Chelsea 19th – 23rd May
The Chelsea Flower Show is to gardening what the Paris catwalks are to fashion. Paris fashions may seem outlandish, but they push certain
trends, which in a watered-down
version end up in high-street shops. Likewise, though many of Chelsea’s show gardens are
fantasy pieces which demonstrate
outrageous ideas, the horticultural trends on display will find their way into our own more modest plots.
For example; did you know that bonsai specimens
and topiary gardens were
introduced at Chelsea in 1913? Rock gardens were introduced in the 1940’s and decking in the eighties. All of these can now be bought in garden centres up and down the land.
In 2006 James Dyson even produced a water feature in which the water ran uphill. Actually I’m still waiting for my garden centre to stock one of those! Maybe one day...
Chelsea isn’t just about high fashion though; it reflects environmental trends too. In recent years there have been hosepipe bans in the great Pavillion and many of the gardens have showcased drought-tolerant planting schemes.
Chelsea draws over 150 000 visitors each year. For the past ten years it’s been held over five
8 days instead of four, such is its popularity.
The sheer quantity and varieties of plants on display to the general public is breathtaking. Chelsea really is window-shopping at its finest. It’s like walking through a real-life version of the best garden design catalogue in the world.
And if you visit on the last day you don’t have to restrict yourself to window shopping. At 4pm precisely a bell rings and the great Chelsea sell-off begins!
The poor designers, after all their hard work, begin the mammoth task of dismantling their creations. The good news is that the public can buy them. It’s perfectly possible to end up owning a little piece of a prize winning garden. So what should you choose?
If it were me I’d want something special; a reminder of my visit. I’d go for a species which I know would grow in my garden, but an unusual variety, not available in my local garden centre. In my case it would probably be an unusual lavender or fuchsia.
Choose carefully and you could have a little piece of Chelsea gold adorning your plot for many years to come.
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
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