Posted on 17th Jun 2009 @ 5:52 PM

The BBC Gardening Live Expo is held annually over 6 days at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. This event is coupled with the BBC Food Show, and together they attract huge crowds to the aircraft-hanger-like site. Various well known TV personalities are on hand to give sessions on their pet topics and sign books. The exhibitors in the gardening section cover the usual range of inovative gardening tools and equipment together with the many that are unrelated to gardening/food but take advantage of the huge crowds.

The floral displays are really spectacular and cover the range from insectiverous plants to roses and vegetables. There were a number of not-for-profit groups promoting backyard and organic gardening and this is very much an expanding area in response to concerns about the origins and high cost of commercial crops.

Franch Sementi was represented by UK distributor Paolo Arrigo from Seeds of Italy. In addition to the great range of seed that I carry, Paolo was selling asparagus crowns and a delightful range of vegetable soaps from Franchi. These soaps, some of which are mildly abrasive for gardeners hands, are made in Milan and subtly perfumed with almond, green apple, blood orange etc, etc. They will be included in the Italian Gardener range of products as soon as possible, so watch this space.