte: Scillian ceramics, garden & interior gifts
Darlac: Garden tools & horticultural sundries
Implementations Copper Garden Tools: Hand-crafted garden tools
International Camellia Society: Information
Ivelet Books
Jacqueline Allwood: Hand-engraved glass
Jan Harbon: Limited edition prints, cards & notelets
Kazworks Ceramics
Lorna Minton - Botanical Artist: Botanical greeting cards, prints & stationery
Mike Park Limited: Gardening and botany books
RHSE Ltd - The Wisley Shop: Gardening books & gifts
Snape Stakes: Iron plant supports & gifts
Stonecrop Herbs: Dried herbs, chutneys & preserves
The Copper Garden: Water features & bird feeders
Wells & Winter: Plant labels, ties & supports