Happy New Year Flower Show Readers! After a couple of months lying dormant, we’re back and ready for the new gardening calendar!

There are many ways to spend a day off, but why not make the most of the flower and garden shows this year? Here are just a few planned for 2011:

The 2011 Cornwall Spring Flower Show

This year’s show promises to be great, highlighting why Cornwall is known for its beautiful gardens. This years show garden competition will feature entries from the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, as well as many other entries. There will be stalls and talks and demonstrations throughout the day. Competition will also be fierce in the individual flower classes, with categories including rhododendrons, daffodils and ornamental shrubs.

We love the Eden project – formerly a disused clay mine, now one of the world’s largest greenhouses with stunning exotic plants.

The show will run from April 2nd to April 3rd.

Harrogate Spring Flower Show

The show will feature beautiful flower halls, flower arranging, display gardens, cooking demonstrations and educational ‘working with nature’ seminars, as well as a children’s discovery zone. Local food stalls and garden accessories / plants stands should mean there’s something for everyone. A photography competition will be held and will be accepting entries in two categories, ‘encouraging nature’ and ‘all seasons’. This year will be a centenary celebration for the North of England Horticultural Society. In recognition of this there will be a special garden designed by the society unveiled at the show.

The show will run from April 14th to April 17th. There will also be a Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, held later in the year.

Finally, the biggie of the year…

The 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Widely recognised as the largest flower show in the world, Chelsea Flower Show will be a star attraction this year.
New artisan gardens will feature, to add a new aspect to the competitive gardens of last year. Many gardens will be created for the show and Bunny Guinness will be among the designers. Each garden promises to be innovative and features will include a toilet and a post box. You can find more information about the competitions at www.rhs.org.uk

The show runs May 24th until May 28th.