After a picking and watering session this morning, I had a lovely afternoon at the Hampton Court Flower show Press day.

Hot, Hot, Hot is going to be the theme for the week at the largest of the RHS annual shows, - and it was appropriate that I was mainly looking for high summer flowers.

Last year, I noticed that Orange was much in evidence, and that colour theme has contined this year, - with the oranges being mixed in with almost every other colour palatte.

The Rose of the year for 2014, is also a peachy orange, Called Lady Marmelade, but i'm not sure with those wicked thorny stems it will be used for a cut flower. Lady of Shalot was another peachy orange Rose that was featured in several places.

My Mum had sent me photos from her garden of a similar Rudbeckia to the Cherokee Sunset below. It does start flowering now, if you can get it to overwinter.

The Allium (Passion), Sweet peas and Alstroemerias will all be on my shopping list for this Autumn.

It may be because I'm working more with Cut flowers now than last year, but I spotted Annuals, and cutting Biennials and Perennials everywhere in the Show gardens.

Achillea and Eryngiums are often on show at Hampton Court, - but I havn't seen Cerinthe used before, - like in the sunken garden, landscaped by local firm Bushy Business.

The Low cost Category was back again this year, and the gardens were again great, - in fact almost indistinguishable from the other "Summer " gardens.

I'm back at the show tomorrow, but with friends and my son, so it will be very interesting to look at things from other people's viewpoints.