The Best Flower Show in the World

As I write, the rain is tipping down outside and I’m thinking of my colleagues whilst thanking my lucky stars that it didn’t rain like this yesterday when I was at the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show.

“The Best Flower Show in the World” was a phrase I heard many times during the day. From the initial meeting of the tradestand assessment team, when our chair updated us on changes to the criteria and standards were discussed and agreed. The tradestands are a huge part of this enormous show and if the reputation of “the best flower show in the world” was to be maintained, then it was important to celebrate high standards and exceptional design. As I joined my team for the day, I’d like to think the three of us played an important part in that process..

It’s a huge privilege to be there on Press Day and setting out along Eastern Avenue around 9am, there were few people about. The stallholders were putting the last touches together and the Chelsea Pensioners were out for a morning stroll as the four Tradestand Assessment teams set out on their given routes.

We had been assigned to the route around the Grand Pavilion and as we made our way to the starting point, the TV crews were setting up for the day here and there.

With around 50 stands to assess during the day, we lost no time in getting going, appreciating the blue skies overhead and mindful of the forecast for the day. Rather than walk through every stand and every one of the 300 photos I took 😱 , I’ll simply share a few thoughts and some memorable details.

The first of these is that this is a flower show. Those fortunate enough to have a stand here are given advice about expectations and it’s to those agreed criteria that we worked.

We spent a few minutes looking around the stand before stepping back and discussing what we’d seen and how it matched the agreed standards.

In exactly the same way as when I’m judging crafts, there is no room for personal preference or individual taste. So, however much I admired this hand drawn and printed linen wall covering, I must not let my preference to influence the outcome.

That doesn’t stop me taking a closer look and one or two extra photographs though and fortunately, one of the design criteria speaks of “scale of endeavour” and “visual theatre”, which I think is well represented here.

In this, “the World’s Best Flower Show” one might rightly expect some beautiful blooms. But paper flowers? On a stand from The Netherlands?

It’s never long before I see something of interest; something I want to take a closer look at and which I earmark to go back to later. This rainwater system was exactly that and I envisaged how useful (and decorative) it could be at home.

That was before I asked “what does that handle do?” and the gentleman lifted it out to show it was a watering can. Clever!

Here was a stand with a focus on mirrors, where it was tricky to get a photograph without including ourselves in the picture!

And I admired the storytelling in the Bartlett tree stand, where vintage photographs showed a gang of tree surgeons in the branches with no visible safety equipment, wearing their flat caps too. Below was a collection of current arboricultural tools and safety kit, together with examples of their saplings and disease control products.

Our list included only the stands on our left hand side and another team would be assessing those on the other side of the walkway. Nevertheless, this Natural swimming pool display caught my eye and I took a closer look.

This was only to find that the next stand on “our” side was another natural swimming pool company, This one had pictures of their designs and no actual product, but exactly the same as when I’m out judging at a show, it’s important to assess each exhibit on its own merits and not compare it with another entry.

This was a familiar brand to me and I thought how good it was that they had extended their range somewhat. We made our usual observations, had our chat and moved on to the next stand.

Again, an invitation to step inside, take a look around and notice things; sometimes the smallest details count for that final finish.

As we moved on, one of us happened to look back. Along the side of the last-but-one stand, by the entry to the Grand Pavilion in fact, was a small seating area furnished with their products. It was a thoughtful touch and a clever extension to showing their range. I was glad we’d spotted that!

Some stands are filled with beautiful things but where does this fit in the “best flower show in the world”?

Occasionally, it’s hard to imagine that a stand is adjacent to the previous one, so different is it in tone and character. I will admit, however, to being a little distracted here…

because over my shoulder was one of those typical Chelsea scenes with young women posing for photographs with a Chelsea Pensioner and a collection of onlookers.

But come on Gill, focus and look at those remarkable steps that have been customised to fit with the design of this nature-inspired stand. How beautiful are they? The lengths some stand holders go to in making their space memorable is remarkable.

Along here was a fine example of clever use of a mirror. This wasn’t the main focus of their brand but a really effective means of display, don’t you agree?

Another effective design feature here is the level pathway, which invites the visitor to follow it and walk around their stand.

Some pleasing storytelling here too, including the focal point of David Attenborough, in party mood appropriate for his century birthday.

In particular, I appreciated the small worktable in the studio corner, where I had hoped the artist would be working. Sadly not during our visit, but perhaps at other times?

