MATT CLARK went to see the final preparations for The Harrogate Spring Flower Show which opens today, and discovered a world premiere for a daffodil, a giant spade and acres of longed-for colour.

IT’S an almost-forgotten fragrance after the eternity of winter, but the scent of sweet peas lingers in the fresh morning air as Hall 1 is transformed into an explosion of colour for the Harrogate Spring Flower Show.

This year’s theme is musicals and in the corner Lorraine Hart is putting the final touches to Bollywood, her display of lilies. Sunlight streams through the glass roof and catches a delicate myriad of salmon pinks, pale creams and verdant greens, while in pride of place is the invigorating and dramatic stargazer lily which assaults the senses with its giddy perfume.

The event at the Great Yorkshire Showground is always welcome, but with late daffodils and still bare trees it will open today as a blessed relief; a hopeful sign of better weather to come.

And more than 50,000 ardent gardeners are expected to pass through the turnstiles on a mission to discover the latest horticultural trends in this the 83rd year of the show, which continues until Sunday.

So what else can we expect to see?

Well, if a near-endless fusillade of pristine auriculas, tulips and pelargoniums isn’t enough, you can witness for the first time the new Triandrus Daffodil, which has five flowers on each stem. It has been grown by Ivor Fox, of Miniature Bulbs, in Knaresborough, and is called Abbey Road, after the famous studio.

Then there is the world’s biggest spade, made by Bulldog tools to celebrate 230 years of British tool manufacturing, and be sure to visit the popular Innovative Display, where exhibitors are encouraged to be more adventurous in their displays. This year’s theme is called It’s Show Time.

Budding vegetable and herb growers will want to attend some of the Kitchen Garden Live demonstrations, which are aimed at those who already grow their own fruit and veg but want to learn more, as well as beginners who want to have a go, but aren’t sure how to start.

The challenge at this year’s College Garden Design Competition is to build a garden for a BBC Celebrity and Askham Bryan College has to impress Look North presenter and York resident Harry Gration.

The show is not oly about horticulture and deliciouslyorkshire is hosting a food market with 25 regional food producers, including Knaresborough-based Robinson’s Pork Butchers who have teamed up with The Chilli Jam Man to create The Chilli Jam Pork Pie. Be warned, though, it is made from the world’s hottest peppers.

York will be represented by Langlands Nurseries who make homemade loaves and cakes, Voakes pies with their award-winning pork pies and York Speciality, who make traditional luxury preserves.

And if you fancy a tipple, head off to the Raisthorpe Manor Fine Foods stall to sample liqueurs or Sloe Motion for a nip of sloe gin or brandy.

But you know, the simple pleasures are often best and with a promising weather forecast, the show offers a chance to remind ourselves of those heady, intoxicating aromas of summer. It’s just what we need.

• The Harrogate Spring Flower Show is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm on Thursday Friday and Saturday, 9.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. Tickets are available every day priced £14 (£12 on Sunday) and under-16s go free. Students with ID cards pay £6. Courtesy buses will run throughout the show to and from car and coach parks to the main entrance. The last bus departs at 6pm. (5pm on Sunday)