Flower and Garden Experience

Stunning floral displays and show gardens make the Flower and Garden Experience a delightful area to wander.  This year's exhibition looks set to be even more extensive, with more displays and show gardens from some of the region's best known nurseries and top garden designers.  Extended for the 2009 Show, the Flower and Garden Experience will reveal a "potager" style vegetable patch repleat with low espalied fruit trees, herbs, vegetables and salad leaves to demonstrate how to grow your own in a limited space all year round.  Taking inspiration from BBC TV's Goundforce, to international garden design finalists from Otley College will each create a garden from scratch within 36 hours.

Inside the Flower Show marquee, many exhibits will celebrate the 50th aniversary of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Society's.  To mark the occassion, the Stowmarket and District branch have commissioned a fushia, Suffolk Spendour which will be unveiled at the Show.

The Flower Arrangement Competition offers classes for all ages and abilities.  The theme for this year's Competition is 'Romance is in the air' with class titles including Honeymoon Destination (for Flower Clubs), To Have and to Hold (a hand tied bridal bouquet), All Dressed Up (an exhibit to include fabric) and Centrepiece (a petite exhibit).  There are also classes for novices - Revelry (an exhibit to depict a Hen/Stag Party), YFC members - Feast of Flowers (a wedding table exhibit) and Juniors - Request the Pleasure of (a wedding invitation featuring dried/preserved plant material).

A handy plant 'Crèche' allows you to deposit your plant purchases free of charge to be collected later in the day, leaving you free to explore other parts of the Show. Situated close to the exit of the Flower Show, the Creche is open until 6.30pm

A copy of the Flower Arrangement Competition Schedule and Entry Form can be downloaded here.  Entries close Friday 17 April 2009.