RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2015

25 years young this horticultural showcase is as captivating as ever

The first RHS flower show held at Hampton Court Palace took place in 1993, having previously been run by Historic Royal Palaces and Network Southeast from 1990. For the first few shows Network Southeast laid on special trains for the event and porters aboard the trains all wore carnations in their hats in celebration – very dapper! Since then it has flourished and become the world’s largest flower show.

This year the show is celebrating its 25th year and will be really pushing the boat out. Not only with the usual rose spectacular but with myriad special events! These include silver anniversary floristry, historically themed gardens as well as celebratory scarecrows. 

Copyright: Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

Visitors flock to see the extraordinary flowers and plants on show. An average of 130,000 people attending every year with more than 14,000 glasses of Pimm’s and over 4,000 slices of cake being consumed over the week!

Highlights from this year’s show include:

  • The evocative conceptual gardens with this year’s theme being ‘sensations’. With these gardens incorporating immersive experiences with interactive installations this is one exhibit not to be missed.
  • Andy Hyde and John Humphreys’ garden ‘Equilibrium’ showcases the delicate balance between the opposing forces of sun, moon and sea and the effect these forces have on a shingle beach.
  • With vivid greens, pinks and whites Bethany Williams and Stuart Charles Towner’s ‘Green Seam garden’ is inspired by the heritage and regeneration of the mining area of Betteshanger and is a feast for the eyes.
  • If you love music don’t miss ‘Encore’, a garden with a mini amphitheatre where you can sit and enjoy music whilst you admire the foliage.
  • To trot the globe without leaving London visit the ‘Garden of Paradise’ from Nilufer Danis in conjunction with The Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture to experience an early Islamic Turkish garden complete with water fountain and canals.

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show runs from 30th June – 5th July. For more information see their website. 

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