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A Close Look At The Chelsea Flower Show
The Chelsea Flower Show is the pinnacle of the Royal Horticultural Society`s calendar at the end of May each year showcasing the most impressive garden designs and the finest flower collections in the world.
It`s a British tradition that dates back to 1852 when it was known as The Royal Horticultural Society Great Spring Show and was held in Kensington, London. In 1913 The Great Spring Show was moved to The Royal Hospital grounds in Chelsea evolving into the horticultural social event that is the Chelsea Flower Show of today.
For anyone who has never experienced this celebration of all things bright and beautiful, it is impossible to describe the incredible atmosphere that oozes from Chelsea over the five days of the show. The smell is overwhelming and wandering from one garden to the next is like stepping from one world to another.
Among the garden themes this year was a biodiversity category to acknowledge the International Year of Biodiversity. Across all themes and categories, designers created an astonishing 15 show gardens, 21 small gardens plus more than a hundred exhibits. Not bad considering Britain has just had the coldest winter for 30 years and then a two day mini heat wave right before the show so many flowers came out early.
New plants are always highly anticipated and revealed at Chelsea. Two of this year`s favourites were Nepenthes Bill Bailey and Digitalis Serendipity but the winner of the 2010 Plant of the Year was the stunning Streptocarpus Harlequin Blue.
The Daily Telegraph won the fiercely contended accolade of Best Show Garden this year for its contemporary gravel garden inspired by Mediterranean shrub land and Mexican chaparrals featuring a courtyard, sparsely planted beds and the sound of running water.
The majority of the Chelsea Flower Show is held on grass and therefore conditions under foot are dependent upon the weather. There are a few rules such as a strict no re-entry policy and prams and pushchairs are not allowed on the site for safety reasons. Children must be over five years of age to attend.
It really is worth the journey wherever you have travelled from. Once you arrive in London, public transport is recommended to get to the show as it situated within the city`s congestion charge zone. A show bus shuttle runs from Victoria train station regularly all day or you can take advantage of the specially commissioned park and ride system that is put in place at Battersea for the duration of the flower show.
The show is planned 18 months in advance so new flowers and garden designs for the 88th Chelsea Flower Show in 2011 are well underway. The best place to find bargain cheap flights to Auckland for your horticultural holiday is online and it is often possible to purchase an all in deal where travel, accommodation and the Chelsea Flower Show are included as a package along with other top London tourist attractions.
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