Festivals of flowers

I always look forward to RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival (6-11 July)

– it comes as a midsummer shot in the arm to my garden, too, as I usually stagger away with a bagful of plants. There will be a cut flower garden and a flower market this year: I’m growing more annuals now, so I’ll be taking notes. Later comes RHS Tatton Park (21-25 July), where five entrants for the RHS Young Designer of the Year Competition will be raising awareness of climate change and wildlife conservation. Around 90 nurseries will be selling plants, so the wallet might well take another hit… For details and to buy tickets, see rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt and rhs.org.uk/tatton.