Then came a large stand of sculptures, impressively displayed and with one in particular catching the eye of an elderly gentleman dressed in red…

As he passed by, he gave the delicately balanced structure a small tweak and those of us nearby held our breaths as it rotated and slowly came to rest. Phew! For one moment we envisaged the newspaper headlines…Chelsea Pensioner resuced from beneath a very large stone 😱

The thing is, almost directly opposite was an even larger balancing stone, this one entitled The Balance of Nature. (No-one risked moving that one whilst we were there!)

We were reaching the corner and wondering if there might be a coffee stop nearby, but decided to crack on to lunchtime. So far, we’d stayed dry and the sun had put in an occasional appearance. We thought it better to keep going and make the most of the morning.

These small architectural details are lovely, but my eye was caught by another of those “small details” that it’s good to notice…

No, it wasn’t the garden hose on the plinth (even though that hose is very smart and looks rather different from the plastic one in our garden at home!) It was actually that small daisy at the foot of the pllnth, which sits there quite naturally, looks as if it’s been there forever and creates a realistic and believable scene that visitors can relate to.

As we looked at the next stand, we spotted a new feature for Chelsea Flower Show 2026.

After many years on the “forbidden” list, together with artificial grass, plastic flowerpots and fake flowers, we spotted the first garden gnome to be admitted to the show! Not only that, he had a companion in that same garden too. Did you spot him in the first picture?

As we worked our way towards lunchtime, those bean bags looked especially inviting. Having overheard us comment that, were we to flop into one of them, there was a distinct chance that we’d never get out again, we were invited to give one of the sofas a try. Well, of course we did…and yes, all three of us managed to stand up again with dignity intact too! 🤣

I very much liked this farm gate vignette. Can you see the product on display?

Another gate is an interesting device which invites people to come on in and view the stand.

This striking planting in front of the dark backdrop caught my eye, but what is it?

Perfect timing to find out, as a woman dressed in her swimsuit stepped up, took a deep breath and demonstrate this cold plunge bath! Wow….

Her audience and the camera crew were impressed at her calm disposition and her poise!

Around the corner was a stand with these pods on display and as we stood chatting about them, a gentleman stepped into the one nearest to us.

We watched as the pod slowly rotated, powered by the foot of the chap inside. What fun! Except…about three quarters of the way round, he got stuck and needed a little assistance to escape. Fortunately his friend was nearby to help…

And we watched (and asked permission to photograph) Brian May, the guitarist from Queen, step out of the pod looking ever so slightly amused and go on his way!

Exquisite planting here…

and friendly lions here,

it must be rush hour at Heathrow.

But look at those dark clouds overhead! It’s getting near lunchtime. Will we stay dry?

Another corner turned and another lovely stand to admire.

and then, The Chelsea Shed. I admired the colour of the outdoor bath which matched some of the planting perfectly, and the cleverly chosen orange flowers put alongside the cortan steel trough. This was very well thought through indeed.

And then I stepped inside.

and

Smarter than the average shed, wouldn’t you say?

We so admired the attention to detail and I loved the clever use of colour too.

And abundance of planting caught my eye along here and my camera was kept busy.

Only later did I notice the extraordinary film and TV actor strolling along in the background! I am hopeless at star spotting…

Just one remarkable stand to view before we returned to our lunch venue. Gladwell and Patterson, a London gallery had created their stand to reflect the style and decor of their new location in one of the London arcades. They had contructed windows in the same shape, created rooms with different themes and the planting was selected accordingly.

I really loved this peony “All that Jazz”.

Lots to look at here and definitely somewhere I would have like to linger…but….

On our way back to the RHS lunch venue, we hastily identified one or two of the main gardens, starting with the most popularly reported one of late, designed with input from HM King Charles and Sir David Beckham.

Anong the way, we passed another of those Chelsea vignettes…

We also passed by the garden I’d seen on TV last evening, built for an asthma charity (I think…will check!)

Another “spot” was this genuine sculture by Barbara Hepworth in a garden designed for the front of the Tate Britain gallery nearby.

I spotted Pegasus there in the display of amazing sculptures and walked towards it with the intention of getting a good picture. However, Bill Bailey (TV personality) got there first….

We stopped to take a good look at the Lady Garden (link and info to follow) built to encourage conversation about the five gynaecological cancers from which 21 women die every day.

The last garden of the morning was designed and built for those with Parkinsons - again, more details and a link to follow. I had seen this garden on the TV last evening and had admired the handrail which is also a rill with running water.

As we made our way back out for lunch, the rain started and prompted us to hurry hurry! What timing!! But maybe we’ll need our macs this afternoon?