Well in most cases all the compost is recycled and the plants and hard landscaping materials are either sold off at the end of the Show or used by the designers and landscapers in other gardens.

However that’s not the fate that befell the ‘Reinforcing Nature’ garden that won a Gold Medal and the Best Show Garden award in 2010.

Instead the garden, which was the work of two companies, Water Gems and Secret Gardens, is flourishing in its entirety after being snapped up by a visitor on the very first morning of the Show.

Carolyn Grohmann of Secret Gardens, who was responsible for the beautiful planting that surrounded the giant sculptural pond made from rebar, which had been so brilliantly designed and constructed by Water Gems says: “We were always keen that the garden would live on beyond the Show but we didn’t expect that it would go to one of the very first visitors.”

After Gardening Scotland 2010 was over the work began on moving the rebar structure to a hollow in a garden near Aviemore. But instead of filling the pond with water, the new owner requested that it be filled with the lovely grass, Stipa tenuissima.

Carolyn says: “When sitting on the deck you dip your hand into a sea of soft grasses and the effect is soothing and relaxing.”

The whole garden has been surrounded by an abundance of wild flowers and the secluded site allows many plants to flourish in a part of Scotland known for its long, harsh winters.

As a result of appearing at Gardening Scotland 2010, Water Gems went on to create more garden structures out of rebar, which is most commonly found in the construction industry. And they even made a smaller pond for the START Festival, which took place at Clarence House, home of the Prince of Wales.

Meanwhile Carolyn has been asked many times to recreate the popular planting effects that surrounded the structure.

Lawncare specialists GreenThumb are to sponsor a new award at Gardening Scotland 2012.

This year, for the first time, visitors to the national gardening and outdoor living show will be able to vote for their favourite Show Garden in the GreenThumb ‘I Dig It’ award. 

Jim Jermyn, Gardening Scotland Show Manager, says:

“Before the show opens to the public the Show Gardens are assessed by some of the top horticultural judges in the UK, however very often our visitors have their own opinions on which garden should have won the top award.

“This year, for the first time, they’ll be able to have their say.”

Gardening Scotland 2012 opens on Friday 1st June at The Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh and this year there will be a record 13 Show Gardens, many of them featuring grass and lawns.

Brent Hogarth, lawn specialist and partner in GreenThumb Edinburgh, says:

“We are very excited and proud to be sponsors of this years gardening award, it matches the ethos of our business which is to beautify gardens all across Scotland.  

“At GreenThumb we often find that by transforming an untidy, moss and weed ridden area – into a green, lush healthy lawn, the planting area has the perfect backdrop to accentuate it’s character and beauty – we do this for tens of thousands of excellent gardeners in Scotland.”

“So this award is an ideal match to GreenThumb, and we look forward to the Public’s choice.”

Around 40,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s show, and amongst the Show Gardens there will be a giant ‘Cornucopia’ horn of plenty; displays of heritage fruit and even a representation of a polar ice cap to mark the centenary of Captain Scott’s failed bid to reach the South Pole.

If you haven’t already snapped up your advance tickets for Gardening Scotland 2012, buy them now and save £2 per ticket, as well as having entry to the show 15 minutes before it opens to the rest of the public.

And be sure to vote for your favourite Show Garden in the GreenThumb ‘I Dig It’ award!

Adam Fleming of Binny’s says:

“Our peony display is well on its way, plants are looking healthy and strong, although we can’t pin down the exact cultivars yet.

“We have decided to include a Tokonoma which is an ancient oriental way of displaying the flowers.

“Our other display, the Riverside Garden, is also coming on well. We have been potting up loads of plants into bigger pots for a bulkier display and also collecting and drying some rustic timber.

“This year’s display is going to have a rustic shelter in the display with a small river running under it.

“The planting will be based on a more lush jungle type feel at the rear coming round the front to a hot planting and around the stream there will be irises and primulas galore with gunnera and rheum giving the height along with some large shrubs.”

To see Binny Plant’s glorious peonies and their Riverside Garden, book tickets now and enjoy them at £2 less than you would pay on the day while having access to the Show 15 minutes before it opens to the rest of the public.

Or if you want to combine your visit to Gardening Scotland 2012 with lunch or afternoon tea at the Quality Hotel, why not have a look at our VIP ticket options here.

What is the show doing?

Scotland is leading the way with its waste reduction activity and the event sector is no different.

As in previous years paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and cans generated at the event will be separated either on site or at a transfer station but for the first time food waste generated at the event will be collected separately and sent for recycling via a process called anaerobic digestion which produces fertiliser and low carbon energy.

The carpet from this year’s show will also be recycled and where possible printed promotional materials have been printed on a recycled material.

What can you do?

Reduce, reuse, recycle…

As a visitor to Gardening Scotland, you can continue the zero waste theme helping reduce waste and reduce the impact the event has on the environment.

Please take the time to place your food waste and other items in the recycling bins provided. When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources. If used materials are not recycled, new products are made by extracting fresh, raw material from the Earth, through mining and forestry.

