Appealing green bears on the Easigrass (artificial grass) stand at the Cardiff RHS Show
We usually go to the Cardiff RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Show but this year I had to go alone as the husband can’t walk very far at the moment. I went on the morning of Sunday, April 14, and the weather was bright but slightly cold – perfect for wandering around and taking a few pictures…
Part of the Nature’s Takeover show garden designed by Diego Carrillo and built by Smartscape Cardiff
Part of the Xardin Urban Gallery show garden designed by Brent Purtell and built by Xardin
This was an intriguing one – A Reading Room for A Rebel Girl, designed by Anthea Guthrie and sponsored by Botanica World Discoveries
Inside the skull-shaped hut I could see old Judy and Diana annuals but outside on the grass were books about the new (female) Doctor Who, Minnie the Minx and a Welsh-language guide to bird-watching.
Also outside was this friendly dog
Inside the floral marquees there were the usual nursery trade stands – this is a display of Agapanthus from Hoyland Plant Centre in South Yorkshire
Wack’s Wicked Plants of North Yorkshire had a display of carnivorous plants including this North American pitcher plant, Saracenia x Judith
Tulips from Pheasant Acre Plants of Bridgend, South Wales…
…this tulip Flyaway was particularly vivid
I was attracted by this pretty Bunny’s Tail Grass (Lagurus ovatus) on one of the outside trade stands
This Echium webbi enjoyed the sunshine…
…and attracted bees…
…of all sorts
Harts Nursery from Cheshire had a magnificent display of lilies, with a heady perfume even in the open air…
…this is Lilium oriental Je T’aime – apparently popular for weddings
There was a traditional Ferris wheel
An assortment of brownies from the Chock Shop
Although I resisted the sweet temptations, I did buy some meat pies from the Rose Cottage Pantry, based in East Yorkshire. I also bought a leather coin purse, some Moroccan mint for the garden and a selection of scented-leaf Pelargoniums from Potash Nursery in Suffolk.
I think my favourite of the craft stalls was that of Katherine Jones, a Cardiff-based artist and curator of found and collected objects. Her website here also showcases her pen and ink drawings of local landscapes and she accepts commissions.
A Colour Box of curated objects from Katherine Jones
This one is called The Welsh industrial Revolution Box
I must admit I would love to have the talent to put together my own curated boxes as I have so many small found objects collected over the years!
Art from Susan Entwistle, pointillist painter of gardens and landscapes
See more of Susan Entwistle’s lovely work on her website here.
Part of the Wellbeing Garden from the National Botanic Garden of Wales and Growing the Future
See a video about the garden here.
Ferns and a wall of logs in the Wellbeing Garden…
…and bright forget-me-nots and Tiarella as part of the planting scheme
The Into the Nest feature from the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
A memory tree
A message from the organisers…
…with sunflowers
House names and numbers from HouseSign.co.uk…
…and signs of a more personal nature
Sculptures and garden ornaments from Allen Silk…
…I rather liked this regal but stern face
Bottle openers on the Light Innovation stand
Stainless steel and copper art from John Moss of Herefordshire…
…including this colourful kingfisher
Visit John Moss’s website here.
There was also metal sculpture in the second floral marquee – this was on Letham Plants’ Astrantia stand
Streptocarpus ‘Polka Dot Purple’ on the Dibleys Nurseries stand…
…and Begonia ‘Star Bright’ in the same display
Dianthus plumarius ‘Pinball Wizard’ from Calamazag Plant Nursery
Paeonia ‘Coral Charm’ from Primrose Hall Peonies of Bedfordshire
A gold-medal-winning display from Palms-Exotics of Hampshire…
…including this magnificent Agave americana mediopica alba, from Mexico
Anemone x lipsiensis ‘Pallida’ from Ice Alpines of Worcestershire…
…and another pretty alpine plant, Androsace studiosorum ‘Chumbyi’
And finally…
A display of heritage beans from Pennard Plants of Somerset
The Squirrelbasket 
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