Flower Show time!
Almost every conversation began with “oh my, how quickly that year passed”.
The Chelsea Flower Show Tradestand Assessment team gathered in the RHS marquee yesterday morning for our initial briefing where each one of us was faced with an important last minute decision: shall I keep my jacket on or is it warming up enough to leave it behind? (Keep it on, it’s chilly out there!) Maps and assessment folders were gathered up and groups got together to chat over one last coffee before setting out. There was work to be done!
In many respects it was the “same procedure as every year”, yet really, every year is slightly different. The teams are shuffled up so we’re working with different colleagues, our routes are varied and we get to see a different corner of the show ground plus of course, the exhibitors are different too. But that first, early morning walk down Eastern Avenue heading for our group moderation exercise, it all seems very familiar.
Having set a benchmark for our assessments and agreed the standards we’d consider to be “outstanding”, identified what constitutes “an impressive scale of endeavour” and seen examples of creative visual theatre, the three of us in the Orange Team headed for our starting point.
Right now, those Plane trees overhead are beautifully benign, but as the day wears on, they will shed their pollen into this walkway and the “Chelsea Cough” will be heard as people reach for their antihistamines.
It didn’t take long before we had a small dilemma; something we’d not come across before. One of the first stands on our list was completely filled with crocheted flowers. Set out just like a florist’s store, even the containers were crocheted. Glorious colour, great visual impact and utterly amazing. Except. One of the principal considerations at this show is “the use of plant material” - of which there was none. Hmm. One to refer to the Chair of our team later then.
Along the same stretch was a lovely vignette on a stand selling embroidery kits. It’s not easy to include plant material on a similar scale to framed embroideries, but Jo Butcher had included this sweet arrangement to complement her work and link to other plants on her stand.
It’s always good to see some story telling and here, alongside some fine handbags was an eyecatching arrangement of tools and materials. My immediate concern was the proximity of those tools to the edge of the stand, as I envisaged someone helping themselves to a nice pair of pliers or a leather punch as they passed by. But my fears were unfounded, for each one of those tools was secured to the board by an effective (and almost invisible) means!
As the morning wore on, the activity built. Photographers began to appear and small groups gathered around a celebrity here and there. Who was it? We didn’t really have the time to stop and find out.
Our route was taking us to some of the larger stands along Main Avenue, where no expense had been spared in creating the most magnificent creations.
How effective was the placement of this pair of horses? Perhaps not for every garden, but that cute bear in the background could easily have been tempted to teeter somewhere in mine, I think…if only I had time to save my pocket money.
Having a space along this stretch of avenue demands the highest standards and each exhibitor had pulled out all the stops to achieve perfection, leaving nothing to chance. This apple sat very comfortably indeed amidst beautifully well chosen planting and a small water feature. To bring such detailed plans to fruition over six weeks or so and then return that patch of land to exactly the same state as it was before the first stone was laid requires a particular skill and determination. Remarkable.
I had been so absorbed by the apple and other, similar sculptures and their exquisite surroundings that I had completely overlooked the commotion behind me as someone (who? no idea) had sashayed along the avenue, leaving an empty pathway in her wake.
There was quite a buzz on this corner too. Why? It was the garden everyone was talking about yesterday (and today), Monty Don’s Dog friendly garden. No time to look now, but maybe later…
On then to more of the smaller stands around the corner, this one with a really lovely planted bathtub filled with many of the same plants which were to be found in their products. Clever.
On to other, lavishly decorated stands filled with colour and pattern.
Then on to a beautiful, cosy nook created by a couple from Devon showing the products of their family farm on Dartmoor. Fabulous planting and great atmosphere, by now I was eyeing that comfy chair with envy.
More to do though…crack on to lunchtime!! Some lovely stands to view however, including this delightful pastel coloured arrangement with another spectacular “bathtub”.
The lovely thing about working in such an historic place is the small detail that, if I’m not careful, goes unnoticed. But I like to keep my eye out for such things and occasionally, it’s rewarded. Of course, the other delight here is the frequent encounter with the gentlemen - and ladies - wearing the uniform of the Chelsea Pensioner. Of course, we are here in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, their garden, and they are always ready with a smile and a bit of conversation.
After lunch, our working route took us into the woodland area, a little off the main drag and into less formal surroundings. The sight of a small hare posed neatly on a rock drew our attention to the next stand on our list. “Scuba” was one of several hares ready for a variety of activities.
What I found especially pleasing here was the planting. Those greenish purple petunias and the purply orange maple trees with the occasional orange geum popping up in between - spectacular. Ooo, here’s me, sounding like the plantswoman I am most certainly not (!) But I do understand colour and can recognise its skilful use ;-)
We were on the homeward stretch now, with just over fifty tradestands assessed and recorded. With a look at the lovely shepherds hut
and a quick visit to Charleston South Carolina, we were done. At least, my work was done - Sarah, our lead assessor was now off to the moderation meeting. But Julie and I were free to explore the show…..if our feet would allow!
It was around 4pm and I felt there was one garden I wanted - needed - to see, if only because it was the one everyone was talking about. Yes, that Dog-friendly Monty Don design. Since their Majesties, the King and Queen were about to arrive, that busy corner was now deserted. I was in luck!
Or was I?
In preparation for their arrival, a quick clean up seemed to be in process and the dust was billowing around. I waited until the sweeper had passed by and then went a little closer.
Well, yes, I got a grand view of it all as the design team relaxed a little enjoying the first peace and quiet they’d had all day, I imagine. Except that whilst I stood looking, that road sweeper had turned around and was now coming back! (did you spot the two dog leads used as a barrier?)
So it was a quick look to see the details - the water filled “wallow” under the trees and the strange paths which the dogs themselves designed by walking that route (or so I read).
Of course, the weather vane on top of the shed could have only one design…
With the sweeper making its third pass and my feet now beginning to remind me it was time for home, I remembered the one last thing I’d come to look at; the feature which I had also heard people talking about as “special”.
The poppies! I’d heard that Chiltern Seeds (whose fabulous stand we’d visited earlier in the day) had sent out for more supplies of this one and I must admit that, if my feet had allowed, I might well have headed that way to get some myself (but thanks for mail order, eh?)
It was time to return to my car and head home.
Issuing a silent but sincere thanks to the RHS for providing me with such an amazingly convenient car parking space, I was soon on my way through the almost stationary traffic of the Embankment, through Earls Court and finally - finally! - out onto the M4 and home.
What a wonderful day!
