It’s that time of year again when I’ve been asked to say hello, share a little about my time in the garden, and let you in on some of the exciting things we have planned for our Spring Flower Show, taking place on Saturday, 28th and Sunday, 29th March 2026.

I don’t know about you, but this year’s growing season has felt never-ending. My tomatoes and dahlias took an age to get going, but once they found their stride, they kept delivering right up until a few weeks ago. A trio of Copper Boy, an abundance of Chat Noir, my new favourite Bohemian Spartacus, and a freezer now chock-full of rich tomato sauce mean I’m more than ready for the next season.

Last week, I visited The Healing Garden at Treliske Hospital, a space I curated with Al Moore and Charles Fox a few years ago, and was delighted to see the Acidanthera still vibrantly abundant, with every sign they’ll keep going for weeks yet. The Ceratostigma and Camellia sasanqua were equally full of life.

This week, I took my Garden Design students around Heligan. I wanted to fill their minds with the endless possibilities of creating year-round interest in the garden – not just floral displays, but texture, form and structure too. I was amazed by how many perennials were still pumping out blooms, and how many plants, already given their annual cut-back, were regenerating and flourishing for an effortless late-autumn or early-winter encore.

I love this time of year: a time for reflection, taking stock and ordering; for splitting and dividing; and for planning the next season. As I get my own garden’s structural elements in shape for winter, I’m also putting key structural pieces in place for the Spring Flower Show.

With tickets now on sale, we are well and truly full steam ahead for another spectacular year of our annual floral festival. Our schedule for competitive classes will soon be published, ready for you to decide which beauties you’ll be sharing. We’re also beginning to secure some of the larger elements of the show, which we look forward to revealing in the coming weeks.

For now, I’m thrilled to share that we will be joined by The Eden Project, celebrating their 25th birthday with us. The Eden Project is a world-class, inspirational garden and an iconic part of our landscape, and we’re honoured they’ve chosen to mark this milestone at the Spring Flower Show. They’ll be curating the Sustainability Hub, creating a beautiful and informative garden exploring how we can garden for the future. Expect new ideas, interactive elements, grow-your-own inspiration, workshops for all ages, and the chance to purchase some of their gorgeous plants.

Last year, their Apothecary Garden, which told the story of A Place to Heal, was an unforgettable highlight, and their brilliant team of experts and apprentices are planning something big once again. Among the many lush plants they brought, they also gave us the exclusive opportunity to preview and buy new varieties of kangaroo paw never before seen in the UK.

I’ll share more about this exciting collaboration as plans develop. In the meantime, don’t forget to buy your discounted advance tickets. They make the perfect gift – for hard-to-please uncles, as a thoughtful Mother’s Day treat, or as an early Easter present. Secure your place at what the world now knows as the ‘Chelsea of the West’. We’ll also continue offering special weekend passes for fellow nature lovers and plant fiends, giving you unlimited access to the show and ensuring you don’t miss any of the inspirational talks from some of the country’s finest garden gurus in our Tipi Talks.

I can’t wait to see you all there and look forward to sharing even more exciting news in the weeks to come. For now, I wish you a very happy festive season and a wonderful New Year.

With very best wishes,

Mark Holman, Show Director – Cornwall Garden Society