IT’S May and it could be raining, but for gardeners amateur and professional, and for anyone who just wants an outdoor bargain, all roads will lead to Malvern’s Three Counties Showground next week, where for four days, the 70-acre showsite will play host to the Malvern Spring Gardening Show.

Co-organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) the event, which runs from Thursday, May 10, to Sunday, May 13, has grown from a small regional flower show 26 years ago into a televised international occasion.

Gardening stars from home and abroad will be there and about 100,000 visitors are expected.

“The Spring Gardening Show is the first of our three major events of the year and it’s the one where the weather matters the least,”

said show press and PR manager Sharon Gilbert.

“Gardeners don’t mind a drop of rain and they always come well prepared. There will be no better place to gain inspiration for your garden with fantastic features, sights, smells and colours greeting you on every corner.

“Visitors will be able to savour the colour and scent of thousands of blooms from Britain’s top nurseries and enjoy free advice from hundreds of friendly experts.”

Once again, the centrepiece of the show is the stunning RHS Malvern floral marquee, where more than 100 of the UK’s top growers and horticulturalists will be exhibiting and which always provides an amazing backdrop to the televised broadcast by Gardeners’ World, which next week will be on Friday, May 11, at 8.30pm.

Another of the highlights is the inspirational show gardens section, where the 2012 exhibits include an interactive water garden, a peaceful public space and a wildlife haven.

Another “must see” is the urban oasis designed by Chris Beardshaw in celebration of environmental regeneration charity Groundwork’s 30th birthday.

For those who fancy growing their own, there is the new allotment theatre, where experts Terry Walton and Reg Moule show you how.

Landscaping Live will be returning for its second year to offer advice and tips on how to landscape your garden yourself or how best to engage a professional to do it for you.

Superb entertainment will be on offer as always, including the Plants and People Arena, a highly visual take on the show’s popular theatre with spectacular artwork themed around the topic “living landscape”.

The crowds can also keep their eyes peeled for a host of favourite celebrity gardeners including Chris Beardshaw (on Thursday and Friday), Carol Klein (on Friday and Saturday), and Joe Swift (appearing on Saturday).

In addition to the gardening attractions, there will be hundreds of trade stands selling everything from a dibber to a rideon rotovator and clothing for all weather eventualities.

On-the-gate adult admission ranges from £17.50 each on Saturday and Sunday to £21 on Friday and £37.50 for the special preview day on Thursday, May 10.