'Willpower & sheer idiocy combine in harmony'
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 review
I hope the judges took the weather into consideration...
I'D like to say the poor weather on press day (Monday, May 18) didn't spoil a magical day, but that would be lying.
Torrential showers in the morning, followed by strong winds in the afternoon, made this an exhibitor's nightmare.
Trade stands' products were soaked and some of the show gardens were battered.
At least the wet weather dampened down the plane tree pollen a little, although the Chelsea Cough was in evidence later in the day - I gave away my stash of Strepsils to many a thankful soul.
The weather seemed to be the reason for a poor turnout of celebrities (although at least three famous people that a friend and I thought were dead were spotted).
Very much alive and kicking were Bill Bailey, Esther Rantzen, Angela Rippon and Brenda Blethyn, as well as the usual gardening favourites.
Nurse Sean Murray, from Ashington, Northumberland, who won the BBC's Great Chelsea Garden Challenge, designed a front garden for main avenue, incorporating plants and a parking space, to highlight the RHS's campaign, Greening Grey Britain.
Prince Harry visited in the morning to see his Sentebele Garden, which was even better than its design brief, with superb massed planting. Along with the Royal Canadian Bank Garden, these two were my favourites of the Show Gardens. I think the weather may have taken the edge off the more dramatic tropical-style gardens.
Did designers play it too safe with colour?
I WAS a little disappointed by the gardens this year. There weren't any exhibits so avant garde that they ceased to be a garden at all, but neither were there more than a couple of outstanding entries.
I think it was to do with the planting more than the design or landscaping - everyone seemed to be playing it safe - a lot of the usual foxgloves and foxtail lilies.
Peach tones were big, especially in Verbascums, and several gardens used the structural forms of Angelica and bronze fennel.
No subdued colours in the Great Pavilion!
Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries' exhibit - winner of the President's Award.
President's Award
AS ever, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth before the judges made their rounds - and an anxious 24-hour wait to see if Great Pavilion exhibitors and designers have won a coveted gold.
County Durham's Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries, gold medal winners for the past three years, spent an amazing 55 hours putting its exhibit of rare perennials and alpines together.
The nursery won a silver-gilt - and the President's Award, for his favourite exhibit in the show.
From top, grey skies over the Great Pavilion; the Hillier exhibit; Amaryllis inside the Great Pavilion.
Winning gardens
BEST Show Garden:
The Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Garden, designed by Dan Pearson.
Best Fresh Garden:
Dark Matter Garden for the National Schools’ Observatory, designed by Howard Miller Design Ltd.
Best Artisan Garden:
The Sculptor's Picnic Garden by Walker's Nurseries, designed by Graham Bodle.
Gold Show Gardens:
A Perfumer’s Garden in Grasse by L’Occitane.
The Brewin Dolphin Garden.
The Cloudy Bay Garden in association with Vital Earth.
The Homebase Garden - Urban Retreat.
The Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Garden.
The Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities Garden.
The Telegraph Garden.
Gold Fresh Gardens:
Beyond Our Borders by APHA.
Dark Matter Garden for the National Schools’ Observatory.
Gold Artisan Gardens:
A Trugmaker's Garden by Future Climate Info.
Breast Cancer Haven Garden.
Edo no Niwa - Edo Garden by Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Laboratory.
The Sculptor's Picnic Garden by Walker's Nurseries.
