I didn’t get to see all the gardens at the show. Having to look before the show opened meant that this was when the TV crews were filming too and I got moved on! So these gardens are not in any order or representative at all, apart from the first.

The first garden you came to, by the entrance, was Enchantment, by Muddy Boots. As a garden I don’t think it was very satisfactory with its three-parted central wall and open sides and the planting was a bit too small so the walls dominated. But at least you could look at it from all sides and what was good was that the planting, in places, was very good and looked as though it had been there for ages. It was appropriate and attractive. Planting so often lets gardens down at shows so well done for that detailing.

I liked the way they had used fairly mature plants for the ground cover and it gave lots of ideas for planting in shade with pulmonarias, ajuga, tiarella, ferns, hostas, brunnera, astilbes and anemones.

Topiary Garden by New Leaf Gardens

Digging for Victory with the National Allotment Society

Utopia by Ian McElhorne Gardens

Alpine Experience by R F Showering

Peter Tinsley & Sons won the best garden with their alpine landscape

Stepping Stones by Mook Gardens

Pond planting in the pond at Victoria Park where the show is held

Preparing for bowls in the park

southport flower show gardens