5 Virtual Flower Shows for Lockdown Gardeners

Coronavirus has brought our in-person shows to a grinding halt. But don’t let that stop you! Virtual flower shows are popping up everywhere. They give you the satisfaction of sharing your plants with the world and the cheer of seeing other people’s gardens flourishing.

Here are five hot-off-the-press virtual flower shows for lockdown gardeners.

1. Chelsea Virtual Flower Show

RHS Chelsea Flower Show is going digital this year in the hope of sharing the ‘joy of gardening’ with the nation! The show will feature landscapers, designers, growers and tradestands, much like the in-person version. There’ll be seasonal displays, workshops and a chance to view some truly amazing plant collections!

Kicking off with a press day on 18th May, the virtual show will take place on 19th-23rd May.

Since the show is still in the planning stages, we’ll be updating this page with details as they become available. So remember to check back in a week or two’s time!

2. The AGS Online Flower Show

At the AGS, we’re sadder than sad that many of our UK shows have been cancelled. That’s why we’ve swiftly brought you a virtual replacement!

If you’ve entered our online flower show before, you know the drill. It’s a more formal arrangement than some of the shows out there, with official competition categories, expert judges, trophies and prizes. So there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t enter more than one!

Got a pan of delightful Crocus? An impressive Corydalis? A kingly Erythronium? Don’t let them languish at home! Pop them in our online flower show and share them with the appreciative audience they deserve.

This online flower show is open to AGS UK and Eire members only, so if you’re not a member, consider signing up. Entries are open now and close on 1^st June.

3. Dibley’s Virtual Flower Show

On 25th-26th April, Dibley’s Nurseries hosted a full on virtual flower show extravanganza! You can now view behind the scenes tours, Q&A sessions, expert growing advice and more on their Virtual Flower Show Facebook page.

A host of gold medal winning nurseries joined the show, including Hippopottering Nurseries, Staddon Farm Nurseries, Hare Spring Cottage Plants, Plantagogo, Brighter Blooms and many more.

See their many expert videos, visit the Virtual Flower Show website or look through the discussion thread on their Facebook page for more superb content.

4. The Great British Garden Show

The newly launched Great British Garden Show aims to celebrate our nation’s fabulous gardens – and the gardeners behind them – by showing them online. Set up by a father and daughter duo, the show replaces horticultural events cancelled due to coronavirus.

Lift your lockdown spirits by viewing the beautiful gardens showcased here. Or have fun taking snaps of your own plants and enter them into the show. Window boxes, container-grown alpines and wider garden shots are all welcome. So get snapping!

Choose 6 photos and fill out this entry form to see your plants up in lights. They’ll also be running competitions shortly (details TBC). So watch this virtual space!

5. Scottish Rock Virtual Flower Show

Our sister Society, the Scottish Rock Garden Club, have a lively forum thread featuring plants that would’ve been exhibited at flower shows.

Feast your eyes on everything from Hepatica ‘Millstream Merlin’ to Corydalis Solida ‘Beth Evans’ – and everything in between! Which do you think would’ve won the Farrer medal (best plant in the flower show)?!

If you’re missing exhibiting your alpine plants, get a digital fix by popping photos of them on this thread for everyone to see. I can almost hear the delighted ‘oohs’ from the crowds now!

Absolutely anyone is eligible to join the forum, so simply register to take advantage peeps.