Rather fantastic Hooded Figure wood sculpture by Ed Elliott at Cardiff RHS Show 2013 – see http://www.edelliott.co.uk …
At the weekend we made our annual visit to the Cardiff RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Show and this year the weather stayed fine. Here are some of my pictures and I will identify the suppliers’ websites where I can.
It was a very friendly show…
The friendly Bob the Butterfly and Gerry the Gerbera entertained…
We bought three begonias to replace recent house-plant losses, some pink lily bulbs, Gloriosa lily tubers, Euphorbia amygdaloides Purpurea and some spiral plant supports. I tasted grey squirrel sausages, which were fine but a bit like weak pork in flavour, and we bought locally-made wild boar sausages, meat pies, crab cakes, chutneys, locally-brewed real ale and some honeyed cashew nuts.
We also ended up buying one of those handy folding box trolleys to carry everything in.
We were tempted by the African stone carvings, but they were a bit heavy!
Stone sculpture from the Zimbabwean company Mara – see http://www.marasculpture.com …
In the world outside Spring is a bit delayed this year after a cold spell, but the tulips are starting to bloom and there were plenty of them in the floral marquees…
I think this display of tulips with a bicycle and Dutch signpost was from Brighter Blooms – see http://www.brighterbloomseshop.co.uk …
Single early Candy Prince tulips…
Darwin hybrid Day Dream tulips – going over a bit!
Fringed tulip Oviedo from Hyde of Reading – see http://www.hwhyde.co.uk …
I wasn’t very impressed by the half-dozen small show gardens this year – although this one caught my eye…
Show garden made from old wooden shipping pallets by Wade & Nicol – see http://www.wadeandnicol.com …
Another view of the Wade & Nicol garden…
As I took so many good flower pictures last year, this time I chose different subjects, especially the plants I love, like Hostas…
Hosta Paradise Island from Brookfield Plants in Kent – see the website http://www.brookfieldplants.com …
Hosta Hanky Panky from Brookfield Plants http://www.brookfieldplants.com …
Hosta Night Before Christmas from Brookfield Plants http://www.brookfieldplants.com …
Hosta Sagae, also from Brookfield Plants – see http://www.brookfieldplants.com …
I also love hellebores…
Green Corsican hellebore…
We spent a lot of time looking around the trade and craft stalls, which were good this year…
Mosaic geckos inspired by Gaudi, from Wilde Style – see http://www.wildestyle.co.uk …
Ceramic picture wall tiles from Wilde Style – see http://www.wildestyle.co.uk …
Family of wart hogs made of recycled metal in Zimbabwe from African Creations – see http://www.africancreations.co.uk …
These characters made from recycled engine and motor parts in Thailand are from African Creations – see http://www.africancreations.co.uk …
These ducks have names. They were on the African Creations stand but I can’t find them on their website…
This rusty bull would look great in the garden – it’s an antique find from Tom Critchley but I don’t think he has a website…
Old lanterns from Tom Critchley…
As usual there were a couple of big (or is it small?) bonsai displays – I think this one was on the Mendip Bonsai stand http://www.mendipbonsai.co.uk …
Another of my favourite plants is the fritillary – here are a few I spotted on the way around the floral marquees…
Fritillary – I think it’s a Fritillaria michailovskyi…
Magnificent crown imperials – Fritillaria imperialis…
Snake’s head fritillaries – Fritillaria meleagris, which I also have in my own garden…
Fritillaria persica…
Another favourite – I have bought many Heucheras, Heucherellas and Tiarellas from Plantagogo in previous years…
Heuchera Blackberry Jam from Plantagogo – see http://www.plantagogo.com …
The cacti and succulents always make a good display…
Cacti and succulents from Richard and Sheena Drane of Suffolk – see http://www.cactiandsucculents.co.uk …
Adromischus maculatus from http://www.cactiandsucculents.co.uk …
There were dainty alpine plants…
Pulsatilla vulgaris from Ice Alpines of Bewdley, Worcestershire – see http://www.icealpines.co.uk …
And bold indoor Begonias – I bought three from the Dibleys Nurseries stand and the man there was very friendly and helpful…
Begonia Sal’s Comet from Dibleys Nurseries – see http://www.dibleys.com …
Last but not least – the ridiculously glamorous orchids…
Cattleya cariad’s mini quinee Angel Kiss from Chantelle Orchids of Warwickshire, the UK branch of a Taiwanese grower – see http://www.chantelle-orchids.com …
Rhyncholaeliocattleya
Harbal Valley from Chantelle Orchids…
For more flower pictures see my post from last year’s Cardiff show here …
The Squirrelbasket 
Some lovely flowers you have shown – I particularly like the Day Dream tulips – and isn’t it amazing what people think up for using pallets.
Thank you for your kind comments. And yes, the pallets looked better painted lavender, didn’t they? Not sure how long the primrose plantings would work for, though.
Best wishes 🙂
Wonderfully clear photos. I feel like I’ve had an enjoyable outing. The fritillaries are particularly lovely.
Thank you Mrs Daffodil, and I know how much you love fritillaries! Perhaps other followers would like to go on over to your blog and see your fritillary painting here…
All the best. Spring is on its way!
How kind of you to remember my fritillary painting and to provide a link for your readers. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your photos. I was unable to visit this year. Sounds like you had a great. time there. Last year I bought a Clematis and it has just begun to grow up my new fence.
Ah well, there’ll be another year or another show elsewhere for you I’m sure. A friend of mine was praising the Malvern Show, which I have never been to… That’s on in a couple of weeks’ time and not far from us here.
Glad your Clematis is doing well. I don’t think I have anywhere I could put one, but always admire them in other people’s gardens…
Best wishes 🙂
Hello, I’ve just come across your lovely photographs of this show. I love the tulips, particularly the Fringed tulips and the Day Dream tulips. And I always love to see Snake’ s Head Fritillaries. It looks like a very interesting show to wander around.
Sadly tulips are over so quickly – but at least they die more graciously than daffodils, just dropping their bright skirts and fading away…
I’d like that hooded figure but surprise myself by not being drawn to anything else.
Oh dear, never mind 🙂