Anyone going to Chelsea this year?

and for unbearable so called celebrities with even less knowledge about plants than we have about them .

 

I visited with my Mum in (I think) 1985 or thereabouts. The Marquee was still made out of canvas, that much I do know !
I'm sure there was one of the last "rock gardens" as a show one which has stuck in my mind. I don't recall it being overly crowded, there were times when we had to wait to see the show gardens and the Floral Marquee was naturally amazing.

Since then I've been to many shows, Malvern, GW Live, Tatton, Chatsworth and the Amateur Gardening show at Shepton Mallet among others. The thing that sets these apart from Chelsea is the opportunity to buy plants, which as a gardener is basically what I want to do .

I was very interested to read @Tinkerton 's link to the article about Tayshan Hayden-Smith. I had a look at his Instagram page and there was an interesting comment from Sue Kent, who became an RHS ambassador at the same time. She has put various suggestions to the RHS which in her words "have disappeared into the ether".
She is taking the long view and treating the RHS as a massive ship that can only be turned slowly (or words to that effect).

If I'm honest I wonder how much longer Chelsea can continue, at least in its present form. I assume the nurseries, designers, sponsors and those who contribute financially in various ways will more than make up for the upheaval etc. over several weeks.

And please don't get me started on the "I'm a very keen gardener" celebrities who, bar a few exceptions, wouldn't know one end of a spade from the other.

PS I honestly hope you have a lovely time @Allotment Boy . Look forward to hearing your feedback .

 

@AnniD , it was @Tidemark who posted the Guardian article about Tayshan Heyden-Smith, which I must say is well worth reading.

 

Too expensive and too crowded for me. I've set my freeview box to record the TV coverage, so I'll have a better view of the gardens and fast-forward through the dull celebrity segments.

 

Apologies @Tinkerton

 

We went several times years ago when Dermot Gavin was flavour of the month.
It is shear showbusiness,money no object ,sponsors are queuing up to throw money at it.
I love to watch it on Tv now ,it entertains me ,anything about plants is good for me.
I am glad I have been ,but don’t hanker to go again.
I think it’s the Monty Don show this year

 

It's not something I'd want to go to but I know others that love it. My folkes went a few years back and they still moan about the cost of a programme (think it was like 40 quid). I get that it's a bit pageantry, I'm fine with that, but I've never felt the strange structures do anything to help most gardens and the only ones I briefly saw last night, looked like they should be Mediterranean gardens, rather than British.
It would be interesting to know how much the gardens cost and a budget cap to level the playing field would be nice. The coverage is very repetitive and never focuses enough on the plants.

I sincerely hope whoever goes enjoys it but I'd rather walk around the plant nurseries that supply the gardens there.

 

I first visited Chelsea when I worked for Rochfords House Plants in Herts. in 1969 - a member of the team representing the company on their show stand. I next went as a visitor a few years later but those 2 occasions are my only personal experiences.
Seen a few of the shows on TV over the years but find they have little of practical interest especially once the "designers" became the be all and end all. Some of the gardens seemed to include everything except Tracy Emit's famous bed

 

My favourite parts of the TV coverage are the segments in the marquee looking at the plants (preferably presented by Carol Klein but I don't know whether she's doing it this year).

 

Just saw this in the Guardian. I can’t see it working round here. I’d be laughed out of town.

 

Says it all really.

 

It seems to have become beyond a joke, doesn't it?

 

Not mushroom for one of those in my garden.