Visit to Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Ann Kelly|20:39 UK time, Friday, 10 July 2009

I'm writing this with my feet still aching from a day spent wandering around miles of flowers, trees, ferns, show gardens, food stalls, statues, fountains, and of course veg at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Alongside the prize dahlias and venus flytraps there was plenty for people growing their own to look at too. In fact, using your garden to grow food seemed quite the trendy thing - even Boris Johnson was there looking interested in tomatoes. Here's my snaps of a few of the highlights.

Here's a pic of part of the "allotment" on display at the show - look at those perfect carrots and beetroot!

Some very sweet fluffy-footed chickens on display in the allotment section. A great addition if you've got the time and the space - free eggs, and they make a lovely noise.

A colourful display of fruit and vegetables - who says flowers are the prettiest things in the garden?

Possibly one of the strangest displays at the show - The Garlic Farm's arrangement of garlic bulbs and flowers.

Here's an idea if you find yourself with too many lettuces or carrots. Make them into soap. Yes, that is carrot and lettuce soap in the picture.

And finally, this isn't a vegetable, but I had to share this pic. It's a Bat Flower, and I can assure you that it isn't a fake - I touched it to check for myself. This has to be the weirdest plant I've ever seen.

Did anyone else go along, or has anything at any other show caught your imagination? Share your thoughts with us by adding a comment.

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Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - check out his website for details. He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with BBC Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at Capel Manor College, Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the BBC Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

Peter Horrocks has an allotment in Newcastle. He's the regional rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners in the North of England & Scotland, the secretary of the Newcastle Allotments Working Group. Plus, Peter is secretary of a ten-acre allotments site in Newcastle, considered by many to be one of the best in the city.

Ben Raskin is an advisor with the Soil Association, as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.