I find it difficult sometimes knowing where time has gone, the Spring Flower Show at Harrogate Showground was nearly six months ago.

I like this Autumn show at Newby Hall, as it is like three shows in one, the actual Autumn Flower Show, with the tented village, the stalls and the flowers and vegetables etc, then there is the opportunity to have a look around the house and thirdly being able to enjoy a stroll around the beautiful gardens and double herbaceous borders at Newby Hall itself.

It is just a steady fifty-minute drive from home to Newby Hall which is situated on the outskirts of Ripon. We arrived at 9.15am, parked the car and made our way to the show entrance along the East Avenue, where after browsing some of the stalls we made our way to the refreshment area for a coffee and cake. It was a very pleasant morning, wet underfoot from yesterday’s rain, but the sun was shining, the weather forecast was good, and it was pleasantly warm. Suitably refreshed we headed over to the ‘Incredible Edible Pavilion’, it certainly lived up to its name, giant sized Cabbage’s, Onions, Cauliflowers, and Tomatoes, some of the later were so huge I couldn’t make out what they were, the Beetroot were the same, some the size of footballs. The Marrows were massive, so big that you could only fit one in a wheelbarrow. Then there were the Celery, Leeks, Onions and Carrots, some of the carrots were the length of the tables they were being displayed on, although looking good, I often wondered what they would taste like?   

There were several beautiful displays of soft fruit and apples, some of the apple arrangements certainly caught my eye, close by were the growers, busily chatting away amongst themselves, probably comparing notes on their vegetables and how they got on in the competition. On leaving the giant vegetables behind, we headed back outside, crossed the Main Avenue and had a look at some of the stalls for a few minutes, after which we had a stroke with some Alpacas as you do, before heading into the giant Grand Floral Pavilion. Rows and rows of Dalias were on display, every colour and shape you could imagine, Yellow, Red, Orange, Pink, Lilac to name just a few. Lovely Bonsai and Alpine exhibitions, specialist plant nurseries, and floral displays filled this massive pavilion, there was always something that caught your eye. I think we went round it twice there was such a lot to see. After another light refreshment break, we headed back along the Main Avenue towards the main Hall, stopping at the wrought iron gates to admire the manicured lawn. Several of the ground floor rooms of Newby Hall were beautifully decorated with some amazing colourful floral displays. After a slow browse around the rooms and floral displays, we headed outside where a musician was playing his violin on the patio area, the acoustics filled the surrounding area, many people were sat around enjoying the sunshine and Prosecco whilst listening to the music. We continued down the stone steps, past the ornamental pond, to walk along the double Herbaceous border and at 172 metres in length there is plenty to see and admire. It is one of the longest borders in the country and has a North South axis. From the house the borders run down to the River Ure. The borders are full of colour texture and shape, with undulating drifts of colourful perennials, Echinacea, and Sanguisorba mingle with insect friendly Eryngium, Echinops and Veronicastrum. As we approached the river, we stopped to watch the Royal Scot Locomotive pass by on the ten and a quarter inch narrow gauge railway line. We continued our walk between the borders back up the gentle slope to the house, stopping for a few minutes to listen to the violinist playing in front of the house. On leaving the house we headed back along the Main Avenue to purchase some giant Allium bulbs and one or two other bits and pieces for the garden before we made our way back along the East Avenue to the car and journey home.