Here’s your weekly Hort Report - the round-up of industry news, retail insights, home gardener gossip, influencer spotlights, social media news, and so much more!
Grab a tea or coffee and catch up on the latest below…
WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO
On the road in Germany
I was really excited to be back on the road this week, as I was invited to the Proven Winners annual gettogether in Germany. This international plant brand is really going places, and I got to see some of the behind-the-scenes breeding as well - and believe me, there are some game changing plants on the way!
BREAKING NEWS
RHS Flower Shows go on tour
If you couldn’t make it to certain RHS Flower Shows due to their location - now might be your chance! Over the next few years, shows such as Hampton Court, Tatton Park and the Urban Show will be moving around the country to reach a wider audience. Find out all the details for each show, and where it’ll be next, in the RHS’ Instagram post.
READ NOW
The Big Plant Shopping Survey results
Remember when I asked you to fill out a survey about your plant buying habits? Well, the results are live! Some of them were really quite surprising, like how many people buy plants just because they’re in flower… Take a look at the results here.
HOME GARDENER NEWS
How to survive a flower show
If you’ve booked tickets to attend a flower show this summer, be prepared! It’s a long day, with lots and lots to see and do. You’ll need some survival tips, so I’ve put together a guide to help you get the most out of a show. Read it here.
INFLUENCER SPOTLIGHT
Flower Circus
Based in the Netherlands, Flower Circus run shows and demonstrations at locations such as trade exhibitions, flower wholesalers and importers to inspire and excite individuals in the flower industry. They focus on creativity while exhibiting the latest trends and techniques in floristry - and you can catch some inspiration for yourself on their Instagram page!
SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS
Win £10k with B&Q’s Gardener of the Year
Back for another year, B&Q’s Gardener of the Year is a competition that aims to seek out the best gardens in one of four categories: Best use of Planting, Best Garden for Entertaining, Best Use of Small Space and Best use of Sustainability. @greenfingeredcityboy (above) is judging the Best Use of Small Space category - so click here to find out how to enter.
NEW PRODUCT NEWS
Make your own paper plants
Nicole’s Jungle makes intricately detailed minitaure paper plants - and you can create your own with their crafty paper plant making kit. Available on a subscription basis, these kits come with everything you need to create beautiful faux plants for your home. Get yours here.
TRADE NEWS
RHS’ first Urban Show is a success
The BBC reported on the RHS’ inaugural Urban Show, which took place last week, and how exhibitors took the opportunity to inspire urban gardeners - and ran with it! The article talked about boosting biodiversity in cities, small-space gardening and budget plants, and how attendees were able to get a taste for it all in one exhibition. You can see my own article with a tour of the show here.
BOOK PROMO
Project Mushroom: A Modern Guide to Growing Fungi
The mushroom movement is growing (literally), and this book by expert mushroom growers The Caley Brothers (AKA sisters!), Lorraine and Jodie Caley, is the perfect way to get started if you want to join in on the fun. In it you’ll find 30 projects to help you grow different types of mushrooms. It even gives you ideas on what to do with those mushrooms afterwards - spoiler alert, you don’t have to eat them!
Get your copy here.
WHAT TO DO NOW
The Great Garden Trail
The St Elizabeth Hospice’s Great Garden Trail is now in its tenth year, and it’s a great opportunity for those in East Anglia or nearby to wander around stunning gardens that would otherwise be closed to the public, as well as hike trails and watch presentations by industry experts. You can get a £25 season pass here, which gives you entry to all the gardens. The event lasts until September, so that’s a whole summer of exploration!
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Pansy
This simple pansy, in gorgeous watercolour blue shades, was just sitting in an abandoned city planter, but it certainly caught my eye!
TV REVIEW
A Grand Royal Design
This show is superb, and very interesting. The royal family are featured, mostly King Charles, in a candid manner seldom seen in TV programs. Thank you to the Plants for making this happen! The program is based around the re-generation of the Dumfries House estate and garden, a house that had all its original furniture amazingly, and 200,000 acres, gosh! Bigger than my postage stamp.
The plan was bold and ambitious, as King Charles wanted to make a socially green economy on the estate, with a school, education centre for horticulture, outdoor adventure centre, and even a science and tech centre.
Watch it here on ITVX.
SUBSTACK RECOMMENDATION
Mike the Gardener - Rambling Prose
Mike’s been a pro gardener for over 20 years. Semi-retired now, he hosts a podcast and creates content for social media all about gardening tips, inspiration and more. You can catch his ‘rambings’ on his Substack here.
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Another fab report there Michael. Read your flower show tips, I’m so entering every comp now! Couldn’t agree more about Mike the Gardener. X