CHELSEA

This has been an exciting week as we visited the Chelsea flower show which is held at the Royal Hospital Grounds near Sloane Square.  The Hospital is a home for veteran soldiers and is an impressive building indeed.
Visiting this show has been only a dream for ever for us and so to actually get there still seems unreal.  Before leaving NZ we bought our tickets through the RHS (Royal Hort Society - for those of you who dont know) - as We had renewed our subscription and this gave us entry tickets at half price.  Plus they had selection times for ticket holders and it controlled the crowds really well.  Our ticket time was 3.30 till 8.00.  We really lucked out on the day too as it was perfect - no wind, sunny and warm - the only day this week so far like that.  Today it poured!!

We caught the train in to London from Banbury at 9.15 (if you go after the main morning commuter rush you get much cheaper fares) the journey was about 1 and a half hours.  We got off at Marylebone Station and had a few hours to do a bit of sight seeing.  Harrods is a minute walk from this station so we made that our first port of call and really enjoyed a couple of hours appreciating the grandeur of the building and products.  The food hall is absolutely luscious with its decorations and food presentation.  Bought a gorgeous bagette each of beef, stilton and chutney for lunch and had it in the sun outside the building on some seats.

Made our way down to Sloane Square where the rich and famous shop.  Some of the shops has gotten in the spirit of the show week and done lovely flower and plant displays in their windows.

The show is regarded as the best of its type in the world.  The displays in both the main pavilion and also all the designer gardens and product stalls were just top class.

Growers displayed a huge variety of product - Delphinuims 10 feet tall and so vibrant, Oriental Lillies with lovely new cultivars and the most gorgeous scent.  Hyacinths, sweet peas - three thousand of them in individual vases - chrysanthemums, daffodils, - amazing new styles - and lots more.

The competition for junior florist champ was fantastic - this years theme being a day at the races.  Most contestants had created a racing jacket and the winner ,Joe Malone from Manchester, collected his third consecutive win.  His finish and presentation was just beautiful.

The highlight of the show is the designer gardens.  There were seventeen large ones this year plus a series of artisan gardens.  Considerable challenge was involved with these as they had to be sustainable, use recycled materials and were very small - 7m x 9msquare.  Our two favourites were the Monaco garden and the Laurent - Perrier garden.  Prince Albert of Monaco was the driving force behind his garden and it was to represent the life style of people there where space  for gardening is minimal  because they are the most populated country in the world.  The designer, a British woman who has had a few gold successes in the past did a fabulous job.  One of the criteria for judging was to create a place that transported you and she really achieved this.

The Laurent Perrier garden was by Luciano Guibbilei  and he used  a restricted colour pallet of whites, creams, mauves, lilacs soft pinks and sage greens.  It was very simple, restful and elegant.  It was my favourite.  The supreme gold winner was the Daily Telegraph garden which was a composition highlighting old and new and the shift that change gives us.

There were hundreds of stall holders selling hundreds of varieties of product from conservatories, to clothing, tools, plants, art, food, books, educational material etc all with a very high standard of presentation.

We loved the experience of being there.  Walked down to Grosevner Square which is some of the most expensive real estate in London at the end of the day to Victoria Station to return home.  This area houses lots of official looking offices and gorgeous homes all joined together and the streets have gorgeous giant overhanging trees.

Afternoon tea no tables

Outside Harrods with no money

3 stories of herbs on wall

a selection of some of the 3 thousand sweet peas

Hyacinths-imagine the scent!!!

Dam good sandwich

Rows of herbs-brilliant colours

 of

Grand champion garden 

Floral chair cushion

Queuing at 3 o'clock

ption

The Monaco garden Jonnie's favourite

Part of Food hall  Harrods

Junior florist winner

Laurent Perrier garden- Sue's favourite

Are getting prepared for our first meeting with Susie the owner this weekend.  Have cleaned her house from top to toe plus the barn, which is not really a barn but a gorgeous entertainment space with kitchen, bathroom, mezzaine bedroom and huge lounge area.  The gardens are mostly in order and looking much fresher for the heavy rain we have had today.