CHELSEA.. yay!

I am counting down to Chelsea coverage! Have put it on sky planner to watch as soon as kids go to bed.

I cannot wait!!!

 

I was there on Thursday Victoria, helping on "The Unexpected Gardener" garden, sponsored by the charity Thrive www.thrive.org.uk. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to find when I walked round that threats of doom and gloom and fewer exhibits had not materialised and it promises to be an exciting and full show, with lots of innovation and brilliant planting.

I'll be up there again as a punter, courtesy of the RHS, next Thursday which I'm really looking forward to.

Chris

 

I loved your garden last year Chris. It was our favourite, and when I looked at your link and discovered it was yours I nearly became a 'groupy!'

I absolutely love Chelsea, but have never been. I will be avidly watching this week.

 

Yes it's Chelsea time again
I kind of love it on TV.
We had an hour tonight with Alan,Joe and that other woman.....Just a nice taster.
It's on TV EVERY day this week and I am gona watch as much as I can .....I know it's dream land but why not see what could be done if money no object.....:gnthb:

 

Dont wish to detract from the Chelsea show, and I guess I shouldn't comment as I 've never been.
But what I have seen on TV over the years is what you say Roders, a fantasy land, most of those set piece gardens are totally inpractical.
Its not really just a matter of money.

I dont doubt that a very lot of hard work goes into producing them but it would be nice if the whole thing was to come back down to earth, and to the nitty gritty of gardening, rather than lots of plants all flowering together, out of season, and on a 45 degree bank that would wash away in the first winter.(just an example).

I guess if an exhibitor was to come up with something actually do able and practical, they would not get a second glance.

A real shame.

 

Oh Pete! Maybe some of the more cutting edge gardens are rather impractical but having done three now and been intimately involved with the show, I can assure you that the majority are based on good gardening practice. Yes, the plants tend to be more crowded than you'd put them for a normal long term garden, but that's so they provide impact. Also, we need visionary gardeners to show the rest of us mere mortals what is possible and how to be more adventurous. I love it!:thumb:

Chris

 

Yeah Ok Chris I'm sure you spend a good deal of time sorting it all out.
And do a good job.

I was not trying to offend, its just my personal point of view.

I gave up membership of the RHS this year after probably nearly 20 yrs, I just get the feeling they are out of touch with the real world.
Almost like Disney land.:D

 

To be honest it is the sheer indulgence of Chelsea that appeals to me.

I make a lot of things myself for the garden, like bird feeder poles and obelisks etc, and although I love that because not only is it cheap, to me it looks wonderful too, I would love to imagine what I could do if money was no object. I wouldn't want it all the time, but just for one week of the year - I like to watch the extremes of design and cost.

I love to see the slightly ridiculous stuff too... not only to jeer at the awful ones and say 'Oh God, I hate that!' but also because someone else has taken the risk and gone with it. All I have to do is take away with me ideas that I can adapt and use in some small way.

Besides, the showy gardens are just one element of Chelsea. The other are the amazing and new specimens of plants, learning about some of the well established nurseries etc at the top of their game, and also finding out which celebrities are into gardening and what they like! Sometimes it is so amusing too. Watching Rod Stewart coolly padding around in his shades and spikey hair... suddenly seeing him at Chelsea he looks quite ridiculous, his whole image sitting very uncomfortably beside the begonias and delphiniums in the main stand. Hee hee.

I just love the whole thing. Apart from that weird blonde woman they wheel out to join the presenter each year!?

 

I guess Chelsea could be compared to Haute Couture in fashion - brilliant to look at, stunningly beautiful and impractical most of the time...but it gives us something to dream and aspire to, which is no bad thing

I prefer Hampton Court Flower Show though

 

oooh what channel is it on?

 

Just seen on the RHS website that the garden I worked on http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/...w/2010/Gardens/A-to-Z/The-Unexpected-Gardener has got Gold! Nothing to do with me, just a very good piece of design and execution. Really looking forward to seing it on Thursday.

Chris

 

I was just going to post that up Chris - how brilliant!

Did the beautiful MandG cottage style garden do anything - with the lovely rippling pond? I can't see it on any of the awards lists - surely it can't have been snubbed?!

Edit.. phew - it got a gold. The result didn't come up for ages!

 

Well done Andy Sturgeon,BEST IN SHOW,not my favourite but good luck to him after his terrible tragedy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/chelsea/show-gardens/index.shtml


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardenin...n-overcomes-tragedy-to-win-for-Telegraph.html