As a celebration of the season, the Malvern Autumn Show takes some beating with harvest displays, giant veg and autumn colours, but the gardening element has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
I enjoyed wandering around and catching up with friends in the industry but compared with previous years, it was a bit lacklustre.
The nursery exhibits were up to the usual high standard but there were fewer in the Floral Marquee. I know a couple pulled out at the last minute but some familiar faces, such as Dibleys Nurseries, Hare Spring Cottage Plants and Calamazag Plant Nursery, were missing. Others who are normally in the marquee had opted for outdoor stands instead.
Talking to nursery owners, there’s a worry that this is a trend that’s set to continue – it’s something we’ve all seen at other big shows this year. An increase in mail order sales, along with the high cost of hiring stands and travelling to shows are making some reluctant to take part. Add to that the prospect of approaching retirement for some owners with no one lined up to take over, and the pool of independent nurseries is shrinking.
Does that matter? I think it does. Mail order is fine but there’s nothing quite like being able to discuss a plant with the person who’s grown it, whether it’s really suitable for your garden, and how to care for it. Events like the Malvern Autumn Show give you the opportunity to do just that with growers from all over the country.
Likewise, independent – and specialist – nurseries give gardeners real choice. Go to any big garden centre and the chances are you will see the same limited range of plants and varieties of those plants. Only at an independent are you likely to find something unusual.
The Malvern Autumn Show has never really been a gardening show – although in the past it did have some gardens as well. Even so, it would be sad to see the gardening element decline.
Around the Malvern Autumn Show
Autumn is the time for asters – or symphyotrichum, eurybia, or whatever else they are now called. Old Court Nurseries specialise in what I still think of as Michaelmas daisies, has the National Collection, and can be relied upon for a great display at Malvern.
This year was no exception and I particularly liked ‘Sandsford’s White Swan’ with the pink tinge to its white flowers.
On the Harts Nursery display it was two of the roselilies that caught my eye. ‘Anouska’ has a delicate pink edge to the petals while there’s a lovely green tinge to the otherwise white flowers of ‘Aisha’.
Rob Evans of Pheasant Acre Plants had decided to leave the dahlias at home – other than a bucket of blooms – to put his gladioli in the spotlight. These elegant flowers are gradually gaining in popularity and his display showed there is now much more than the traditional primary colours available.
Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants had the striking Campanula ‘Elizabeth’ on their display – an apt choice given recent events.
Rob Hardy explained that it normally blooms in May/June but that cutting it back after flowering often leads to a second flush now. It needs part-shade in any good soil and spreads via runners.
I had distinct veg envy looking at the display by W Robinson & Sons. I really need to up my game for next season.
Outside, this was on the Bean Place Nursery stand and attracting attention from many visitors. It’s a lovely way to display flowers and could be scaled down for an indoor arrangment.
I have a new piece of border to fill thanks to finally cutting back some overgrown things so I was on the lookout for plants. This rather lovely penstemon from specialist growers Green JJam Nurseries was just one that followed me home.
That’s the last big flower show until 2023 and the RHS Malvern Spring Festival. I’m already looking forward to it.
- Top picture is Echinacea ‘Sweet Sandia’ on the Procters Nursery Stand.
You can read about more of my flower show visits here.
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I think your paragraph about Nurseries attending Shows is spot on! Sad but true, and I can’t see this improving any time soon. Which is such a shame as we all love to go to the Shows, even though the cost of actually going is so expensive now as well.
Yes, I do think ordinary gardeners are being priced out of many of the big shows. The decline of indie nurseries is a concern – our gardens will be the poorer.
A very thought provoking piece. A couple of good nurseries I’ve spoken to say they only make their money through their cafe, but running a cafe is not what most indie nurseries want to do. I’ve noticed a few of the bigger ‘small nurseries’ are combining with other attractions to make a day out. Ashwoods are increasing their talks from their excellent head gardener and they are fully booked. Newent Plant Centre is part of The Nest which offers many attractions. Maybe a wider based business would be attractive to younger people?
I think diversifying may be the answer but, as you say, it’s not what most growers want to do.
I have noticed that a few of the nurseries that also sell by mail order have closed down or going to in the near future, mainly due to retirement or other personal reasons, often those holding national collections. The horticultural industry needs some young blood to take over, but I imagine times are tough for nurseries. Thank you for a lovely glimpse of the Malvern Show – good to know Picton Court is still going, I have visited that one during September and it is such a fabulous garden. In fact I still have some asters bought from there in 2014.
Glad you liked the post. ☺️ I agree we badly need new people coming into the nursery business. Independent and specialist growers are so important.