Recycling helps conserve important raw materials and protects natural habitats for the future.

Even if you already recycle, find out what more you can do, how easy it is and how you can really make a difference. You can also discover the positive effect your recycling efforts are making and find out what else you may be able to do. Visit www.recycleforscotland.com.

For delicious recipes from top chefs and practical hints and tips to help you reduce your food waste, visit the Zero Waste Scotland stand at the show, drop into the Zero Waste Scotland Cookery Theatre in the Floral Hall or visit www.wasteawarelovefood.org.uk.

The award-winning garden centre will be working with model railway group, G Scale in Scotland, to create a show garden at the national flower show that will include a working railway complete with steam engines.

The garden will be planted with colourful flowers and as well as tracks and trains, which will include additional model railway components.

Colin Barrie of Caulders Garden Centre says: “The garden will demonstrate how you can add life to your garden by including an outdoor railway system into it.  We are aiming to show that any ordinary garden of any size can have space for a railway and that it will look superb at any time of the year.”

Fraser Neilson of G Scale in Scotland says: “We are delighted to be working with Caulders Garden Centre to create what we hope will be a beautiful garden and to promote model railways as a hobby that can bring a new dimension to enjoyment of the garden.”

More than 40,000 visitors will see the show garden at Gardening Scotland 2012, which takes place from Friday, 1 June until Sunday, 3 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

The event is the biggest plant fair in Scotland and as well as show gardens and a floral hall packed with many thousands of flowers, will include 400 exhibitors selling all the essentials for a beautiful garden.

ENDS

We know how important the environment is to gardeners, which is why we are delighted that Zero Waste Scotland will support the Cookery Theatre at Gardening Scotland 2012.

Throughout the three days of the Show some of Scotland’s most talented chefs, including Paul Wedgwood of the award-winning Wedgwood the Restaurant in Edinburgh, will be taking to the stage in the Zero Waste Scotland Cookery Theatre and cooking up a feast using fresh Scottish produce.  They’ll also be showing the ‘plate-to-plate’ journey that takes kitchen scraps and transforms them into fertilizer suitable for use in gardens and on farms.

Just by reducing the amount of food we waste, the average Scottish household could save £430 a year, and just think what you could do with that money to transform your garden?

And by making sure that all our recyclable food waste is put to good use, we can help reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfills.  In fact recycled food waste will be used to help create compost for the floral exhibits and Show Gardens across this year’s Show.

Download our Easter Newsletter here to find out more about the Zero Waste Scotland Cookery Theatre and to get the latest news about the Show.

And don’t forget to book your tickets now to save £2 per ticket and have access to Gardening Scotland 15 minutes before it opens to the rest of the public.

Book tickets here

But it is quite astonishing to discover that, a decade ago, that’s exactly what he was doing. And the reason is that he was training himself to carry on gardening once he had turned blind.

After months of struggling with his energy levels, Peter had been diagnosed with an over-active thyroid. But soon after that he developed thyroid eye condition, which threatened to take his sight.

“I had been exhibiting plants at a flower show and I found that tears were running down my face all the time. I went to my doctor who thought it was an allergy and gave me anti-histamines but when these didn’t work he sent me to an optician.

“By then my eyes were bulging out of my head and the optician took one look at them and sent me straight round to see a specialist.”

A short time later Peter underwent a six-hour operation knowing that there was a very high chance that he could suffer brain damage or end up blind.

“Before the operation I remember looking at plants and flowers and thinking that I was probably seeing them for the last time.”

But thanks to a team of surgeons at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, Peter’s sight was saved and this summer he is going to repay the British Thyroid Foundation for the support they gave him during this difficult time by building an indoor garden in the New Hopetoun Gardens Floral Hall at Gardening Scotland 2012.

The garden will have a butterfly theme as the thyroid is sometimes known as the ‘butterfly gland’ because of its shape.

Peter will be helped to undertake the challenge by the members of Dalgetty Bay Horticultural Society and at the centre of the garden will be a beautiful painting by botanical artist, Anna Knights, who has also suffered from a thyroid condition in the past.

“It will be a lot of hard work, but Dalgetty Bay is a large and very enthusiastic garden club so there will be plenty of willing hands” says Peter.

“And it will be good to do something to raise awareness of the British Thyroid Foundation and the great work that they do.”

Peter will also be using some of his own plants. These are in his greenhouse at the moment, where he is keeping a very close and healthy eye on them.

New Hopetoun Gardens is one of Scotland’s leading independent garden centres and for the past 16 years owners Dougal Philip and Lesley Watson have not just been selling superb plants, they’ve also been cultivating the landscape around the garden centre, which is based at Newton Village just outside Edinburgh, in order to attract wildlife.

Now they have produced a list of Plants for Wildlife and Gardeners, which they will be giving away to visitors at Gardening Scotland 2012.

