Saturday, June 22, 2013

Woburn Abbey Plant Fair

We often comment that the best nurseries and plant fairs are all quite some distance from where we live, so it was lovely to discover that some of our favourite nurseries from around the country would be attending the Woburn Abbey Plant Fair. Woburn is about 10 miles from us so quite a short journey. The landscaped grounds of the magnificent Woburn Abbey Stately Home formed a lovely location for this show. It is not as big as some of the others we have been to but that did not detract from the day.

Brits love to queue! Waiting outside for the show to open

Once we were inside a brass band was performing a selection of music, there is something about a brass band on a summers day - even if the weather was at times very showery - to lift the spirits and bring a smile to your face. 



As well as brass bands welcoming you, a big selection of wooden animals and other carved objects had seemingly popped up through the grass!


But then we were onto the plants, these bright yellow Kniphofia caught our eye, although we decided we really didn't have anywhere to put it, so left these behind. The white Roscoea also attracted us but were also left behind - we were starting off with the best intentions not to get too many plants!



There were plenty of stands with a fine selection of herbaceous perennials, and whilst we initially resisted temptation from this display, a Hosta 'Empress Wu' (our second one) did find its way into my hands :)



Shady Plants had a lovely selection of ferns,good quality and prices too.


I thought that these Geraniums had a lovely leaf shape and colour, but sadly still had a rather typical and slightly insipid flower, we left these behind, but at £2.50 each they were good value in anyone's book!



The brightly coloured blooms of Irises, whilst we didn't take any home these could work very well in a hot tropical style border... now there's an idea for the future perhaps


Cotswold Garden Flowers are a regular at many of the plant fairs, and a nursery we normally visit most summers. As we haven't had time to go to them it was rather handy that they came to us. I must confess a couple of plants from their stand made it into the car :)


Crug Farm are always a big attraction for us, especially as we haven't (yet) made the trip to North Wales to visit - something we must put right soon. And once again they did not disappoint: great quality and unusual plants. Crug do not attend many plant fairs, so to have them so close to home was something of a treat.


Gunnera killipiana at the front of this section Crugs stand



 We had met up with our gardening friend, Don, who I am perusing the Crug Farm display with.


As well as fine plants, there was also a selection of fine locally produced food, most of the stands offering samples as you passed by, much of which we sampled - well it would be rude not to taste it!


Throughout the day a number of well known gardeners were giving free talks. Diarmuid Gavin was talking about gardening, despite the Harlem Shake inspired pose above.



The grounds themselves were also worth looking at.



Just as we were heading back to the car we had to stop and chat with the guys from Animals Go Large who make giant 3D jigsaws of various animals and even dinosaurs.




They have even made a 7foot version of the T-rex above, which I would imagine would be great fun.

Overall a lovely day in a great location, we came home with quite a few interesting new plants that will pop up in a future post. 

Gaz

29 comments :

  1. It was a very good day at Woburn but the bonus was seeing your garden at last. Amazing collection of plants which look like they have been there a lifetime. Actually you had a better selection of plants in your garden than the plant fair but alas they were not for sale.
    Well worth the 360 mile round trip (ie not on my doorstep)

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    1. We had a fantastic time (helped by great company!) and glad you finally made it and been to see our garden. You're more than welcome anytime (and stay over next time) :) It was a pleasure to show you around!

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  2. What a great selection of plants! I think I'd have returned home with an empty wallet.

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    1. So many items there to tempt any plant lover Kris!

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  3. What a great place and a terrific selection of plants. It sounds like you took a few home to make your garden even more incredible than it is. And who can pass up a brass band! Awesome!

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    1. The brass band was a very lovely touch Candice, kudos to the organisers for coming up with the idea for it does help set the tone for the fair. And it certainly put us in a good mood to shop!

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  4. Seems you were pretty restrained in what you brought home - not sure I would have been. Had to look up the Gunnera killipiana - very nice. Dave

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    1. Relatively restrained this time but still a good haul David :) Gunnera kilipiana is a stunning plant!

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  5. Gaz, what an extraordinary lovely plant fair! It must have been so much fun to visit the plant stands and be able to buy some of them plants as you please. I find that dark bronze leaved hardy geranium rather interesting. I just saw a similar one planted in a private garden on our vacation in England, which caught my attention as well. Haven't spotted the dark ones in California, yet. Looking forward to seeing what plants you bought and where you will be planting them in your garden!
    Christina

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    1. Are you still in England Christina? If you are hopefully you'll get the chance to attend one of the plant fairs here, even if just for the experience. If you're back home already perhaps next time (hopefully soon) you're back here you can time it that there's a fair happening where you will be based :)

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  6. What a lovely day for an outing! I don't think I could have passed up those dark leafed geranium, they are quite shrinking and I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like them.

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    1. Thanks Loree! Wish we bought that geranium now...

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  7. The closest place to me for fairs are the ones at @rareplants so you're not the only ones miles from such events. I Crug and shady plants at the fair, would have loved to have see those stands. Looked like a great day too (not too much rain). Was also impressed by your restraint, I don't think I would have been.

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    1. We had a great day Allan, perhaps next year you can visit this fair too? They had a nice selection of nurseries who participated, there was something for everyone :)

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  8. Looks like a show to add to my list for next year, thanks

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  9. Sometimes the smaller plant fairs are more enjoyable than the large jamborees - not as crowded, more friendly and sellers have more time to chat about their plants. Came across 'Shady Plants' for the first time at the last plant fair I went to and they did indeed have a good selection of ferns. Look forward to hearing about your purchases :)

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    1. Indeed Anna, and you get more time to peruse and decide upon your purchases as the crowds are not heaving and overbearing. It wasn't a small fair as such but with such huge grounds the stands were adequately spaced apart that it never felt crowded. The location of the fair is stunning!

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  10. It is always a delight to go to plant fairs, it is not only an education for all the plant lovers but the general ambiance is that of celebration and fun.

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  11. It's nice to have something that close to you. Sounds like some nice things leaped into your car for you. :) Interesting display of the wooden animals. Their own gardens are lovely.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. The location of the fair is lovely Cher! And it's nice to have a fair so near us for a change :)

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  12. What a great day out. So much to choose from its hard not to buy what we have no room for.

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    1. It was a fab day Alistair :) And I'm sure you'll always find room for a new prized plant or two!

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  13. So may great things to see, hear, and taste! What a grand day! I hope that the large aeonium(?) in the Cotswold picture found its way into your car!

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    1. Indeed Peter, but the aeonium didn't make it to back home with us but a Nolina did :)

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  14. I would not have been able to walk past those Roscoeas... They have never done well for me but do flourish at some other gardens in our part of Michigan, so I always want to try them again.

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    1. Those Roscoeas were tempting but didn't get one this time. They are gorgeous plants though!

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  15. It's nice to see the plant fairs adding a little razzle dazzle in the way of entertainment and food...makes it easier to get our non-gardening partners to come along. Now if we could just find a way to stop them from tamping down our plant-buying enthusiasm.

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