What’s happening…
Harrogate Spring Flower Show begins this Thursday 24th April. We’re thrilled to be unveiling our show garden, designed by the incredible Pip Probert. Titled ‘The Butterfly Garden’, this is a contemplative space designed to raise awareness for Greenfingers charity who create gardens just like this for children in hospices around the UK. Plus, we’ll be there all weekend on our stand selling the beautiful plants used in our show garden!
The Butterfly Garden
The garden offers a respite for families to sit, chat, and reflect whilst connecting with nature.
The back fence, wrapping around the corners of the garden, is a symbol of arms embracing the occupant, providing a sense of comfort and protection.
Two raised beds at the back of the garden will elevate the planting, creating layers of colour and visual interest to attract the eyes of the show visitors.
Here’s some of the stars of the Butterfly Garden…
Hydrangea
Shrubby Hydrangeas brighten borders in mid to late summer with their showy, but delicate long-lasting flowers in shades of pink, white or blue. Many have attractive colour and leaf shape. Climbing hydrangeas flower in summer and are well suited for covering north and east facing walls.
Buxus
Buxus is an excellent choice for creating dense, formal hedges, both as low-maintenance options or for more intricate topiary shapes. Its slow growth and compact nature make it ideal for creating topiary designs, such as balls, cones and spirals.
Syringa Mey
These neat and colourful evergreen shrubs are ideal for a sunny border, providing summer flowers and year-round foliage. Compact types works well in containers or as border edgings, while larger types can be grown as hedging. Their flowers are also loved by bees.
At the heart of the garden lies an arbour seat, serving as a focal point, inviting people to pause and contemplate.
Surrounding the arbour will be a selection of plants from British Garden Centres, contained by sett edging. A gravel path winds through the garden, leading to a fire pit and four lounge chairs, offering seating options for relaxation and the option for families to come together.
The planting scheme is a key feature of the garden, designed to attract both people and butterflies with a range of colours and flower heads.
The borders are filled with a mix of plants, complemented by gravel planting to soften the overall look.
A wooden archway marks the entrance, welcoming visitors into this butterfly haven. Two feature strategically placed shrubs will balance the composition and add height to the garden.
Visit our stand to get the look!
Feeling inspired after visiting The Butterfly Garden?
Come and visit us on the British Garden Centres stand where you can purchase the plants we’ve used in the show garden!
From vibrant, uplifting hydrangeas to soothing swathes of hebe, bring home the calming qualities of the show garden to enjoy in your own garden.
We’ll be at Harrogate Spring Flower show every day, from Thursday through to Sunday.
A place to reflect…
The Butterfly Garden is designed to be a place to sit quietly and reflect, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
As well as the plants used in the garden, you can also shop the entrance archway and the central arbour – the perfect place to find a quiet moment of contemplation in your own garden…
Thanks for reading.
