Former US president Bill Clinton's famous aphorism - "It's the economy, stupid" - applies to horticulture as to everyone else. Voters and hence politicians are basically interested in money in their pockets. When the economy does well, money is spent and life is happy. A struggling economy means little...
Streams of avid gardeners left the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show laden with plants. Is there a better advertisement for British horticulture? Yes - these self-same gardeners returning for more in 2012.
There are smiles all round at the garden centres.
Rapidly and recently British shoppers are demanding local production and servicing.