As Hitchin’s Harkness Roses prepares for the biggest flower show in the world, Philippa Pearson goes behind the scenes to find out what it takes to be a medal-winning exhibitor.
![Ready For Showtime](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/10290/219445/58f9a31e99fe7/Ready-for-Showtime.jpg)
HELD in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London since 1913, RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the world’s most prestigious plant show and Harkness Roses has exhibited there nearly every year since the event began. In the last 50 years, Harkness has won Gold more than 25 times.
The Harkness family has been breeding roses since 1879, moving to Hitchin from Yorkshire in the 1950s. In its early days, garden designer extraordinaire Gertrude Jekyll was a prominent customer and Harkness is renowned throughout the world for breeding reliable roses with outstanding flowering performance, good disease resistance and that are suitable for all types of garden requirements. Breeding roses is not for the faint-hearted though, it takes several years from selecting promising ‘parent’ plants to the production of a new rose, and the painstaking process involves many hurdles along the way. Chelsea is the main event in the gardening calendar for new plants to be launched, and this year Harkness is planning to introduce at least three roses at the show. But it’s not all about showing new plants, Harkness displays many of its varieties at Chelsea, creating a living catalogue of its flowers.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2017 من Hertfordshire Life.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2017 من Hertfordshire Life.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Explosive history
With bonfire night this month, author Harry Smee recounts the explosive story of his family’s firework company, Brock’s, creators of wonders and war-changing weapons
![A Day In The Life Of... A Jewellery Designer](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f9675971863e/crp_A-day-in-the-life-of-a-jewellery-designer.jpg)
A Day In The Life Of... A Jewellery Designer
Laurie McGrath, senior designer at Harriet Kelsall bespoke jewellery in Halls Green, gives an insight into her working day
![Sniffig out clues in THE ASHES](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f966c73d8038/crp_Sniffig-out-clues-in-THE-ASHES.jpg)
Sniffig out clues in THE ASHES
Meet the fire investigation dogs securing convictions against arsonists and murderers who otherwise may go free
![The greatest traveller](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f966a6aca407/crp_The-greatest-traveller.jpg)
The greatest traveller
Exploring ancient civilisations and rising powers, Violet CressyMarcks became the most travelled woman of her age. Fifty years after her death we look at her incredible life
Return of the Queen of Romance
Twenty years after the death of record-breaking novelist Dame Barbara Cartland, Gillian Thornton talks passions, plots and a new audience with her son at the family home in Essendon
![In bed with CELEBS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f965df3ef3fa/crp_In-bed-with-CELEBS.jpg)
In bed with CELEBS
Marking its 70th year, Welham Green soft furnishings company Ashley Wilde has grown from a pile-it-high, sell-it-cheap business into an industry leader with A-list partnerships
![Roam with a view](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f9667ab48628/crp_Roam-with-a-view.jpg)
Roam with a view
We may not have coastline or mountains, but Herts has beautiful views all the same, if you know where to look
![Saving Mrs Tiggy-Winkle](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f96707eb48f5/crp_Saving-Mrs-Tiggy-Winkle.jpg)
Saving Mrs Tiggy-Winkle
The secret life of a much-loved British mammal and simple steps we can take at home to stop its extinction
A walk down Surreal Street
Paul Crowley draws on his graphic designer’s eye to capture scenes from the country to the street, all tinged with surreality
![5 minutes with](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10290/539332/5f966e7112591/crp_5-minutes-with.jpg)
5 minutes with
Carole Spiers, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce member and founder of International Stress Awareness Week