Everything in the garden is rosy at Tatton flower Show
FORMER Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett was left seriously all a-flutter – as she walked into a huge butterflyfilled dome for the first time at the RHS Tatton Flower Show. Roxanne screamed (and screamed and screamed) in horror as the hundreds of huge butterflies swept around her at the dome, a new attraction at this year’s Tatton Park floral extravaganza.
And when one of the butterfly keepers gently placed one of the huge flies on Roxanne’s shoulder, she couldn’t have looked any more disturbed if she tried!
We’re pleased to report that Roxanne could see the funny side afterwards, but admitted she had been shaking with nerves as she entered the butterfly enclosure.
She laughed: “I’d be terrible in the jungle if I can’t even cope with butterflies! Can you imagine?”
But there was no such drama for Hollyoaks star Ellis Hollins. He strutted into the dome and beamed with confident pride as two huge butterflies set up camp on either side of his face for what seemed like an age!
Ellis said: “I used to be a massive fan of butterflies when I was younger. I remember being in my back garden with some carrot cake, and this red admiral landed in my fingers and in my hair and stood there for 20 minutes.
“That was the closest a butterfly has ever come to me – before today. The butterfly dome wasn’t here the last time I came to Tatton, I’m really glad it’s here now because it’s been a really great experience.”
The butterfly dome is one of the big new attractions at this year’s RHS Flower Show - which is bursting with colourful and inventive show gardens, displays and inspiration for gardeners.
TV presenter Jenny Powell was also among the famous faces at Tuesday’s press day opener, exploring Macmillan’s Legacy Garden at the show, which sees to thank supporters, celebrate the future and embrace the hope from legacies given to the charity.
Jenny was in glamorous form in a bright yellow top teamed with white hotpants showing off her enviable figure.
She headed to the show fresh from her first experience at a music festival – over at the Latitude Festival where she was watching her pal Denise Welch’s son Louis perform with The 1975. Also among celebrities on the preview day was former royal butler Paul Burrell who was full of praise for this year’s event.
He said: “I think this year they really have excelled themselves, it really is a great show.
“The colours and the blooms don’t get any better. This is the Chelsea of the north.
“We’re a nation of gardeners, we’re all the same, we all love a splash of colour in our gardens.”
Paul, who still runs his own florist in Farndon in Cheshire, was looking for inspiration among the blooms.
He said: “I’m looking at all the different varieties of lilies and chrysanthemums and thinking why can’t I get them?
“This year for the first time there is a double lily, and it’s absolutely beautiful. We love to look at all the new flowers, get ideas for your own garden.
“I like water in my garden, I like to feel water, I like to see water and I like the sound of water.
“A garden is not complete without some water.”