Floral tribute to literature

Harrogate International Festivals' 50th anniversary and significant literary landmarks are being celebrated in a special flower bed in the town's Valley Gardens.

Over 11,000 plants have been used to create the flower bed, the centrepiece of which is a giant ‘50’ to mark the number of years that the event has been bringing world class acts to the town.

The flower bed also depicts four open books, each featuring the initials of four literary giants who have special anniversaries this year: Charlotte Brontë (2016 is the 200th anniversary of her birth), Beatrix Potter (150 years), Roald Dahl (100 years) and William Shakespeare, who died 400 years ago.

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Harrogate Borough Council’s Horticultural Officer Sue Wood said: “We work extremely hard to ensure that the district’s parks and gardens look as beautiful as they possibly can.

Every year we try and find a topical anniversary or celebration to depict in the flowerbeds. 2016 is such a busy year for literary celebrations we decided to recognise them, along with the Harrogate International Festivals’ 50th anniversary, by putting them all together in one flower bed in Valley Gardens.”

The planting is made up mainly of red, pink and white begonias along with Echeverias and Pyrethrum for the lettering. There is also an interpretation panel to explain the flowerbed to visitors.

Despite unseasonal weather the flower bed is thriving, much to the relief of the council’s team who planted the bed in four days.