Hello everyone :)

Last Friday I went to the Gardeners World live show, I went a few years ago and was in awe at the number of herb stalls there were and bought a fair few from the herb society stall. I was disappointed this year, Jekka's stand seemed smaller than when I was last there and not as many unusual herbs were to be found.

I found the Herb Society stall and discovered some wonderful bath gels and handcreams and some bargain back issues of 'Herbs' with some wonderful articles in, but no herb plants to buy.
Maybe I was looking in the wrong places but there just didn't seem to be as many herb stands as last time? Those that were there didn't have a wide selection.

It's not a criticism of the herb societies stall as it was lovely and the products smelt wonderful and it was run by some lovely ladies who were most welcoming and friendly, I just wish there had been some herbs to buy. I make my own handcream etc so didn't need to buy any, however yummy they smelt and one associates the herb society with herbs which is what I expected to find on their stall and not beauty products. The herbs I bought two years ago from the herb society stand have really come along, and were such good value I'd come armed with lots of money to buy lots more. Having missed the open day at Sulgrave in May, I thought never mind, I'll be able to buy some wonderful herbs from the Herb Society at the GWL event. Is there another event planned at Sulgrave or somewhere that the herb socity will be attending this year where they'll be selling herbs?

Despite the lack of herbs, I thoroughly enjoyed the day, I got to meet Alan Titchmarsh and he signed a book for me, and I came away with some new ideas and enjoyed the gardens immensely :)

Brightest Blessings - Debs <|:)

Hi Debs,

I rang Nicky at the Herb Society and she said she was on the Herb Society stand and would have directed you to herb growers’ stands. She mentioned Newlands, Stonecrop and Phil Jones of Tavistock Herbs. The latter is based near Preston despite its name and he has been on the Herb Society stand at Tatton Park for the last two years. I’ll try and find out if he is going to be at Tatton this year. I really need him to be as I have inveigled my niece’s partner to help out with me on the Wednesday morning. I said he would not be the only man and there would be some plants (Nigel has done landscape gardening for 12 years) and I can’t see him selling hand cream. Phil is very knowledgeable about herbs. He had a tea tree in the middle of the exhibit two years ago. I thought it would like hot, arid conditions coming from Australia, but it likes wet conditions as it grows in swamps.

The next event at Sulgrave is a Medicinal Herbs Day on 28th July. Herbs are on sale all the time when Sulgrave Manor is open to the public. I got an Arnica montana plant in April and it has flowered quite a while. It is just going past its best.

I’ll get back to you about Tatton.

Audrey

Many thanks Audrey

There's a tea tree plant growing at the herb garden at Hardstoft, I was surprised at how many herbs do grow in our climate, I to thought tea tree would never survive.

I may be able to get along to Tatton, if my hubby can be persuaded (hence the planned rhubarb pie hehe!) I did see all those stands you mentioned but they all seemed to carry standard herbs, I was hoping for some more unusual herbs liquorice, lemon grass and tea tree (I got lemon grass at hardstoft this weekend) but all the stalls at the GWL had seemed to only carry varieties of the 'traditional' herbs. There was varieties of basil, lavender and thymes galore but nothing 'different' Jekka did have a variagated myrtle which I bought along with a cinnamon basil plant but I really struggled to find unusual herbs.

I thought it was Nicky on the stand but didn't like to introduce myself, although wished I had afterwards. I did speak to a lovely lady called Lynne on the stand but I'm not sure which Lynne it was? Thanks again for your help Audrey, I'll look forward to the Tatton information.

Brightest Blessings - Debs <|:)

Debs,
The bad news for me is that Tavistock Herbs are not exhibiting on the Herb Society stand. The good news for you is that they will have their own stand. They weren't selling tea-tree (it was just part of the exhibit and needs special care), but he does have some special things at times.
I felt duty bound to tell Nigel that there will be no plants. I can't see him selling bath products. I am a nervous driver, but it looks as if I will have to drive in on my own. The traffic is very heavy for this event, though I think the police have sorted out a lot of the problems in the first couple of years.
Audrey