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Floral Pavilions
If you thought Chelsea was only about the gardens, then you are mistaken. Some of the best fun to be had is inside the marquees. Here nurseries, specialist societies, international displays let their imagination run. This year, in a display of modern style 'City Gardens' joined the rather kitsch collection of 'Sunflower Street' gardens.
Chelsea is timed well for roses and the rose nurseries are well represented. New introductions were there and many, many old favourites. David Austin Roses created a bower of roses surrounding a stone figure. Peter Beales Roses garden was entered under archways covered with bloom and scent.
Specialist societies put together incredible displays on a shoestring budget. The Alpine Society Garden depicted a woodland glade, and they took away a Gold Medal.
Tropical plants from hot and humid climates dazzled, Trinidad-Tobago and Jamacia both staged impressive exhibits. Kirstenbosch, the South African botanical garden was there with another amazing display. The exhibits from faraway places bring an exotic touch.
Garden centre heavy-weights Hillier and Nottcutts built full-scale gardens. Hillier's huge garden used Monet's garden as a theme - even including the lake. Blooms of Bressingham created a romantic, neglected garden that dazzled with verbascums and grasses.
Rainbows of irises, masses of peonies, brilliantly coloured poppies, huge clematis, perfect hostas, delicate acers, spring bulbs mingling with those of eary summer. In this world, everything is possible. And if you can grow it then it will be there.
There are the annual curiosities - splendid arrangements of vegetables larger than anything you can imagine, an old-style auricula theatre and more. The inspiration and skill of the exhibitors is boundless.
The Sunflower Street gardens are something of a disppointment. Elaborate and over-planted, their themes are implements with a rather heavy-hand. Horticultural wizardry to be sure, but would you want to take one home?
You may have heard that you can't buy plants at Chelsea, well that is only partly true. You can order and pay for them, and have them delivered - at the right time and without damage from the crowds at the show and on the tube on the way home. The marquees are the place to go, armed with pen and paper, and your credit card!
First page
Bring your notebook and credit card! |
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Chelsea perfect - Peter Beales Classic Roses
Hillier's lake
Masses of tulips from Blom's Bulbs
Fashionable aquilegias from Three Counties
Rainbows of irises from Kelaways
Tropical, exotic and colour from Trinidad-Tobago |
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