Geranium ‘Rozanne’ was anointed as Plant of the Century at the show.
ciation with the Chelsea Flower Show with the Queen and other family members regularly making an appear- ance. Prince Harry got into the act in a big way this year and was involved in designing one of the show gardens. Inspired by his involvement in a char- ity in Lesotho in southern Africa that helps children infected with HIV, his ‘Forget-Me-Not’ garden depicted a contemporary representation of the country’s landscape. Though it did not win a gold medal (I wasn’t impressed either), Prince Harry’s involvement caused quite a stir and brought aware- ness to his cause.
Gnomes? Gnomes, either you like them or you
don’t. There’s no in between. Until this year, gnomes were considered too tacky and banned from the Chelsea Flower Show. But just for 2013, these elf-like statues were allowed in the displays. In fact, they were elevated to special status, with celebrities like Sir Elton John and Dame Maggie Smith decorating their own gnomes. The
celebrity gnomes
were later auctioned off on eBay with proceeds going to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Are gnomes about to become a worldwide garden- ing trend? That remains to be seen, but I am warming to the idea. I admit that I did discreetly tuck a very small token gnome among my greenery.
The Plant of the Century Ten plants from the last 100 years,
one from each decade, were short-listed as contenders for ‘Plant of the Century’. When all was said and done, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (launched between 1993 – 2002) came up the winner. This is a stellar perennial that Canadian garden- ers have also embraced. Well-behaved and hardy, it returns every year with striking violet-blue flowers that bloom from June right up until frost. Every Canadian gardener should grow this plant.
www.localgardener.net
Garden Designs that deliver a Message
Like fashion and architecture, garden
design evolves with the times. Chelsea’s show gardens reflected this. A hundred years ago rock gardens were all the rage. Not anymore. Nowadays the show garden designers (the best in the busi- ness) often try to deliver a message that reflects society’s collective mood. In recent years looking after the environ-
A gnome decorated by Elton John (left) and Australian Trailfinders (above).
ment has been the focus of many gardens. This year the Royal Bank of Canada delivered its environmental message packaged in a gorgeous garden called the Blue Water Roof Garden. It featured a roof garden designed to attract birds and bees and a low tech living wall with drought tolerant plants tucked into clay weeping tiles. The contemporary wall panels were, in fact, habitats for attract- ing pollinating insects. k
Winter 2014 • 31
The Forget-Me-Not Garden designed by Prince Harry.
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