“All the plants on the list act as sources of nectar, pollen, shelter or breeding sites for wildlife visitors, but they also look great in the garden and are easy to grow,” says Lelsey.

“Most of them provide interest at all seasons of the year and many are fragrant too.”

If you can’t wait until Gardening Scotland 2012 opens on 1st June to pick up your list, here are Lesley’s top 10 plants for wildlife and gardens:

Amelanchier canadensis – small tree or large shrub with white blossom in Spring and great Autumn leaf colour

Buddleia davidii – the Butterfly Bush, look out for the dwarfer varieties that might be easier to fit into your garden or a large pot

Erica carnea – low growing, winter flowering heather that provides colour and nectar from February to March

Geranium sanguineum – the Bloody Cranesbill that reappears every year and flowers for months in the summer

Hebe – evergreen shrubs of varying sizes, the flowers are great nectar sources and the plants will furnish your garden throughout the year

Lavatera – the shrubby Mallows are great favourites with Bees and come in various sizes with flower for many summer months and colours from white to burgundy

Lavender – choose the hardier varietioes like Hidcote and Munstead and position them in a sunny well drained position.  Gently clip at Easter to keep them bushy

Rosemary – an indispensable herb for a sunny well drained position, great in cooking, fragrancing your garden and providing nectar for your visitors

Thyme – evergreen carpets covered in flowers in high summer, and wildlife visitors at that time!

Sedum spectabile – hardy perennials that look good from April to February, cut them to the ground in March.  Grow this in the sun so butterflies will bask on the flowers in late summer and drink the nectar.

Mother-and-daughter duo, Sue Goodwill and Tracey Botha, run perennials nursery, Primrose Bank and Southern Skies, which specialises in alpines, so they are never short of gorgeous plants.

“Mother’s Day is a big event in our family,” says Sue. “And this year it will be extra-special because we now have four generations, from my parents who are in their 80s right down to our grandson, Harry, who is just nine months old.”

Tracey who is looking forward to her first ever Mother’s Day says: “It will be lovely this year to give mum flowers and to get some of my own at the same time.”

Primrose Bank and Southern Skies are just two of the many specialist nurseries that will be packing the New Hopetoun Gardens Floral Hall at Gardening Scotland 2012 and if you haven’t already picked out a Mother’s Day present for your mum, then why not treat her to tickets to the event?

With more than 400 exhibitors selling every kind of plants, tools, outdoor furniture and gardening accessories, the Show has everything that the enthusiastic gardener needs for a great day out.

To order your tickets in time for Mother’s Day, book online here or call 0131 333 0965.

Or for an extra special treat, click here to see the VIP packages we have available for Gardening Scotland, which combine tickets with lunch or afternoon tea plus a copy of the official Show Catalogue.  

Ready, Steady, Grow…

Garden for the Games with Gardening Scotland 2012

Gardening Scotland, the national gardening and outdoor living show, are proud to announce that we have signed up as a Local Leader for the London 2012 Games.

Our aim is to get Scotland to Garden for the Games by using their gardens and other gardening related activities to celebrate this exciting occasion.

Already we have teamed up with the Edinburgh Gets Set for the Games programme to run a County in a Basket competition, where primary schools from around Edinburgh will create a planted display in a basket representing their allocated Olympic nation. The baskets will be displayed at Gardening Scotland at the Royal Highland Centre from 1^st – 3^rd June for 40,000 visitors to see.

Click here to find out more about the Country in a Basket competition.

We also have Gardening Scotland Show Manager Jim Jermyn and TV Gardener Chris Collins on board to support us in our work as Local Leaders and help get people to Garden for the Games. Jim and Chris will be blogging on the Gardening Scotland website providing tips on how everyone can get gardening for the Games.

We have a variety of activities lined up and are really excited about helping to get Scotland to Garden for the Games.

Chris, who trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and is now the resident Blue Peter Gardener, says:

“I am delighted to support Gardening Scotland as a Local Leader for the Olympic Games and help them in their quest to get Scotland gardening for the Games! Scotland is the home of Horticulture and I was privileged to train here in my younger years, this project will without doubt reinforce both the gardening and sporting tradition of the Scottish nation.”

Martin Dare, organiser of Gardening Scotland, says:

“As a Local Leader for London 2012, we are encouraging as many people as possible to get gardening for the games. The Country in a Basket competition is already well underway and is a great way of inspiring people to use gardening to celebrate this occasion.”

If you would like to get involved in helping people to Garden for the Games, simply sign up as a Local Leader at www.london2012.com/localleaders or email Gardening Scotland at info@gardeningscotland.com

Or if you’re planning a gardening event then make sure you tell Tom and it might just be used on the London 2012 Local Leaders website to inspire others. Just email TellTom@london2012.com

To help get the creative thinking going on the ways that you can get involved, click here to view a short video from when Olympic Triple Jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards meets Des Smith, Head Gardener at the Olympic Park, and they explain how a love of gardening can be turned into a celebration of London 2012.