As well as the show gardens, I saw many other remarkable sights at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, not least, the great pavilion. It’s just a giant tent full of plants, but that description doesn’t do justice to the creative nature of the displays, and vast range of perfect plants being shown by growers from all over the world. I took photos of anything that caught my eye – heuchera green roofs, floral carnival head-dresses, cut flower cushions and a grower dressed in a tulip suit. I even kissed a frog!
I saw my dream potting shed (and a fantasy shed).
I saw quite a few design ideas I’d like to recreate, such as log pile edging, rock-filled gabion walls, and ungrouted brick paths.
I saw sophisticated, beautiful planting schemes. I loved the planting in the Modern Slavery show garden, where the colour scheme was tonal, progressively changing from darker reds to oranges and yellows through the length of the border.
And of course, I saw the vast field of crocheted, red, remembrance poppies.
Chelsea is over now. The show gardens are being relocated or broken up, with the plants sold off in a mad scrum on the last afternoon. It was fun and awe-inspiring. I’m definitely going again next year.