RHS Chelsea Flower show 2015
This week I visited RHS Chelsea Flower Show on press day ahead of the offical opening, you basically get to wander through the huge showground with members of the press, invited guests and celebrities (list to follow), curfew is 3.30pm when you are politely asked to leave ahead of HM The Queen’s visit signalling the start.
Now something I need to make clear is that although I am a florist I am no gardener! A common misconception of florists is that we are amazing gardeners, and some of course are, but gardening and floristry are cousins and most definitely very different disciplines, the connection clearly is a shared love of flowers, trees and foliages and Chelsea is without question the most incredible spectacle on a huge scale.
This blog is simply a photo diary of the bits and pieces that caught my eye and made me stop in my tracks, forgive me if I have not been able to identify everything, or I mistakenly name something!
The Show gardens
The M&G show garden was gorgeous rambling space with a stream running through the centre surrounded by gorgeous borders packed with Roses, Peonies, and Foxgloves alongside Birch trees, Acacias and Acer trees.
Rambling borders
Gorgeous colourful borders
The beautiful Sentebale – Hope in Vulnerability garden as championed by HRH Prince Harry, filled with bright orange borders, ferns, palms and giant succulents.
The garden retreat
Euphorbia
Agarve
The Telegraph garden was a refreshing alternative garden with really strong colour blocking throughout the space.
Purple!
Silk Grass with red Tulips
Summery yellow beds
The Beauty of Islam garden was a really beautiful garden creating a quiet, calm sanctuary using a mix of white marble pathways and sculptures with gorgeous grey foliages, palms and white flowering plants,
Wall of Olive
Marble retreat
The Time In-between garden was gorgeous and packed with lush flowers such as Iris, Allium, Protea, Palms, Ferns and Grasses.
Lush palms and ferns
Pinks and purples
Artisan Gardens
Follow the path to the end of the main avenue, take a left and you arrive at the gorgeous Artisan Gardens, always a favourite for visitors to Chelsea. Each garden is equally sized at around 20sqft, no more than an average domestic back garden, but not…obviously!
The Trug Workshop
The Old Forge
De no miwa – Edo Garden
A headstone from the Evaders Garden
OK lets go back to the main show ground and hit the Royal Pavillion not before we pass through the incredible hanging Summer meadow by Florist/Artist Rebeca Louise Law.
Hanging Summer meadow by Rebecca Louise Law
Pavillion
OK so the Pavillion is a HUGE marquee housing the most incredible flowers and plants from nurseries and growers throughout the UK and internationally, you name it and they are here in all their glory!
Allium
Blousey Begonias
Clematis wall
Gorgeous!
My absolute favourite stand was that of specialist Iris & Peonie grower Claire Austin. Much maligned as an old fashioned flower her bearded Iris are are just amazing in the most exquisite colours from vintage pink, lilac and peach to dramatic purple, aubergine and blue. I awarded her my Best in Show, for what its worth!
Parisian Dawn
Sweet Musete
I didn’t get the name of this one!!
There really is so much to see and take in, you could spend a whole day walking around the grounds and still not see everything. I hope you enjoyed my selection and it wet your appetite for a visit in 2016, a British institution and worth a visit for gardeners and their admirers alike.
Oh before I go, celebrity spots included; Piers Morgan, Joanna Lumley, Sir Ian McKellen, Fiona Fullerton! Will Young, Louise Minchin and John Craven!!!!
Love
Paul x
