Blenheim Palace has announced plans to celebrate all things horticultural from June 25 to 27. The stately home hopes to host a a ‘riot of colour, fragrance and weird and wonderful plants’ in its 20,000 sq ft Grand Floral Pavilion which forms the centrepiece of the flower show. It will feature nurseries and growers giving expert advice and gardening ideas and visitors can enjoy ‘Garden Talks’ with experts and enthusiasts. Food and drink as well as more than 300 exhibitors, an outdoor ‘Plant Village’ and live entertainment will also be on offer throughout the weekend. Organisers are planning to proceed with the three-day event despite the nation’s biggest festival, Glastonbury, being called off for a second year.
Blenheim Palace The flower show is set within the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site’s Capability Brown landscaped parkland and boasts formal gardens created over the centuries by esteemed garden designers such as Henry Wise and Achille Duchene. The Grand Floral Pavilion formed the centrepiece of the show and featured the UK’s finest nurseries and growers, giving expert advice and gardening ideas, all competing to win the coveted Best in Show award. Outside the pavilion was the brand new orchid tunnel, showcasing almost 1,000 exotic orchids from all over the world and a collection of tropical plants. “The orchid tunnel is brand new this year and is going to be 30ft long and 16ft wide,” Mr Kimpton added.