Visitor Boom to See Orchids in Bloom

Up to 6000 people are expected to attend Glasgow's 20th annual Orchid Fair this weekend. (Saturday May 6 and Sunday May 7)

Celebrating all things orchid, the free event will take place in the Kibble Palace glasshouse at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens. Doors open from 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am - 5pm on Sunday.

Specialist orchid nurseries will display and sell exquisite orchid plants in flower and offer advice on how to keep them looking gorgeous.

Nine Orchid Societies from around the UK will attend this year's event where they will display plants and other growing materials such as orchid composts, pots, labels and other accessories.

In addition to the orchids, the Glasgow Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society will exhibit a range of plants to admire and purchase.

General manager of Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Ewen Donaldson, said: "This is always a really popular event with the public who love to see the gorgeous plants. Orchids have a reputation of being difficult to care for but if you learn a few tricks of the trade, even a beginner should be able to keep them looking good."

The event will be held as part of the Botanic Gardens Bicentenary celebrations, to mark 200 years since they opened.

During that time the Gardens have provided the people of Glasgow and the wider world with a prized scientific, educational and leisure resource.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens have also been shortlisted for the Horticulture Week Custodian Awards 2017, alongside the Tollcross Rose Trials team and Seven Lochs Wetland Park.

The awards celebrate the best of parks, gardens and tree management.

Kate Lowe, Horticulture Week editor, said: "Our entries this year prove once again that the best sites in our parks, gardens and tree-care sectors are brimming with talent, commitment and outstanding achievement. Our judges' task to choose the finalists and winners from such a large and high-quality pool of entries was tougher than ever."