Gardening Scotland to draw crowds to Ingliston

More than 32,000 plant lovers are to descend on a huge garden show on the outskirts of Edinburgh at the weekend.

A record £1m worth of plants are expected to be sold at Gardening Scotland 2010, which is being held at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.

A sparkly dress worn by singer turned gardener Kim Wilde is one of several items donated by celebrities that are being worn by scarecrows before being auctioned at the event.

The show opened on Friday and will end on Sunday.

Other attractions include 20 show gardens, the Dobbies floral hall filled with thousands of flowers and the Living Garden, with experts and information on the international year of biodiversity.

Schools from across Scotland will be competing to create the best mini-plot in the Pallet Garden Challenge while Scotland's top TV gardeners will be giving out advice in the BBC Scotland Beechgrove Theatre.

There will also be a huge pond and a family-fun area, and a storytelling Yurt for children and lots of garden games, including welly throwing contests organised by the ActiveSchools campaign.

STV gardener Pete Jackson will be swapping The Hour for The Earthy Green Garden where he will be giving visitors advice and ideas on recycling.

New this year is the Grow Your Own Mini Top, to encourage visitors to make the most of fresh, local produce.

There will also be a food fayre, a craft marquee and a full programme of workshops on everything from creating bonsai trees to making hanging baskets.