As I mentioned in my previous post, my lovely stepsister, Erica, recently attended the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show in London. She is always jetting off to Paris for a shopping spree or going on Safari, so it’s fun to live vicariously through her. But because I am such a flower fan, I was particularly interested in her trip to the Chelsea Flower Show. Knowing this, she and my Master Gardener stepmother, Cathy, graciously agreed to share their gorgeous photos on my blog. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to both Erica and Cathy. Through their pictures, they have made it possible for all of us to be armchair travelers to this spectacular event.
The Chelsea Flower Show
The Chelsea Flower Show has been going on in one form or other from the beginning of the 19th century to the present. It is the most famous and well-known horticultural event in the world. Initial versions of the flower show occurred during the 1820’s as an event for nurserymen and the head gardeners of grand British estates. However, the first official Royal Horticulture Society Flower Show or the “Great Spring Show,” as it was called, took place in Kensington Garden in 1862. In 1913, the event was moved to the Royal Hospital grounds in Chelsea where it has been held every year since, except for a few times between World War I and II.
Royal Hospital Grounds before the show (Photo Credit: Erica)The London entrance gate to the Chelsea Flower Show was decorated with an installation entitled “Tree Of Life” by floral designer, Kitten Grayson. The display was created in honor of the royal wedding and the plants and flowers that were included all have some significance to the prince and his bride. (Photo Credit: Erica)
The centerpiece of the Chelsea Flower Show is the Great Pavilion. Inside the massive space ( almost 3 acres in size), some one hundred exhibitors from all over the world displayed an astonishing array of flowers and plants.
The Great Pavilion
Floral pavement and flower market display (Photo Credit: Erica)Aisles Of Alliums! (Photo Credit: Erica)Dendrobium thyrsiflorum is an unusual orchid, native to the Himalayas, that looks surprisingly like a bunch of daffodils. (Photo Credit: Erica)Peacock floral display (Photo Credit: Cathy)Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony (Photo Credit: Cathy)Moonrise Peony (Cathy)(Photo Credit: Erica)Rose Arbor (Photo Credit: Erica)Roses galore! (Photo Credit: Cathy)These huge “Emily-Brontë’” roses are one of the many new roses launched at the Chelsea Flower Show. (Photo Credit: Erica)Who knew there were so many different varieties of Clematis? (Cathy)(Photo Credit: Erica)Clematis Temptation (Photo Credit: Erica)Hillier and STIHL Inspiration garden (Photo Credit: Erica)A Bonanza of Bonsais (Cathy)A Solar system of Chrysanthemum balls with a rotating Planet Earth. (Photo Credit: Cathy)An Exhibit to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the occasion when the people of the Carribean heeded the call for help and in 1948 and came over on the Empire Windrush, passenger-ship bringing to rebuild England after WWII. This huge display won a gold medal. (Photo Credit: Cathy)Tropical plants on display including, Birds Of Paradise, Ginger, and Anthurium to name a few (Photo Credit: Cathy)Alpinia Purpurata or Ginger “Eileen MacDonald” and Heliconia Chartacea “Sexy Pink” (Photo Credit: Cathy)Solanum mammosum, commonly known as” Nipple Fruit,” is an inedible Pan American tropical fruit. (Photo credit: Cathy)Proteas (Photo Credit: Cathy)A Colorful collection of Lupines including “Desert Sun,” “Beefeater, ” ” Gladiator.” (Photo Credit: Cathy)Hellebores or “Lenten Rose” (Photo Credit: Erica)Fringed bi-color tulips (Photo Credit: Cathy)The yellow and white daisy-looking flowers are actually a type of Dahlia called Honka Fragile. (Photo credit: Cathy)Dazzling Dahlia Lubega Power Tricolor (Photo Credit: Erica)
Trade Stands
A Pair of 20-foot high horses sculpted out of driftwood by Artist Heather Jansch.A Two-story Fairy Tale Treehouse which is equipped with a super fun slide, designed by Blue Forest Bespoke Treehouses,
Show Gardens
The Show Gardens are the largest and most prestigious installations, designed to showcase the best in garden design.
