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GW Live Birmingham - first day

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Went to GW Live show on Wednesday the first day of opening. I met up with a Goy member, this day had been planned for a long time. We had a lovely day. I took what I thought was loads of photos and then when I look back through them, I left loads of photoless gaps in my day. Here are a few to share with you:


This was on the way in. A pretty and well organised vegetable garden. Not a slug in sight!


A large contributing factor to the enjoyment of this show was how easy it was to get around. No real crowds, although it did fill up a bit more by late morning.


This was the view when we first entered the RHS Floral Marquee. Is this the view the Queen gets?? – heaven!


Had a good browse on the Dibleys stand. Now which one shall I choose, there are soooo many


Isnt it funny how you always change your mind when you see plants for real rather than in a picture. I was going to buy Sweet Melicent a new scented variety. It didnt live up to expectations so I opted for this one:


This one is called Harlequin Lace and was also introduced this year.
A few more closeups from the flower stands to inspire and make you drool (well I did anyway!)

Now how about this to beat the weather, a completely knitted garden! Quirky huh?


I thought this was so clever and cute, absolutely everything was knitted – even the path!
Then there were the clever ideas and things to maybe try to make in the future……


Then there were some old friends with familiar faces


Hello Monty, have you seen that lovely ground elder plant on Daisy Roots stand?
I got a good photo of Carol too but she told me I didnt get her best side, so I dont want to embarrass her by including it in this blog! lol
Now some pictures of the beautiful alpines on display. Willi its your fault, I totally love alpines now!

I really liked this hydrangea – Hopcorn, another one for the wish list!

And just to finish off a few of the stunning cacti. They always impress me but I dont really want to grow them – far too prickly. Hope Hywel sees them:


What a lovely day and a wonderful show. Thank you for your company too Meadowland, even though you wouldnt let me put your photo on!! lol

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Comments

 

Lovely pics PoppyL, Glad you had a great day.
Scrummy Alpines, I just love them. I could be so tempted to change the whole garden to Alpines.
Love the knitted garden, you should of knabbed the knitted chicken for you & knitted tortoise for me, Lol.

15 Jun, 2012

 

Wonderful blog poppylover Feels like I had been as well some gorgeous flowers ...spoilt for choice really :)))

15 Jun, 2012

 

Fantastic Poppy. Oh how I loved your photos, all the things I like, all those Streps, I do have a lot of those already, and the Rhodohypoxis, the alpines, I love those too. The knitted garden was very clever, and even the cactus I am liking as well. Thank you for sharing your day. Loved it.

15 Jun, 2012

 

I got to the cacti and thought "oh those Mammillaria look identical" I didn't even know I knew they were called Mammillaria.....That's Hywel and GoY for you.!!

I was going say I hope the Chicken is still there Willi. ;)

15 Jun, 2012

 

You've left me drooling Poppy. Fabulous!

15 Jun, 2012

 

Thank you for you lovely comments Willi, Niverdeen, Cinders and Pimp. I think we like similar plants Cinders. Perhaps you have had an influence on me?? Im working on Maureen to do me a chicken Willi and Pimp, perhaps she can be persuaded to do you a tortoise Willi. Unlike me you do have a real one!

15 Jun, 2012

 

That's the side effect of your Migraine Lil...:)) hope you are better.

15 Jun, 2012

 

It would'nt off been Pimp if I had been there, can't leave her to do anything on her own! Lol.

15 Jun, 2012

 

Lol ... Meadowland may hopefully turn out to be a Clepto ! We will have to keep an eye on her garden over the next few weeks.

15 Jun, 2012

 

Ha Ha :-0

15 Jun, 2012

 

Ha!aaaa! Just talk amongst yourselves you two! you know who you are lol.

Sorry I missed your comment Lil, our comments must have crossed. Hope your headache is over now and not giving you grief. I dont know whats wrong with drooling, I do it all the time! lol

15 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks Pimp and Poppy....mmm, sounds delish!
Better, yes, but could you dim the lights please? ;))

16 Jun, 2012

 

Thank you Poppylover, loved the Alpines.

16 Jun, 2012

 

What time did you arrive Poppy? I love arriving early and seeing it all so fresh and pristine. Does anyone remember James May's plasticine garden at Chelsea? I think the knitted version of a garden is just so much better!!
I did manage to watch GW last night, but it's always good to hear/see friends comments/pictures. Thanks for sharing Poppy :o)

16 Jun, 2012

 

Isn't it great sharing your day with friends ... in person, and on the screen.
Thanks for showing the cacti. I recognised a few I've got. I could look at them for hours.
They're not as sharp as rose thorns :o)
I loved those Streptocarpus. I'm not very good at growing them but they are lovely.

16 Jun, 2012

 

Lovely pictures, especially like the alpine troughs

16 Jun, 2012

 

Glad you liked it Diane
Tracey we arrived more or less as it opened. It was comfortable to walk around all day - so unlike Chelsea. I always feel sorry for vertically challenged people there, they cant see anything!
Hywel, I cant look at a cacti without thinking of you. I can look at them for hours too. You are slowly educating me, like Pimp I can also recognise a Mammillaria type now. lol

16 Jun, 2012

 

Yes me too Madabout. You would maybe have liked the butterfly tent too. It was a tall netted column containing a tropical looking plant in full flower. It was fascinating to pick out hundreds of beautifully coloured and marked butterflies and moths. I tried to take a few photos but sadly the camera focussed on the background rather than the butterflies - shame.

16 Jun, 2012

 

Fantastic pics! Love Monty!

16 Jun, 2012

 

I am of some use then lol ...

16 Jun, 2012

 

Yes, what an enjoyable visit, Poppy...Thanks for that! Feel like I was there too. Glad you had a great time, girls! :))

16 Jun, 2012

 

Ive just seen your email Julia, so its OK to put the photo with you on? It was all part of the day, I had a lovely time too btw.
Thanks Karen, its a shame you werent there with us but Im glad you liked the blog.

16 Jun, 2012

 

Great to read and see your day Ladies :)
Lovely pictures of the plants and the celebs! Saw your ground cover elder on GW last night.
Peonies are my favourite so thank you for showing those.
I like the alpines too. I may actually take a wee bit of insipation from one of those troughs. I have just planted an Abies balsamea hudsonia and was looking for something to grow with it. I just happen to have a little pot of rhodohypoxis the same colour as in the picture. They look really good together. Thank you :)))

16 Jun, 2012

 

Hi Poppy glad you enjoyed the show and your day, I went with BA on Thursday ... no need to say we had a good laugh but were rather disappointed with the show itself. What with the resession and the bad weather it didn`t seem anywhere near as good as other years.

16 Jun, 2012

 

Oooh that's great Scottish! I always think if I get just one little bit of inspiration or 1 good idea it has made a visit to a show worthwhile. Youll have to show us a picci when its planted up.
Stroller isnt that strange? Ive never been to that show before, neither has Meadowland. We both loved it, but then I suppose we had nothing to compare it to. I saw BA's blog and her picture of you and Monty. - Im sooooo jealous. Meadow was scared stiff I was going to ask him for a photo of him with her!!! lol He's a bit scruffy in real life isnt he.... but I still like him loads!

17 Jun, 2012

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