There’s nothing quite like an autumn show to round off the growing season and the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show didn’t disappoint with masses of colour and the bonus of a chance to look around Newby Hall Gardens, which was hosting the event.
I’d high hopes of seeing a few dahlias despite what’s been a shocking growing season for many gardeners, but the display was even better than expected. Specialist amateur growers vied for top prizes in the National Dahlia Society contest with flowers of every shape, size and colour.
Dahlia classes ranged from the huge dinner plate varieties through to ball dahlias with tightly packed petals in perfectly round blooms and everything in between.
Needless to say, I saw several that I’d like to grow – my autumn shopping list is definitely getting longer!
These were just a few that caught my eye. What really impressed though was the sheer perfection of the flowers – not a blemish or nibble on any petal.
This display showcasing the variety of flowers that can be grown proved popular and was much photographed by visitors.
Another autumn stalwart, chrysanthemums were also on show with a competition for members of the Northern Group of the National Chrysanthemum Society. I’ve long thought that these flowers are due a comeback and opinion seems to be turning – there’s a new book just published on them that I will be reviewing in coming weeks.
Despite the name, the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show also had displays of autumn produce and contests for veg ranging from perfect tomatoes to giant parnsips.
Being Yorkshire, there was naturally rhubarb and leeks, both impressive in their size and quality.
The sheer dedication required to produce vegetables like this is vast and I overheard more than one conversation between growers about methods.
With plant nurseries, garden sundry stalls, talks on floristry, using produce in the kitchen, and preserving food, there was plenty to see even if your gardening isn’t of competition standard.
A Look Around Newby Hall Gardens
The setting of the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show in the award-winning Newby Hall Gardens makes a visit a double treat.
Newby Hall is owned by the Compton family and the gardens, around a house designed by Christopher Wren, were mainly laid out in the 1920s, influenced by Hidcote in Gloucestershire. The 40 acres have 15 different ‘garden rooms’ with the centrepiece being 172m-long double herbaceous borders.
Even though it was mid-September and a year that has not been blessed with good weather, there was still plenty of colour in the borders.
It was also good to see butterflies enjoying the blooms in a week in which Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count has reported the lowest numbers ever recorded.
The Woodland Garden offered a calm green space between the flower-filled areas.
I particularly liked the pastel colour theme of Sylivia’s Garden where the ‘Ballerina’ roses were still covered in blooms.
Unsuprisingly, the Autumn Garden also had plenty to see, including dahlias. With rock gardens, roses, and a tropical garden among the other features, there’s plenty to explore with some areas, such as the ‘Laburnum Curving Pergola’ better earlier in the year. A return visit will be needed.
You can read about more of my garden visits here.
More information on Newby Hall & Gardens is here.
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