I didn't have just one favourite garden, I had several:
Cleve West's M & G garden was inspired by Exmoor and had beautiful natural planting and water running through it,
the LG smart garden had delicious, romantic planting,
and I just loved the dark pinks and purples, highlighted with whites and greens, in the Husqvarna garden.
The Modern Apothecary garden, designed by Jekka McVicar was not only beautiful but was full of plants known to be beneficial for health and well-being,
There were also the 300,00 individually crocheted poppies in front of the Chelsea hospital, a tribute to those men and women who have served in all wars,
and the Modern Slavery garden designed by Juliet Sergeant was really poignant.
The grand marquee was full of all kinds of deliciousness, including a pullman train carriage taking visitors from London to Singapore, but my favourite exhibition was this one celebrating 90 years of allotments - I bought some heritage seeds.
My favourite artisan garden was the Papworth Trust's Together We Can garden as it included not just beautiful painting, against a very vivid purple, but sound and water too. It was designed by Peter Eustace, and Dame Evelyn Glennie worked with them as well as and I was lucky enough to see her perform in and with the garden.
My overall impressions of the show were of beautiful planting, lots of native plants and general prettiness. I took lots more photos, and a video of Dame Evelyn and if you want to see them they're on my flickr stream.
When I returned to Suffolk I found that this beauty had opened - Ruffled Patty.
She's a bit like Chelsea, beautiful but short lived! I can't wait to go again, who's coming with me?!
I'd bit up for joining you at Chelsea next year - we'll have to jump in earlier and grab tickets!
ReplyDeleteFrom memory the TV only covers a tiny proportion of what's there.
It looks fantastic, I especially like the allotment exhibition. This is the first year that I haven't caught anything of Chelsea on TV, I'm usually glued to the coverage but with a lack of gardening mojo mixed with general busyness, I haven't even caught a glimpse so it was interesting to read your post.
ReplyDeleteYou lucky thing! I agree with your favourites especially the Exmoor theme. The blue/purple planting was lovely. We brought a yellow bronze Iris this week inspired by one in the extensive Chelsea coverage!
ReplyDeleteSu, I really enjoyed these Chelsea photographs that you've shared with us. My only visit to the show was sometime back in the last century and it was quite a treat. I arrived early in the morning, and after reluctantly leaving around midday, actually took the train to Sussex and the local no. 26 bus to visit Charleston Farmhouse. Quite a day!
ReplyDeleteLucky you to see Dame Evelyn. What an immense talent she is.
So...see you at Chelsea next year! xo
Oh what a feast for garden lovers!! Thanks so much for showing us these photos, I love the lupins in the Husqvarna garden and those glorious coral red ones in the Modern Slavery Garden. After seeing your poppy I'm going to hunt around the catalogues here to see if any garden centres have the seeds.
ReplyDeleteMe please! I never knew you could get such last minute tickets... Even at a price. Not sure my ankle would have withstood a whole day out though.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to visit Chelsea flower show, we saw it on television. Hope to go there one of the coming years.
ReplyDelete