LATEST MOAN FROM YOU AND ME - 2021

Never been, it's a bit too snobby for me, think I would feel out of place.

Would perhaps enjoy the plants an6the sales side of it, but those set piece gardens just make me feel like they are scenery for some pointless TV programme.

 

I was and am a member of the RHS. When I lived in Braintree I went reqularly to the Chelsea Flower Show, never really bothered with the show gardens the contents of the big marquee were of more interest and the widget and gadget stalls around the outside. They began to charge members ostensibly to reduce numbers, the same was said for significant rises for public days, they then opened on Saturdays and next year it will be Sundays as well. I just checked prices and Tuesday and Wednesday (members only) are £94 dropping to £67 for the rest of the week.
I'm still a member because I live within visiting distance of Rosemoor and can get into a number of other local gardens for free.

 

I was a member for a number of years, but decided that for the amount of times I wanted to battle my way along the M25 to get to Wisley it just wasn't worth it.
I was paying god knows how much for 12, not very down to earth, magazines every year.

 

I'm also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry which costs over twice as much as the the RHS for which I get a few letters after my name, if I want more letters I pay more, I get a magazine every month, no free entry into any museums. Why am I still a member simply because it's good for my "career" and some people are impressed by a view letters under the signature. It will not be renewed when I retire.

 

Mind you, the RHS show gardens are the same size as the majority of gardens in the UK - particularly new build - which makes them of some interest to the plebs .

It's the same with gardening magazines - many contain mahoosive multi acre gardens - which the vast majority of readers can't relate to - in terms of their own gardens. I turn over when Monty says "Now, we are going over to ??? Castle, where Carol will take a look as their enormous water garden".

 

@clanless you are right about the size of gardens, but for me it has always been about the plants. Landscaping has little appeal, although if you are going to collect bamboos or trees a several acre field would help.

 

We supply Lakeland horticultural Society and once a year they buy a wide range of products just for the members, Holehird gardens. They get the products at trade price which is for their members, I don't think there is a mark up. All the members have to place their orders with the secretary by a set date due to this only being a once a year offer. They get roughly anywhere between 17 to 25 ton of compost, soil conditioners etc etc.

 

We have probably been supplying LHS for that long, definitely 30 years. All the plants and gardens will be planted in growing media and horticultural grit supplied by us, they even have their own special mix. When supplying allotments and commercial growers etc etc, over the years you build up trust and respect which results in loyalty, don't get that in the retail sector.

 

My keyboard is driving me potty of late. There are some sticky keys, the N being the worst at the moment and I have to keep backing up to correct (the correct function does not always work. Must ask T'other Half if can dismantel and clean. Sorry for any past loopy sentences (I often go back and correct).

 

At least you can blame your keyboard.....I can't!

 

My problem is at 8am-ish I have tea and a cookie/muesli bar in bed, watch the news and come on here, I am sure crumbs/flakes fall under the keys, However, I am sure there are times it is just me too!