Welcome to Henry VIII’s Tudor court!
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, 2009, celebrates the 500th Anniversary of the Tudor
king’s coronation
Hampton Court Palace was reputed to be the favourite residence of the famous Tudor
king, Henry VIII, and to celebrate the 500th anniversary of his ascension to the
throne, the Royal Horticultural Society has made the Tudor period a key theme of
the 2009 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, sponsored by Rachel’s Organic. The
show takes place from Tuesday 7 to Sunday 12 July.
In 2009, marvel at the ‘Festival of Roses’ with its theme of Henry VIII’s Tudor
court. The red and white combination of the symbolic Tudor Rose - which does not
exist botanically - is probably among the few colour combinations you won’t see
in the ‘Festival of Roses’ marquee, which promises to offer an abundance of rose
varieties and that unmistakable floral scent.
Six different garden designs will also be displayed, each representing one of Henry
VIII’s six wives. Designers have been invited to create gardens representing: Catherine
of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Kathryn
Parr who were famously “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived!”
Each Queen Consort had a very different personality which designers will take as
a theme for a small garden measuring 8m x 6m.
The Royal Horticultural Society Scarecrow Competition returns this year and challenges
pre-school and primary schools in the South East to enter a Tudor themed scarecrow.
Mandy Almond, Show Manager for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, said: “Last
year’s scarecrow competition saw some phenomenally original entries and we hope
the 2009 competition with its Tudor theme will once again see schools get creative
with plant material and recycled elements. The competition is a great way of getting
kids outdoors. I look forward to being on this year’s judging panel”.
Now in its twentieth year, the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is the world’s
largest event of its kind, offering home grown fun that the whole family can enjoy.
Every summer it provides gardening inspiration, tips on how you can grow your own
fruit and vegetables and a wealth of ideas on how to enjoy healthy, outdoor living.
Tickets to the 2008 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show are available in advance or
on the gate. Ticket holders are also entitled to visit the gardens at Hampton Court
Palace. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt
for more information.