“Special” Birthday Present

Hampton Court Flower show?

Bennets water lily garden in Dorset (the British Monet Garden!)

Emmett Garden Ide Hill Kent ...beautiful flower beds in summer

If you are in the east, Peter Beales roses south of Norwich is the equivalent of David Austin.

What about a coach trip to see some beautiful gardens lots of different halls that open to the public have afternoon tea while you there

Arundel Castle, West Sussex are holding their tulip festival from mid April to early May. 100,000 tulips planted! They claim it's one of the best displays in Europe.

What about a visit to the tulip fields at Spalding, Lincolnshire? Loads of coach companies are doing excursions.

I would also recommend the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. My sister and I go every year and it is one of our highlights, as we are both keen gardeners. In my view it beats Chelsea.

A gardening magazine subscription, Harrogate flower show, this is held at Newby Hall in N.Yorkshire, nearby are the Himalayan Gardens at Grewelthorpe, they are absolutely spectacular.

BigBerthal Do you mean the Malvern show ? I love the sound of your flower shoes, have you got a pair to spare ?

NotAGran55

There are tickets available for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival which is supposed to be magnificent.

For my money, the Hampton Court flower show beats Chelsea hands down. For a start, the weather is likely to be better, or at least warmer - and there is way more space.

Chelsea always feels so crowded - I’ve been several times, we used to get free tickets. And the weather can be so hit and miss - I’ve been in hot sunshine - and miserable cold rain, when anywhere under cover (e.g. the marquees) were absolutely heaving, and friend and I could not find anywhere out of the rain to have lunch, so left early.

Not Marlow sorry the one over in the West ?Somerset.

I was going to suggest Hampton Court or Tatton Park Flower shoes. My friend who attends most of these says the Marlow one is the best.

Would she enjoy an "event", if she is quite adventurous?
A trip in a hot air balloon, a zip-wire, driving a sports car?
There are loads of events like these available.

I was going to suggest the Hampton Court show but I see Notagran55 has beaten me to it, so I'll second it as a good choice. The site is much bigger, there's far more space and it's not nearly as crowded as Chelsea. Depending on where you live, the David Austen rose garden in Albrighton is stunning and free to visit. You could eat in the restaurant there and let her choose a rose from their stunning collection as her present.

Has she been to Highgrove? If not, that is a fabulous day out, and perfect for a special birthday, we went with my friend for her birthday and she loved it. .

Subscription to a gardening magazine?

Or RHS membership if she isn’t a member already?

A day at RHS Wisley? It will soon be blossom time and the bulbs will be out.

There are tickets available for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival which is supposed to be magnificent.

Did you know that Harkness have a rose called Fab at 70?

www.roses.co.uk/product/530607/rose-fab-at-70-3l-4l-pot

How about a visit to one of the National Trusts properties - particularly one which has extensive beautiful gardens. Many also have plants for sale so you could let her chose one and then you pay for it as a lasting Birthday Gift.