All the big names in one place. Here’s our guide to the gardening calendar’s biggest and best gardening events for the year ahead
From the glamour and excitement of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to the laid-back charm of the Great Comp Summer Show, our round up of this year’s best flower shows, festivals and events.
We’ll be updating this article through the year so be sure to check back for what’s new. Bookmark it for quick and easy re-finding!
So let’s make some plans and make the most of what’s going on. Here’s what you’ve got to look forward to for 2023:
Gardens Illustrated events and show guide 2023
AUGUST
2 – 6 August: RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show
Specialist plant nurseries, expert tips and mouth-watering food.
Open TBCTickets TBCLocation RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8AWeb rhs.org.uk
2 August – 1 October: Pick Your Own Dahlias
Visit Penllyn Estate Farm to pick your own dahlias for £1 per stem.
Open 10am-6pmTickets £6 per carLocation Penllyn Estate, Llwynhelig, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7FFWeb foragefarmshop.co.uk
4 – 13 August: Visit Shropshire Petal Fields
Shropshire Petals have joined forces with Shropshire Festivals to allow visitors to come to their flower fields to see delphiniums, sunflowers, cornflowers and other wildflowers in full bloom.
Open TBCTickets £8.95Location Shropshire Petal Fields, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 9BDWeb shropshirefestivals.co.uk
12 & 13 August: The Great Comp Summer Show
Specialist plant nurseries, artists and crafts people.
Open TBCTickets TBCLocation Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, Platt near Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8QSWeb greatcompgarden.co.uk
18 – 20 August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show
Specialist plant nurseries, floral displays, demonstrations and live music.
Open TBCTickets TBCLocation RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PHWeb rhs.org.uk
31 August and 1 September: Dahlia workshop
Sharon at Gravetye Manor will illustrate how to create a show-stopping table centrepiece using dahlias. Price includes tea/coffee and pastries on arrival, a two-course lunch and wine.
Open 9am-1.30pmTickets £155Location Gravetye Manor, Vowels Lane, West Hoathly, Sussex, RH19 4LJWeb gravetyemanor.co.uk
SEPTEMBER
3 September: Sussex Prairie Late Summer Plant Fair
Specialist plant nurseries.
Open 12-5pmTickets £10Location Sussex Prairie Garden, Morlands Farm, Wheatsheaf Road, nr Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9AT.Web sussexprairies.co.uk
5 – 10 September: RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show
Specialist plant nurseries, floral displays, demonstrations and exhibitors.
Open TBCTickets TBCLocation RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QBWeb rhs.org.uk
7 September: ‘In Conversation’ Chatsworth and Chiswick
Part of the 15th Chiswick Book Festival, a conversation between garden writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh and Rosie Fyles, head of gardens at Chiswick House.
Open 6pmTickets £15Location Garden Pavilion, at Chiswick House and GardensWeb chiswickbookfestival.net
9 September: Arranging with Dahlias workshop
Spend the morning picking dahlias from the Pod & Pip cutting garden and mastering the art of working with dahlias to make a beautiful arrangement. All materials and coffee and cake provided.
Open 10am-12pmTickets £75Location Pod & Pip, Ebble House, Stratford Tony, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4ATWeb podandpip.co.uk
11 September: Autumn Block Printing Workshop
Join Speronella Marsh from Hare’s Tail for a block printing workshop at Daylesford Farm.
Open 10am-4pmTickets £175Location Daylesford Farm, Daylesford near Kingham, Cotswolds, GL56 0YGWeb daylesford.com
15 – 17 September: Harrogate Autumn Flower Show
Inspiration from show gardens, a plant nursery pavilion, floral art, garden shopping, expert advice and live entertainment.
Open TBCTickets TBCLocation Newby Hall & Gardens, Estate Office, Newby Hall, Ripton, North Yorkshire HG4 5AEWeb flowershow.org.uk
22 -24 September: Malvern Autumn Show
Flower show, shopping and giant veg growing displays.
Open 9am – 6pmTickets From £20Location Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NWWeb malvernautumn.co.uk
28 September – 1 October: Orticolario
Show located on the shores of north Italy’s Lake Como highlighting gardens, plants and craftsmanship.
Location Villa Erba, Largo Luchino Visconti 4, 22012 Cernobbio, Italy.Web orticolario.it
28 September: The Cutting Garden with Sarah Raven
Ideal for those who have been thinking about creating an intensive cutting patch, or just growing a few flowers for the house.
Open 10.30am-5pmTickets £250Location Perch Hill Farm, Easy Sussex, TN32 5HPWeb sarahraven.com
OCTOBER
5 & 7 October: Hydrangea Wreath Workshop
Learn to make a hydrangea wreath for home styling in autumn. Includes tips on drying hydrangeas, all materials and refreshments.
Open 10am-12pmTickets £65Location Pod & Pip, Ebble House, Stratford Tony, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4ATWeb podandpip.co.uk
16, 17 & 18 October: An Introduction to Garden Design
Students will be given first-hand insights into the founding principles of spatial design, the art and craft of planting design, drawing techniques and designing with a range of hard materials.
Open 10am-4pmTickets £550+VATLocation Yorkshire School of Garden Design Web ysgd.co.uk
Dates and prices correct at time of publication. Please check details for each show prior to travelling.