RHS EXCELS WITH FIRST AUTUMN CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
Celebrities, garden lovers, and leaders in commerce and industry, flocked to the world’s greatest flower show, on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s Preview Day at the Royal Hospital in London’s Chelsea. Covid had caused last year’s show to be cancelled and this year’s postponed from the usual May date to September, for the first time in 108 years. Normally the show heralds the start of the social season, followed by Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley and Cowes, but this year it ended the season in spectacular style.
The warm-hearted and humorous Chelsea In-Pensioners, former soldiers who live in the Royal Hospital, were on hand to join the welcome of visitors to the 66 acre site. Founded in 1682, commissioned by King Charles II, and designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the Grade I listed Royal Hospital is a nursing and retirement home to 300 veterans, who exude a special comradeship.
An extraordinary array of specially created gardens were on show, while inside the Grand Pavilion, it was a riot of colour. There was a profusion of autumnal highlights for the first time at RHS Chelsea. The Show Gardens demonstrated cutting edge garden design, with the RHS COP26 Garden showing how our gardens, plants and public green spaces can play an integral part in protecting our planet and people, and for the first time there was a collection of Balcony and Container Gardens. The RHS judges, deliberated at length to award the coveted RHS Medals. Guangzhou China: Guangzhou Garden was awarded The Best Show Garden, and The Diamond Forge Garden, The Best Artisan Garden, while The People's Choice Best Show Garden went to The Yeo Valley Organic Garden.
Carol Kirkwood broadcast the early morning BBC weather forecast to the nation from the Show, while Sophie Raworth and Joe Swift provided comprehensive BBC TV coverage. Boodles Director James Amos showed off a £300,000 Secret Garden diamond bracelet, RHS President Sir Nicholas Bacon admired the show with Lady Bacon, and Lady Caroline Egremont was collecting ideas for the gardens at her Petworth House home. Former RHS Chelsea Flower Show BBC presenter and current Love Your Weekend presenter Alan Titchmarsh, cast his expert eye over the gardens, with this wife Alison. Ben Fogle enjoyed the spectacular gardens with his wife Marina, having returned from his Lives In The Wild. Raymond Blanc again offered hospitality at his renowned Jardin Blanc, and Strictly Come Dancing winner Bill Bailey was revelling in the reprise of his winning dance at the opening of this year’s Strictly. Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden was taking time off from running her empire, Anthea Turner was looking forward to her future marriage to Mark Armstrong, and Anton Du Beke, with his wife Hannah Summers was practising his scoring for judging the Strictly dancers. Strictly Judge Craig Revel Horwood was enjoying the gardens with his fiancé Jonathan Myring, Rick Stein savoured the gardens with his wife Sarah and Dame Judi Dench opened The Queen’s Green Canopy garden.
The autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show was a great success for all those involved and it was great to be back.
Pictures by Edward Lloyd
SubEditor Diana Austin