Trailfinders: A South African Wine Estate, designed by Jonathan Snow features a Dutch Cape homestead surrounded by a lovely cottage garden filled with Foxgloves, Alliums, Roses. (Photo Credit: Erica)Beyond the cottage garden of the Wine Estate, the designer, Snow created a fynbos which is an evergreen, hard-leaved Mediterranean type shrubland that occurs in nutrient-poor soils of the West African Cape. (Photo Credit: Cathy)A bicolored Rhododendron Fantastica beautifully blooms in the peaceful Morgan Stanley Garden designed by Chris Beardshaw. The garden won a Gold Medal and Best In Show. (Photo Credit: Erica)The Morgan Stanley Garden was created to bring awareness to the NSPCC, the UK’s largest children’s charity. The Pavillion provides a tranquil space to view the woodland garden. (Photo Credit)
Space To Grow Gardens
“Skin Deep” is a conceptual garden designed by Robert BarkerThe New West End Garden designed by Kate Gould is a communal garden filled with plants chosen for their beauty as well as their ability to absorb pollutants. (Photo Credit: Erica)The Urban Flow Garden, designed by Tony Woods received a gold medal and Best In Show for the Room To Grow Gardens. Euphorbia, Lupins, Salvia and Iris provide a colorful contrast to the metal arches.The Pearl Fisher Garden celebrates the largest garden under the world’s oceans. The design strives to bring attention to the problem of plastic pollution.Sculpture of a pearl fisher diving into a sea of plastic bottles on top of the Pearl Fisher Garden.
You wouldn’t believe it from the number of fabulous shots they got but, due to inclement weather and massive crowds, Erica and Cathy were limited in their ability to photograph all of the 10 show gardens, seven artisan gardens and eight “space to grow” gardens. Their advice to others like me who have the Chelsea Flower Show on their bucket list is to arrive early when the gates open at 8:00 am. It might even be worth it to purchase a Royal Horticulture Society membership so that you have access to their exclusive members-only days. Also, keep in mind that it’s England, so be prepared for rain and bring a rain poncho. If you would like to see the other designer gardens from this year’s show, you can check them out on the R.H.S. website.
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What a dream to attend the Chelsea Flower Show! As a simple gardener, the displays are beyond amazing! Thank you for sharing armchair flower therapy at Gardens Galore!
I think that the Chelsea Flower Show is a wonder because it shows that it is possible to create any environment we can imagine. Those garden designers take an empty plot and transform it into a homestead on the African veldt or a glen in the Scottish Highlands. It definitely makes me want to push the envelope in my own simple garden.
Oh how fabulous! What a treat for your family to be able to see this in person!
And how gracious they were to share it here on your blog! Thank you to them…
and…
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing it with all of us!
~Nancy
Oh my goodness! Got my flower fix!
Thank you Lisa. That was wonderful.
Deborah
You are very welcome. Flowers always make me happy too!
Of course i loved looking at these again.
Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks again for the pics!
Wow– how spectacular! I love the flowers but I think the driftwood horses might be my favorite. Thanks so much to you and your stepsister for sharing!
Thanks so much for commenting. I like the driftwood horses too. Apparently, they had other driftwood animals as well.
Unbelievable beauty and the driftwood horses! Amazing.
Thanks so much for commenting, Dianne. I really appreciate it!
This flower show is definitely on my bucket list! Thank you so much for sharing so I could enjoy since I could not be there.
Thanks, Bonnie. I am so glad you enjoyed the photos!
What a dream to attend the Chelsea Flower Show! As a simple gardener, the displays are beyond amazing! Thank you for sharing armchair flower therapy at Gardens Galore!
I think that the Chelsea Flower Show is a wonder because it shows that it is possible to create any environment we can imagine. Those garden designers take an empty plot and transform it into a homestead on the African veldt or a glen in the Scottish Highlands. It definitely makes me want to push the envelope in my own simple garden.
The variety of flowers and their display is amazing. Thanks for sharing this wonderful event.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Carol. I am so glad you enjoyed the pics of Chelsea Flower Show.
Hi Lisa, I will be featuring this post on Monday at Gardens Galore!
Thanks so much, Pam. I really appreciate the feature!
Thanks for sharing . This is on my Bucket listfor next year.
Thanks so much for commenting. I really appreciate it!
Oh how fabulous! What a treat for your family to be able to see this in person!
And how gracious they were to share it here on your blog! Thank you to them…
and…
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing it with all of us!
~Nancy
Absolutely gorgeous! This is already on my bucket list, especially the David Austin roses!
Thanks so much for commenting. I hope you get to go!