You’ll remember from my highlights post that Frances’ Garden was my highlight of the show, so I thought it about time I share some more of the pictures I took on our visit. It was a hot day the day we visited, but little did we know that there were so many more hot days to follow, though as I’m writing this post it’s just a chilly 21 degrees - quite a change from the 28 degrees we had the other day, and the 34 degrees forecast for next week. I’m not entirely looking forward to that if I’m honest.

But anyway, Frances’ Garden. It’s a sustainable garden which reimagines an industrial space. As the explanation board said, the idea is to immerse yourself in a landscape that may have been build a hundred years ago, though instead of industry this has been harnessed for the sustainability and productivity for both humans and wildlife. And, as you’ll see, there’s plenty of touches that will most likely set your memories racing.

It’s built from reclaimed materials and showcases wildlife friendly, native planting as well as more unusual herbs and edibles. The garden definitely feels welcoming for wildlife, and every time we walked past the garden there was always a queue, which we eventually gave in and joined.

We weren’t disappointed.

courgettes growing in a pot with both terracotta pots and empty tin cans also on the oil drum

A greenhouse structure made from reclaimed doors and windows with plants growing inside up to the roof

on the right another tall structure in the garden which is also a very large bug hotel

a collection of belfast sinks grouped together with planting and water features

The top of the steel beamed bug hotel structure showing sleepers, bricks and pine cones in terracotta pots

broad beans in a metal 'walls ice cream' container with a discarded iron wheel on one side

I told you it was a great space, but that wasn’t all. There was a chance to peek inside both the shed and the greenhouse structures, and the detail in these was on another level. Sourcing this, alongside putting the garden space together and making the whole plot look as if it’s been picked up and placed here from another space is amazing, and that goes beyond the design - the whole team should be very proud of what they achieved. And they definitely deserved their Platinum award.

An easy chair, blanket and typical shed paraphernalia in the make do shed

herbs and flowers hanging from the make do shed's ceiling along with an oil light

Looking inside the greenhouse of reclaimed windows and the plants such as cucumbers, chillies and tomatoes growing there

old metal and wooden steps leaning up towards the shelf with a vine, houseleeks and nasturtiums growing close by

It’s easy to see why it was top of my list isn’t it?

Last Friday MOH and I headed to Birmingham for this year’s Gardeners’ World Live show which celebrated 100 years of the BBC. I was given free tickets to the show and will be sharing more of the gardens and displays, but here I’m sharing my highlights from our visit.

We started our visit in the Floral Marquee, which was full of exhibits, plants and people - every sense was awakened as you stepped inside. Thankfully though there was also a healthy breeze, which was very welcome inside. There were a number of special features here to celebrate the BBC’s centenary year - and I’ve included a couple in this post - but there’s more to come.

The vegetable displays always fill me with awe - the giant onions caught our attention, but it was the loofahs (to the left of them) that were the real talking point. We’re not the only ones to be fascinated by them, as you may have seen that Monty Don is also growing some in his greenhouse this year - I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

A display of fruit and vegetables in wicker baskets and crates

We admired the eucalyptus, the carnivorous plants, alliums and more including the most beautiful acers - the colours were amazing.

Red and green acer leaves filling the whole shot

The special features showcased popular BBC programmes, including a Pebble Mill inspired display designed by Peter Seabrook, who passed away earlier this year. The display was brought to life as a tribute to him and his long-running association with BBC Gardeners’ World Live, pays homage to the Pebble Mill at One show, which was filmed in Birmingham and hosted by Peter from 1975 until 1986.

The Pebble Mill at One garden designed by Peter Seabrook, which is also a tribute to him following his death earlier this year

As we walked around the floral marquee we didn’t know which way to head next, it seemed each display was calling us off our intended route around the space. Just like a garden which pulls you in different ways, calling you to explore it freely.

cottage garden flowers - pinks, purples and whites - on display in wooden crates

My final photo from the marquee also has something I’m sure you’ll recognise…

pinks, purples and coloured leaves 'cascading' display with the Dr Who tardis in the background

Outside we wandered along looking at the show gardens, spotting Joe Swift posing for photos in the Memories of Mountains Garden Retreat designed by Jonathan King, which was awarded a Silver Merit.

Joe Swift (right) with another gentleman sitting on a bench having their photo taken in one of the show gardens

The Marshalls Food for Thought Garden had a garden shed and incredibly neat brassicas - something I can only aspire to!

The shed and vegetables growing alongside in the Marshall's garden

Design inspiration

I particularly liked the raised borders in the Metamorphosis garden, with its “inlaid caterpillar pebbles” but when I pointed them out to MOH, I got the look that said not to be getting too many ideas!

A wooden raised bed with pebbles inserted partway up the raised bed

Over in the Beautiful Borders section I was also very taken with the cork pathway in the Living the Wild Life garden by Charlotte Jones. I think we’ve probably got a good collection of corks already, and you know, I’m willing to put in more work to make sure we’ve enough to cover a decent sized area.

A cream ornate chair in one of the beautiful borders with upended corks (from wine bottles) as the path

The Pretty Wild Beautiful Border showed how you can encourage more wildlife into your garden in ‘a classy and stylish way’ by selecting plants and a colour scheme to fit a garden’s style. I’m a big fan of corten steel in gardens, so this one was always going to be one of my highlights.

A large corten steel bird bath on the edge of this beautiful border

The other border that really caught my eye was this one titled Equatorial Suburbia, which incorporates plants you wouldn’t normally expect to see in a suburban space, and does it so well.

One of my favourite parts of the show is the School Wheelbarrow Competition which this year celebrates the arrival of the Commonwealth Games to Birmingham, with a theme of Commonwealth Countries in a Barrow!

A blue South African themed wheelbarrow with pink cosmos and milk bottle 'elephants'

A jubilee themed wheelbarrow in the foreground with India themed barrows in the background

My show highlight: Frances’ Garden

And I wasn’t the only one, this garden won the Best Show Garden & Showcase Garden Platinum Award Winner. It’s designed by Frances Tophill and has sustainability at its heart, inspired by the Bauhaus era of the 1920s when the BBC was formed alongside the naturalistic planting, lush greenery and rewilded areas supporting wildlife.