Believe it or not, this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is just a couple of weeks away Tuesday 20 May to Saturday 24 May, when for the 85th year it will again be held at the showground in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in London, UK. Parking in the area is virtually non-existant and in any case, the show is located within the London congestion zone, so you have to pay a fee to enter the area in a car. For years, visitors to the show have been advised to travel by public transport, there is an underground station only a few minutes walk from the entrance to the show, and this is really the only way to get there, unless of course you are one of those visitors lucky enough to afford to arrive by helicopter or chauffeur driven car.
Now if you feel lucky, the RHS is running a competition that gives green gardeners the chance to win a pair of tickets on Thursday 22 May, for the 2008 Flower Show, together with a personal tour round the show with Show Manager, Alex Baulkwill.
To enter the competition, simply visit the Chelsea website and tell the organisers your best, eco-friendly, green gardening tip.
A 'thank you' gift, made 60 years ago, from the Netherlands to Ottawa, Canada, of 100,000 tulip bulbs, was used to start the Canadian Tulip Festival. The festival has since grown into a kaleidoscope of color, with more than three million tulips decorating Canada's Capital each spring.
Reckoned to be the largest Tulip Festival in the world, all events are free and it is described as the 'festival without fences'. Canadian Tulip Festival May 2 to 19, 2008.
It might be long dark nights and falling leaves in the north but the southern hemisphere is celebrating the coming of spring. In one annual celebration, Canberra's Commonwealth Park is transformed into a tapestry of colour with more than a million bulbs and annuals in bloom at a free, month long, festival, the Floriade, which is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Yes, it goes under the same name as the famous Netherland's festival but this Floriade occurs every year; the next Netherland's Floriade occurs in 2012.
This year's Australian Floriade runs until 14 October, 2007, and visitors are able to wander around flower beds inspired by an Australian icons, myths and legends theme and enjoy good old Aussie entertainment, food and much more. During the month-long Floriade festival there is always plenty of activity at Canberra's most popular tourist attractions. Kids are entertained throughout Floriade with children's arts, crafts and activities, and loads of extra entertainment every day of the school holidays. Floriade and the spring school holidays is a busy time in Canberra, so it is best to book accommodation early. Tourist information and accommodation advice can be found at visitcanberra.com.au.
It might be long dark nights and falling leaves in the north but the southern hemisphere is celebrating the coming of spring. In one annual celebration, Canberra's Commonwealth Park is transformed into a tapestry of colour with more than a million bulbs and annuals in bloom at a free, month long, festival, the 
