– 2018/96 – RHS Chelsea Flower Show

There are certain ‘dates’ in the yearly event diary of this country that are so unmistakably English, so entrenched in the psyche and fabric of life of the people here that to miss them, or to ignore them is to really miss out on something that would help you to understand what it is like to be English, to live in England, to have friends who are English and to have married one.

Visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show had always been on top of my list of things ‘to try’ so when a friend of mine invited me to go with her I was super delighted.

I did my homework before I went, I watched the BBC programs, I knew to go wearing comfortable shoes, carrying an umbrella, be prepared for crowds and make sure to have a Pimm’s (or two) (or maybe even three…ahem…). Check, check, check and … check!

So, if you like flowers and gardens and have a few minutes to spare, come with me for a walk through the show…

The Chelsea Flower Show has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London every year since 1913, apart from gaps during the two World Wars. It is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society which was founded in 1804.

We were quite overwhelmed by the sheer number of people when we first entered, but that was because we’d gotten caught between the morning crowds leaving and the afternoon visitors, like us, entering … phew. Yes it was busy, but we had no problem seeing the gardens and the exhibitions at all once we got out of that mayhem…

The big thing at the Show are the Gardens… all designed by leading designers and new talents and whilst “displaying world class plantsmanship and design, many also explore solutions to some of today’s most pressing, social, economic and environmental challenges.” (from the guide). There are the big Show Gardens, the Artisan Garden and this year also a new category the Space to Grow Gardens.

Let me show you a few that I particularly liked:

M&G garden designed, Gold Medal winner, designed by Sarah Price.