More people than ever are being bitten by the gardening bug, wanting to turn the space outside their home – whether large or small – into a green oasis or a cottage garden idyll.

At this time of year, they’re all keen to get out into the garden and set to work on tidying tired borders, sprucing up shrubberies and cultivating the perfect lawn.

Garden centres and the outdoor areas of the DIY superstores are thronging with people eager for new and unusual plants, seeking advice on what is suitable for their garden.

But rather than traipsing from one nursery to another in search of inspiration, why not head for the one destination where the best produce and the most expert knowledge is available in one location? That place is the 2010 Harrogate Spring Flower Show, and it’s on next Thursday to Sunday at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Run by the North of England Horticultural Society, with shows each spring and autumn, it has become something of a tradition for my partner and I to go along and discover something that little bit different to the run-of-the-mill bedding plants and shrubs that everyone seems to have.

It’s like a scaled-down, more manageable and friendly version of the Chelsea Flower Show, without the airs and graces and ridiculous queues of its southern cousin, but with similarly huge marquees filled to bursting with the best blooms imaginable.

From the flower halls with innovative displays of some of the best spring-flowering bulbs you will ever see – including countless varieties of daffodils and tulips – along with floristry and flower arranging, to stands manned by plant nursery experts from all corners of the land, there truly is something for everyone.

We are always particularly impressed with the orchid stands, with exotically-coloured blooms just waiting to find a home on your windowsill. Whether you want advice on the latest lawnmowers, how to create a patio or the best gardening tools for countless green-fingered tasks, you will be in luck.

The first time we walked into one of the flower halls, we were blown away by the riot of colour and the heady, intense aroma of tens of thousands of flowers honed to perfection for the four days of the show.

We were in awe of the huge blooms in unimaginable hues and shades, so impressive that we immediately wanted to buy one of everything for our own garden; the most difficult thing about the day was reining-in our spending, as most stands accept credit cards and many sell-off their displays from 4pm on the Sunday, which can cause something of a crush if you have not reserved in advance.

On a couple of occasions that we have visited the show, such has been our inability to hold back on purchasing that we have struggled to carry them all back to the free car park – a good ten minutes’ walk away, although you can also take advantage of the regular courtesy bus service. There is a product and plant creche where you can drop off your purchases and collect them later, although its very handiness can lead to you actually buying more!

You can easily spend a whole day looking around the show site, as there is a plentiful supply of refreshment facilities, whether you want a hearty lunch or just a quick drink to boost your energy so that you can join in the throng once more.

The themes for this year’s Harrogate Spring Flower Show are growing your own and local produce. The show will be packed with displays, demonstrations and advice to help you make the most of your garden. Kitchen Garden Live will feature demonstrations on growing your own fruit and veg, with chefs from across the North cooking with local fare.

There is a college garden design competition, with students creating gardens to reflect local personalities’ interests and lifestyles – including that of Keighley-born Look North weatherman Paul Hudson.

Horticultural exhibitors will also be creating gardens depicting stage shows, under the It’s Show Time banner, while a Garden Roadshow team of experts will be answering your gardening questions and discussing green-fingered topics.

On the Saturday of the show, there will be an Alpine Garden Society Show, while other attractions will include a children’s garden hunt and a photography competition.

And if all that was not enough, you can spend time browsing numerous craft and gift stalls, with something to appeal to all ages.

Flower clubs, colleges and individuals will be competing for prizes throughout the show, the top nursery exhibit will be crowned Best In Show, and premier, gold, silver gilt, silver and bronze cards will be issued in all judging classes.

The Harrogate Spring Flower Show makes for an ideal day out for the whole family, as there’s always something to attract young and old. It’s also wheelchair-friendly, as all marquees are fully ramped and floored. If the sun shines, all the better; although even if it is raining when you visit, the vast majority of attractions are under cover.

We often prefer to visit the show on the Sunday afternoon. Wait until after 2pm to enter, and you only pay half of the Sunday ticket price of £12 – the other days are £14, with under-16s free.

Doing this, we have a good couple of hours to wend our way around the show and can still take full advantage of the exhibit sell-off, before heading into Harrogate itself for a stroll in Valley Gardens – the previous home of the show – and a drink and a bite to eat in one of the town’s numerous excellent bars and restaurants. The perfect end to a perfect day out.

Factfile
- The Harrogate Spring Flower Show is at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, off the A661 Wetherby Road, next Thursday to Saturday from 9.30am-5.30pm, and until 4.30pm on Sunday.
- Courtesy buses run continuously to and from the adjacent car park until 6pm (5pm Sunday). Shuttle bus operates from Harrogate bus station to the showground.
- Entry prices: £14 Thursday to Saturday; students £6; under-16s free; £12 Sunday (£6 after 2pm).
- For further information, go to flowershow.org.uk