Chelsea Flower Show 2026, Part 2
Lunch really could not have been timed better, for the rain had blown over by the time we returned to complete our assessment schedule. Nevertheless, the dark clouds remained overhead and the air was still a little damp.
As we made our way towards the bag check, I was amused by the sight of a couple of young women in front of us…
Look closely and you might notice that they are carrying a huge number of “goodie bags” on each shoulder. Surely the bag check people are not going to check every one of those bags? And yet…
We headed straight for the place where we’d finished our morning, stopping briefly by the King’s Trust Curious Garden in the hope of getting a peek inside. Sadly not…we weren’t invited to this party!
Never mind. We still had work to do and although we had completed three quarters of our list, it was important that we give the same attention to detail to those remaining stands as we had this morning. Let’s focus and get our work done!
We’d noted where to begin the afternoon, at the memorably named Charlie Ovens, where one of the staff showed us their “special Chelsea Edition”.
By now, you’re familiar with the details which we’re looking for, so let’s focus on some of the glorious flowers! These peonies were spectacular, just coming into bloom with perfect timing.
Impressive pots and water features here. Unlike the judging I usually find myself involved in, here we don’t really leave advice in the form of comments but simply add notes for discussion where the tradestand holders would like feedback. As I reviewed this photograph, I wondered what advice my judging colleagues might offer in their comments here?
I think a dark cloud hovered overhead as we looked at the stand with the Strandkörbchen: the typical “deckchairs” to be found around the Baltic sea coast. We noticed the chandeliers too…
We made our way along a short stretch of stands, loving the lavish planting and hoping that those delphiniums will survive whatever wild weather is supposed to be heading this way tomorrow.
Glorious roses caught my eye and I bent down to sample their scent, which was…nothing!
I love the variety of style and design choices we see en route, finding it fascinating how each one tells a visual story with just a few props, their choice of colours and textures and the odd detail here and there.
Coming to the end of our assessment route, I wondered how I’ll remember this particular Chelsea in terms of a standout flower? I think it will be the lupins and foxgloves that I’ll recall. From the moment I caught my first sight of the London Gate arrangement, I seemed to see those richly coloured lupins everywhere. What a pity they don’t grow well in our garden, for I love them!
We came to the last stand on our list, helpfully right by the Bull Ring Gate where velvet ropes and pink carpets were being placed.
We completed our paperwork and decided to stand and watch the goings on.
We really couldn’t have had a better view! Usually, by now, my feet are telling me to go home and watch all of this on TV later, but today, well, why not? With Sophie Rayworth and the BBC there by our side, we agreed, we were in the right place for the arrivals…
Blue flashing lights and police outriders accompanied the arrival of a less-than- glamorous minibus, from which came the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester amongst others.
Having been greeted at the gate, they and an accompanying group set off to see the show.
We waited for the next arrival. It seemed to take a while…maybe getting on for 30 minutes later…
HRH The Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Timothy Lawrence arrived. They too were greeted and went on to view the show with their entourage.
Another half hour and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived - oh my word, we were being treated to quite the company this afternoon, weren’t we?
But oh, my feet were beginning to compain, the time was going on and we’d been standing here almost two hours by now. Surely, HM King Charles would arrive soon?
Well, we knew that to be so because the BBC crew suddenly came and stood right in front of us!! Oh…
We might have made a small mutter of complaint and maybe harrumphed a little, for Sophie stepped aside. Although we now had a better view, sorry Sophie, your orange coat frames most of my photographs!
But I used my super zoom lens to snap this one…
my patience was rewarded as the King made his way to within a yard or two of us. He appeared to be in the best of spirits and as we focused on him, HM the Queen sailed on by, chatting twenty to the dozen with her entourage.
And that was that. The three of us said our farewells with “See you at Badminton in a few weeks” and went our separate ways. For me, it was straight through the show grounds and back to my car, for I had a long drive home.
The Grand Pavilion was quiet and preparations were being made for the evening event in here.
I had one “errand” to do, buying a couple of Sophie Allport’s Chelsea 2026 mugs for Amy and I to add to our collections on my way.
Whilst there, I noticed the Gloucesters in the Parkinsons garden across the way.
Definitely time for home, then. I plodded back along Eastern Avenue, past a few familiar stands from previous years here.
I said goodbye to The Best Flower Show in the World for another year, taking one last photo of the London Gate, just as I had this morning.
What a day!
