A Nation in Bloom: Celebrating the People, Plants and Places of the Royal Horticultural Society

**With a foreword by Alan Titchmarsh, this beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the Royal Horticultural Society, the perhaps the foremost gardening institution in the world.** The RHS is the **world's largest gardening charity** but what it does and why is little understood and rarely celebrated. From defining new gardening trends at the **Chelsea Flower Show,** to ranking the best dahlias to grow at the Wisley trial grounds, to inspiring communities with **Britain in Bloom,** educating children to grow and eat their veg through the **Campaign for School Gardening**, the **RHS works tirelessly to improve the gardener's lot.** With the use of **evocative archive images** and **contemporary photos by award-winning Jason Ingram**, this beautiful book explores the **past, present and future of this most influential organisation** by listening to the voices of those working today. Gardening expert and regular *Gardener's Question Time* panellist **Matthew Biggs** tells this story in **rich and intimate detail,** from the society's origins at the start of the 19th Century right through to the present day, with **fascinating insight into the evolution and operations of the RHS throughout the years.** From the **thousands of volunteers** in the society's five unique gardens (Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex, Harlow Carr in Yorkshire and new addition Bridgewater in Salford), to the **one million visitors to its inspirational flower shows** (including Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park, Cardiff, Wisley and Chatsworth); the society gives meaning to more than 475,000 members, millions of television viewers and visitors from around the world. The RHS is the **best of gardening,** and this book presents the **best of the RHS**. Behind the scenes, access all areas, **this book will give lasting pleasure to anyone who enjoys their garden.**