ESTABLISHED in 1999 by a group of volunteers passionate about plants and horticulture, Gardening Scotland celebrates its 20-year anniversary at the end of the month with three days of workshops, displays and exhibitors at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston, west of Edinburgh.
Intended principally to spread the simple joy of being in a delightful garden or green space, the centrepiece of the event, which calls itself “Scotland’s festival of flowers” is the Floral Pavilion, a display of beautiful plants such as peonies and azaleas from specialist nurseries from across the country.
Be inspired
If you’ve lost the plot with your garden, get new ideas at the show gardens avenue where exhibitors including YMCA Scotland, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Lynn Hill Garden Design share trends in party gardens, exterior cooking spaces and gardens for well-being.
As well as workshops, question sessions and talks by leading growers and gardeners, members of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society will be on hand to offer answers and advice to your gardening conundrums.
Teams from groups such as Scottish Bonsai Association, the Carnivorous Plant Society and Glorious Gardens of Argyll will also be poised for your more specialist queries.
Bring it all back home
Hundreds of species of plants and flowers will be available for sale at the Plant Village from nurseries such as Caulders, Gateside and Down To Earth and Scottish growers including Binny Plants, Glendoick and Macplants.
If you are looking to fill your garden space or home with new plants, be there on Sunday June 2 when exhibitors sell off the plants at reduced prices from 4pm.
Greenfingered gods
The new holders of the titles Gardener of the Year and Young Gardener of the Year will be announced at the festival.
With £200 of Caulders Garden Centres vouchers on offer, entry is open to all, from
professionals to home-gardeners, previous winners include Sallie Sillars, head gardener at Horatio’s Garden in Glasgow and Louis Wall of the South West Scotland Rail Adopters Gardening Group, which maintains the gardens at more than 20 stations between Gretna and Glasgow.
Not just child’s play
Family area the Big Back Garden offers a place to play and relax on bouncy castles and inflatables as well as the opportunity to see birds of prey and bees up close, or have a round of mini-golf at the Scottish Association for Mental Health’s Redhall Walled Gardens.
There’s giant garden games for all the family and a programme of football-related activities led by the West Lothian Youth Foundation.
All ages and abilities are catered for, from intergenerational games involving adults and children to sessions for younger players where they improve their skills while the coach keeps them engaged with a story.
Go green
Leave the car at home: with space on board for plants, Lothian Motorcoaches are running dedicated routes from 19 locations including Ayr, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Stirling, while Lothian Buses will offer a shuttle service from Edinburgh city centre.
It’s the first time the festival has partnered with the bus companies and is part of a plan to make Gardening Scotland more accessible and sustainable, organisers say.
May 31 to June 2, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, 10am to 5pm, £15, £17 at the gate. www.gardeningscotland.com
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