Sandy's Garden ... Absent Friends

Then we wouldr transport them to the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston in preparation for three days of non-stop work building the Society’s stand at Gardening Scotland.

Arriving on site on Monday morning, the Society’s team would have been joined by Joe from Builder Center in Grangemouth, with a lorry laden with, literally, tonnes of hard landscaping materials for the stand.

With consummate skill, Joe would manoeuvre his vehicle into the Floral Hall immediately adjacent to the Society’s stand, deploy its stabilisers and, using the lorry’s hydraulic crane, would place the sundry components in his load exactly where the Society’s Show Manager … the late Johnston Mitchell … wanted them.

Then, after Joe had extricated his lorry and had set off back to Grangemouth, the construction work began. Flower beds were edged and filled with soil; artificial grass was laid; paviour blockwork was set out; a shed, barbecue, water feature and lighting were installed.

Time was always at a premium, for the hard landscaping from Builder Center, one of the Society’s main sponsors, would soon be joined by large numbers of bedding plants, shrubs, small trees and hanging baskets from Klondyke Garden Centre in Polmont, another of the Society’s main sponsors.

As Monday gave way to Tuesday and Tuesday became Wednesday, a complete garden sprang up from the hall’s concrete floor, complete with a curtained-off area where cups of tea, coffee and soup could be enjoyed.

The aim was to complete the garden by late Wednesday afternoon, ready to be watered and titivated on Thursday morning ready for the judges’ assessment.

Gardening Scotland was open to the public between 10 o’clock and 6 o’clock on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and the Society’s volunteers’ services were much in demand for every minute of these three days with advice and guidance.

The breakdown of show gardens and the sale of unwanted items started 90 minutes before the end of the show: but, since most of the Polmont society’s materials came from sponsors, none of it was sold at; the hard landscaping items were collected by Joe and his lorry, the plant materials were either returned to Klondyke or consigned to the recycling skip; and, after personal items had been stowed in committee members’ cars, a very hectic … and very tiring … week came to an end.

Well, the Polmont Society undertook this frantic schedule for the last time several years ago. This year, it is still easy to find websites which tempt the gardener and non-gardener alike with word like these: “Gardening Scotland 2020 will take place from Friday, 29th until Sunday, 31st May at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

The emphasis is on making the most of your outdoor space, so come along and let us help you to transform your garden with gorgeous plants, clever design ideas and the latest styles in outdoor accessories.

Click on to our online guide to discover more about the show.” But the Gardening Scotland website has a short and simple message: “We regret to advise that as a result of current circumstances surrounding Covid-19, Gardening Scotland has now ceased trading. The company has gone in to liquidation and notices have been sent to all creditors.”

Polmont Horticultural Society has cancelled its 2020 Annual Show.

The Scottish Gardeners’ Forum website has a blunt message: “Due to government warnings and advice our member clubs report cancellations of their Spring shows.”

The Dundee Flower and Food Festival, planned for Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September, is cancelled. And I wouldn’t be in a rush to buy tickets for Ayr Flower Show on Friday 4th August to Sunday 6th August. Sad!