Float into the flower garden

Flowers are not the only exhibits turning heads at this year's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

This giant wooden light sculpture, designed to look like a crowning dandelion, both bemused and amused 81-year-old Rose Cross who travelled from Kingston to visit the show - now in its 12th year.

She even came back for a second look but decided not to fork out the £1,360 asking price.

The extraordinary piece of work, called a Seed/Flower Headlight and designed by Nicola White, is made of pine that has been burnt and wirebrushed while the "flower" was created out of nylon wires which light up.

Gayle Symons, of the Vivid Space Design stand where the sculpture was on show, said: "It is a complete one-off, and based on a dandelion plant, but people can ask for any flower head to be put on top. People seem fascinated by it but no one as yet has decided to take this exhibit home."

Among the more conventional garden exhibits on show, one stands out in particular. Hammersmith and Fulham council's highways and maintenance staff won themselves a silver award by designing a typical small London garden which they called At The End of The Day.

The miserable weather and heavy rain have not deterred thousands of people scrambling to get tickets for the show, considered to be a jewel in the Royal Horticultural Society's crown of floral events and the largest and most spectacular annual flower show in the world.

It has become a fixture of the summer calendar along with Chelsea, Henley and Royal Ascot. Nearly 200,000 are expected through the gates.

More than 600 exhibitors have positioned themselves in the 25 acres of park at Hampton Court Palace which have been transformed for the show. There are six floral marquees, including the British Rose Festival which has been themed to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Several new roses will be launched and tomorrow HRH Princess Alexandra will be presented with a new rose bred by Peter Beales Roses for Alexandra Rose Day, called Rose Ball.

The show runs until Sunday, July 7.

Tickets for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show are available from the Royal Horticultural Society on 020 7649 1885.
Hampton Court Palace is open from 9.30am - until dusk Tuesday to Sunday and from 10.15am on Mondays. For more information call 0870 752 7777, or click HERE .