RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2007 - Water gardens, orchids and splendid blooms welcome you to Hampton Court

There are some really zany and quirky touches to Hampton Court this year, not the least of which is Anthony Samuleson's The Past is another Country (pictured left).

Anthony, who made a lot of friends and created a lot of attention at Chelsea with his found objects garden, has planted up a James Young two door Bentley and suspended it in the air. It's certainly different although I don't think I would have room for it in my garden but it does send out a strong environmental message that I have to hand to him.

And talking of environmental messages we were also surprised to find a skip - it's amazing what you can use as a host for plants these days - showing us how we can achieve a Wildlife Garden in a Skip (Bronze). The London Wildlife Trust & The Royal Parks teamed up to create a sustainable garden (pictured below) using plants with a low water requirement with plants mostly salvaged from the Chelsea Flower Show. Designed by Ruth Holmes of the Royal Parks, this really is a lively and fun exhibit with a serious message – and not a hard hat in sight!

A special feature of Hampton Court is always the water gardens and this year it's View Across the Water designed by Simon Harman for Lilies Water Gardens, which wins the Tudor Rose and Gold for Best Water Garden. (pictured below)

This design is really a master class in perspective – a garden located on the edge of a small lake, with tiny hills in the distance complete with trees all to scale and size. A little jetty just out into the lake and then we are brought to the foreground with marginal plants, shrubs and a range of dry and moisture-loving plants. By using dwarf conifers the whole scale has been completed to perfection – a lovely peaceful and natural water garden.

The sound of a steel band draws me towards the Floral Marquees and suddenly my senses are aroused with the scents of thousands of beautiful and perfectly cultivated flowers and plants. It is really amazing how inventive and creative exhibitors in the Floral Marquee can be. One of my favourites is Farmyard Nurseries (Gold) who have created a lovely exhibit with ferns, astilbes and hostas all intertwined with wood and moss. (pictured below)

The Tudor Rose Award and Gold goes to Jekka's Herb Farm, once again a worthy winner of this prestigious award. The Most Creative Floral Marquee Exhibit is awarded to South West Carnivorous Plants.

If you love orchids then this is the place to be with a stunning display by Vacherot & Lecoufle (Gold) (pictured below), always a highlight – ah where to turn next. You are assaulted on every side by colour, perfect form and that picky kind of dedication which in turn produces such stunning exhibits.

The Festival of Roses Marquee is next on my hit-list and I am excited to see so many new roses, including the Rose of the Year 2008, which Sweet Haze, bred by Rosen Tantau and introduced by Pococks and Eurosa.

My favourites include You are my Sunshine, brought by Fryers, the sales from which will aid the North West Air Ambulance - a bright golden-yellow Hybrid Tea rose with beautiful form. Hope and Glory, introduced by the Cornish Rose Company and Eurosa for the England Rugby Union Team, will stun with its dark red and healthy free flowering blooms.

Hey, the sun is out and briefly we enjoy its warm rays and take the opportunity to go round once again to catch up on what we might have missed. There is so much to see at Hampton and the added delight of that wonderful backdrop to entertain you – what more could you want?