Helpful information
Timing: Summer or early autumn can mean more options for prize categories
Where to do it: Outdoors, indoors
Garden space: Large garden, small garden, balcony, allotment
Timing: Summer or early autumn can mean more options for prize categories
Where to do it: Outdoors, indoors
Garden space: Large garden, small garden, balcony, allotment
At Thrive, we have hosted many flower shows at our gardens. These are always happy, celebratory days, where the family and friends of our client gardeners join us.
A flower show is a wonderful way to share a love of gardening and nature. It doesn’t need to be as grand as RHS Chelsea Flower Show (though this can always be a source of inspiration!). It could be something you do as a family in your garden, a neighbourhood event or with members of a community gardening or allotment group.
There is no fixed format for what a flower show must include. Some of the things we like to include are:
Our flower shows are usually a few hours long, finishing with the announcing of prize winners.
1. Decide the date, time and location
It’s a good idea to plan ahead with a flower show, especially if you are having prizes or if there will be a number of people joining. This gives plenty of opportunity for people to put the date in their diary, decide which category they will enter and prepare for it.
If you are doing it as a family activity at home, you can be much more spontaneous! A day or two may be all that is needed.
If you are holding it at a community garden, or shared location, you may have to check that it is ok to host on that date.
At our Thrive flower shows, raise funds to support the work we do as a charity. You could include fundraising at your own flower show. Let people know which charity you are supporting when you send invites.
Some ways to raise funds at the show are through a cake sale, raffle or by having plants for sale. Let people know if cash will be needed, or if there is an online fundraising page through a site like JustGiving.
If you are interested in raising funds for Thrive, we have a garden party pack full of useful information.
2. Choose prize categories
The category awards ceremony is a real highlight of our Thrive shows. Everyone shows great spirit, cheering the winners.
There are so many types of prize category you could create. Think about who is joining and what will appeal to as many people as possible. Some examples of prize categories we have included at Thrive are:
A mixture of plant growing prizes and art based prizes usually means there’s something for everyone!
Think about how you will choose the winners and what the prizes will be. You could have small medals, or you could have certificates or stickers for everyone.
We tend to have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as highly commended awards for runners up. We believe taking part is an achievement that is always worth celebrating!
Our winners are chosen by an independent judging panel. You could ask one person or a few people who are not entering to be judges. Or, if there’s a small number of you, decide each one by all voting.
3. Send invites (if needed)
Depending on the number of people you are hoping to come, you may want to send out invites. You could make paper versions, or send a digital invite.
Make sure to include the date, time, location and prize categories. Let people know if they need to confirm which category they are entering in advance, or if they can just bring their entry on the day.
If you are a small group, you might not need to send invites. You could choose to make them anyway though, for fun!
4. Plan any extra items
Refreshments are always welcome at a flower show. Even if that’s just a glass of water! We like to also offer tea, coffee and cake.
If you have space, you could have some simple garden games for people to play together. Games like hoopla, garden jenga and bean bag throwing are straight forward.
5. Think about venue set up
It can often be hard to predict what the weather will be like until the day before! It’s good to be prepared for rain or shine.
On a hot day, have shady spots people can sit in, as well as plenty of water available.
If it’s raining, sheltered spots will be appreciated. If you have space, you could move the flower show inside if it's really pouring - or if you don't have a suitable outside space.
Enough seating is always a good idea so people can pause, rest and enjoy their surroundings. This is especially important if anyone there has difficulties with mobility or low energy levels.
Depending on the location, you could suggest people bring a rug and picnic with them.
6. Hold the winner’s ceremony
A prize ceremony for the category winners is a great way to bring people together at the end of the day.
You can choose someone to announce the prize winners and gather everyone together. The winners of each category can then come forward to collect their prize and everyone else can enjoy clapping and celebrating their efforts.
Congratulations, you have successfully held your own flower show! Hopefully it was a great success and you can look forward to repeating it in future years.
Gardens are special spaces. They can improve our wellbeing in many ways, helping us feel calm or giving a sense of purpose.
