Today, the Royal Horticultural Society announces popular plantswoman and TV personality, Carol Klein as RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero* 2023 which will see her create a garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival (4-9 July).
In keeping with Carol’s horticultural ethos and style of gardening, the garden will be a celebration of plants, inspired by nature and packed full of take-home ideas to inspire everyone to garden and have a go at propagating their own plants.
Divided into six main habitats: wetland, woodland, hedgerow, meadow, moor and mountain and seaside, the garden will showcase some of the plants which thrive in these different settings. A ‘meadow’ of mixed herbaceous perennials and grasses provide a nod to Carol’s own garden at Glebe Cottage, whilst a small vegetable bed as you enter the garden provides inspiration for visitors looking to grow their own.
Carol, an RHS Ambassador, said: ‘It’s very flattering to have been named the RHS Iconic Horticultural Hero. I’ve always loved nature, plants and gardening and am lucky that I have been able to forge a career out of my passion. I’m really excited by the challenge and look forward to hearing what visitors think. I intend to be on the garden as much as I can during the show so I can talk to visitors about how to propagate and discuss our shared love of plants.”
Other 2023 highlights include:
· The Festival of Roses Marquee which will be full of some of the UK’s best rose growers including Peter Beales, Harkness, Fryer’s and Eastcroft Roses with a special Rose Garden by David Austin Roses.
· The RHS Flower School with Flowers from the Farm will return to champion beautiful British Blooms with Floristry workshops and demonstrations from celebrity florists Simon Lycett and Shane Connolly plus a mini flower farm is also being created giving visitors a taste of the flower farming process from ‘Plot to Vase’. The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies will also be hosting live demos throughout the Festival in the NAFAS Flower Hut.
· In the Plant Zone, thousands of plants to purchase from drought tolerant perennials and grasses to Dahlias, Gladioli and Summer Flowering Bulbs grown by 90 of the UK’s best growers in the Floral Marquee and Plant Village. First time exhibitors include Jurassic Plants with trees and edibles and In the Garden offering a wide range of houseplants for those with little or no outdoor space. Calamazag Nursery return as this year’s RHS Master Grower with a large display of Dianthus.
· Leigh Johnstone, aka The Beardy Gardener will be creating a special ‘Giving Garden’ filled with plants donated by nurseries within the Floral Marquee. Leigh is a gardening and mental health advocate who strongly believes in the positive influence of plants and hopes his garden will help others discover their power, and continue the act of giving, as visitors will be able to dedicate a plant from the display for someone in need of a positive pick me up. Leigh will also be giving out free seeds encouraging visitors to carry on the act of giving beyond the show.
More highlights will be announced soon.
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival runs from 4 – 9 July and tickets are available to buy online at www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt.
