The Festival of Flowers at Leeds Castle
The state rooms of Leeds Castle burst into bloom this week for the Festival of Flowers, which takes place each autumn. This year’s theme is “A Queen’s Castle” to celebrate the castle’s association with six Queens of England.
The official opening took place on Saturday 24 September, hosted by English garden designer and television personality Joe Swift, with a guest talk at 3.30pm.
During the Festival of Flowers, head florist Louise Roots oversees the creative entries from award-winning floral designers from all over the world and hosts a series of demonstrations.
Specialist lectures include “Symbolism in Flower Arranging from Ancient Egypt to Modern Wedding Bouquets” on 26, 27 and 28 September and “Lady Baillie’s Love of Flowers: Tales from the 1930s” on 27 September. Tours of the formal gardens with the castle gardening team will also take place throughout the event, which runs until 28 September.
For more on Leeds Castle, including your chance to win an overnight stay in the 16th-century Maiden’s Tower, see the October/November 2016 issue of Discover Britain.