Lots and lots of laughter and joy.  There was quite a lot of hugging as well.

The “garden bloggers get together” masterminded by VP and Helen was a blast.

If there is one word to describe my experience of the Malvern Spring Show is is laughter,

Lots and lots of laughter and joy.  There was quite a lot of hugging as well.

The “garden bloggers get together” masterminded by VP and Helen was a blast.

Obviously being a garden show there was the odd show garden to look at, the odd plant to buy, but the thing that I have taken home from the event is what a treat it was to meet so many of my favourite blogging “virtual friends” and to find them such fun to be with.

I was so busy doing laughing and hugging that I didn’t take any pictures of the garden bloggers.  Fortunately Frances realized how nice it would be to have a group photo – so I am sure that some pictures will appear somewhere, sometime.

I did enjoy the show itself too.  I am not a great garden visitor or show visitor and,

(I may be drummed out of the brownies for saying this) I have always found looking at show gardens a bit tedious.

However I went to Malvern with a more open mind and concentrated on finding a few details that I really enjoyed.

I covert this delightful espaliered apple tree “edging” and would love to do that here – but I know that I am rubbish at remembering to prune fruit trees correctly, and this would need the correct pruning.

(By the way - have I mentioned how talented and entertaining the overseas visitors Gail, Frances, Ewa and YolandaElizabeth were?

What fun it was to meet them – not dull, not dull at all)

I enjoyed this planting in the “Quaker Meeting Place” garden – possibly because it contains some of my favourite spring plant combinations and I am a sucker for rusty border decorations. Lovely movement against the formal layout of the paths and gabions

(I should also say there was nothing quiet or dull about Victoria, Arabella Sock, Happy M, Easygardener, Anna and The Constant Gardener.

I have been following their blogs since I started my own garden blog and I regarded them as my “virtual friends” before we met.

I was not disappointed when I met them in person – lots of hugs and laughter.

James AS is an excellent hugger too).

This is the beautiful woven willow fence from “The Owl and the Pussycat” garden.

Low woven willow fences are something I really want in this garden -

The contrast in texture between the fence, the path and the planting appeal to me.

(It was also good to meet up with a few new (to me) faces including Lia, Ryan, Anne, Claire, Michelle and Ian from Dobbies).

This caught my eye – but I was so busy bending down to look at the sedums like a little stream in the grass -

I forgot to make a note which garden I saw it it.

(Lots of laughter was shared with Zoe, Dobby and Elizabeth as we stayed in the same B&B.

It was definitely not boring!

Thanks you guys – it was good – Same time, Same place next year?

Big hugs and thanks must of course go to VP and Helen without whom this joyful event would not have been possible

Meet at Malvern Rocked.