For me, autumn starts properly with the Malvern Autumn Show. Asters and dahlias take centre stage in the floral marquee, there are special displays of seasonal fruit and the amateur classes are all about the crops that months of careful nurturing have produced.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the show, a span that has seen a garden design competition come and go, new innovations – the gin festival was this year’s addition – and different layouts on the Three Counties Showground.
Last year, the nurseries finally moved out of the ‘cow sheds’ and there’s no doubt the marquee has been widely welcomed. (You can read last year’s report here.)
Some things have remained unchanged over the years, including the presence of Fibrex Nurseries, one of the founding nurseries 25 years ago and an exhibitor every year since. It was fitting that they won the coveted Best in Show this year for a display of their ivies and ferns.
While I naturally investigaged what the gin festival was all about, I did spend most of my day in the floral marquee where the displays were up to their usual high standard – rather fittingly there were 25 RHS gold medals awarded.
Many of the nurseries and stands around the show had got into the spirit of the season. This was heuchera specialists Heucheraholics.
The Newent Plant Centre display always has something of interest and at Malvern Autumn 2019 it was this rather lovely campsis. A new introduction, and bred near Malvern, it was flowering profusely despite being quite a small plant. Definitely one to look out for.
I admit to having caught the dahlia bug and I particularly like pompon and ball varieties as they generally have long stems and sit neatly in a vase. It was the colour of these on Pheasant Acre Plants’ stand that caught my eye.
Again, the colour was what I liked about this from Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants. It needs a sunny spot that’s sheltered and produces long, arching sprays of flowers.
The flowers on this rudbeckia reminded me of an Impressionist painting with the different shading on each petal. It was on the Primrose Bank Nursery stand.
This rather exotic-looking plant is part of the ginger family and was causing interest on Hartside Nursery Garden’s display.
I also rather liked this gentian on the stand – it looks as though it’s been dipped in ink.
The plants from Ottershaw Cacti were much admired – not least for their age. This prickly specimen was more than 60 years old.
The British cut flower industry was well represented at Malvern Autumn 2019 with floristry displays by Jonathan Moseley and stands by growers and florists. They are one of the newer features at the show and something that I always make sure I visit.
Of course, one of the most popular elements of the show is the giant veg and it didn’t disappoint with huge pumpkins, feet-long carrots and oversized tomatoes.
Some of the exhibits certainly had an alien life feel about them.
And the amateur growers were well represented with impressive displays of perfect fruit, flowers and veg.
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