Everyone Deserves
a Beautiful Garden
COLIN SIMPSON
World's Greatest Flower Show Back in Full Bloom
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
A COUPLE of years ago Afaranwide published a detailed guide to the English social season. This is a series of top-class sporting and other events held in and around London during the summer – think Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the like.
However, the 2020 season was rather different from the many that had gone before. Covid was raging around the world, and many of the events were cancelled or postponed. The loss of opportunities to sip champagne and rub shoulders with toffs was, of course, insignificant compared with the misery and loss caused by the pandemic.
Nevertheless, as life in most parts of the world has returned to near-normal, it’s good to welcome back the season. The tradition – as seen in Bridgerton – dates from the time before the First World War when the aristocracy left their country estates, settled in their London residences and attended grand balls and other social events.
It traditionally ended on the Glorious Twelfth, Aug. 12, the start of the shooting season, when the aristos headed back to their country seats to massacre game birds.
One of the curtain-raisers, the Chelsea Flower Show, was cancelled in 2020, with online offerings laid on to create a virtual version. Last year the show was delayed to September from its traditional May slot. This played havoc with exhibitors’ plans, as they have to ensure that the flowers they display bloom bang on time.
The world’s most prestigious and best-loved flower show dates back to 1862, when the Royal Horticultural Society staged the first Great Spring Show in the London borough of Kensington. Since 1912 it has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home for ex-soldiers. Residents, known as Chelsea Pensioners, wear distinctive scarlet coats and add colour to the guests wandering around the show.
Pristine State
In an operation worthy of an army, the gardens are assembled from scratch in less than three weeks and dismantled after the event ends in just a few days, returning the hospital grounds to their prior pristine state. The show has a massive profile in Britain, largely due to royal patronage and BBC TV’s verging-on-overkill coverage. Gold medals awarded by the RHS are highly coveted by designers who create special gardens for the event. Modest amounts of prize money are given – a gold medalist receives £650.
This year the show is back in its proper month, and continues until May 28. Sue and I went along to the preview day at the start of the week, and were delighted by many of the gardens and floral displays. A garden based on the work of 19th century textile designer William Morris caught Sue’s eye, as did one promoting rewilding. The latter, called “A Rewilding Britain Landscape”, won a gold medal and was named best in show. I liked a garden that had a soothing water feature and a display quoting the poet Alfred Tennyson: “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…”
Facebook is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about horticulture, but the social media giant’s parent company Meta has sponsored a garden called “Growing the Future”. It has an underwhelming augmented reality feature that suggests that Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate the metaverse have a long way to go.
When the show closes this garden will be transported to a new permanent home at the National Forest in the Midlands. This is an example of a relatively new trend. Where 20 years ago gardens and displays would be dumped afterwards, many are now being repurposed. The official manual given to exhibitors before the show includes details of a scheme to reuse materials in community landscaping and garden projects.
Mental Health
In all, there are 39 gardens, divided into categories such as show gardens, feature gardens, balcony gardens and container gardens. Much was made during lockdown of the beneficial effects of gardening on mental health, and this is reflected in the presence of 12 sanctuary gardens. Another distinct trend is the prevalence of white, mauve and blue flowers in many of the gardens – clearly this year’s colours in fashion-conscious Chelsea.
One of five container gardens – all the plants have to be in pots or other planters – was created by our friend Ann Treneman, who writes for the UK’s Times newspaper. Her attractive wild kitchen garden featured edible plants, and we were delighted when she was awarded a silver gilt medal, the second highest category after gold.
I asked Ann what it was like being a first-time exhibitor at the show. “It’s been quite exhausting because you have to get it just right,” she said. “Everything has to be in a container, and that’s quite a challenge in itself. The trees have to be in containers so the containers have to be a certain size. It’s quite fun, but it takes a lot of time. The container gardens are small places, but most people have small spaces, and everyone deserves a beautiful garden.”
I asked Ann what one thing she had learned that she would like to pass on to other gardeners. “Height,” she replied. “Don’t be afraid to have a tree because it makes everything else look better, it provides 3D.”
I liked the container gardens and even smaller balcony gardens as I felt they were more relatable than some of the large and lavish show gardens.
Extravagant Shopping
We had not been to the show since before we moved abroad more than 15 years ago, and much has changed. Everything seems bigger than we remembered, and there are many more opportunities for extravagant shopping. If you want a striking piece of outdoor statuary, this is the place to come, and you wouldn’t know there was a cost of living crisis.
There was a startling, very un-Chelsea moment when a troupe of scantily clad dancers performed next to a steel drum band. One of them made the day of a gentleman with a walking aid as she patted him on the shoulder as he passed.
The great pavilion, a vast tent that dominates the site and showcases numerous beautiful displays, is as stunning as ever. Across the show there are many tributes to the Queen’s platinum jubilee, including a design in the pavilion based on the image of her used on postage stamps.
There was much “will she, won’t she?” conjecture concerning the Queen – a perennial visitor to the show – on preview day. She has recently suffered from mobility problems, and it was not certain if she would turn up for the traditional royal visit. In the event, she appeared in a chauffeur-driven golf buggy.
Attracting Celebrities
Preview day is known for attracting celebrities, though the only ones we saw were comedian Tom Allen and Spandau Ballet star and keen gardener Martin Kemp. So much for those who say gardening isn’t very rock and roll. Those we missed included Stephen Merchant, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Irons, Vicky McClure and Anna Maxwell Martin.
Overall, I felt more could be done to create a more inclusive and diverse show – it remains very white, with many older and well-off participants and visitors.
If gardening really makes us feel better – and I found gazing at all those flowers soothing for the soul – then everyone should be encouraged to benefit.
NEED TO KNOW: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
WHERE: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR, UK.
WHEN: May 24-28, Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for RHS members only, Thursday to Saturday open to the public.
TICKETS: Some were available at the time of writing – see the RHS’s website for details and prices, as well as information about getting to the site.
FOOD AND DRINK: Range of options from coffee and cake to fine dining. Afternoon tea served by staff from the Dorchester hotel, anyone?
TOP TIPS: You’ll walk a lot so wear sturdy shoes, and take an umbrella.
MORE INFO
THE official website has all the information you’ll need to plan your visit, as well as details about the Royal Horticultural Society and its other events. READ MORE
RELATED
ROYAL ASCOT, Wimbledon and Glyndebourne are among the highlights of the UK’s summer social season. Find out how the coronavirus crisis is affecting them. READ MORE
GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL: Classic English country house opera returns this summer with Covid precautions in place. First of our 2021 UK social season series. READ MORE
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY has become a hot topic – but how do you achieve it? Here are five top tips, and we visit a new “sustainable” shopping mall. READ MORE
INSIDE LORD’S AND MCC: Lord’s the home of cricket, is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club, one of the world’s great institutions of its kind. Check out our insider’s view of both. READ MORE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
Disclosure: Afaranwide is an affiliate of leading travel operators such as Japan Rail Pass and Global Work & Travel, and the language-learning tool Toucan. If you purchase through our site we receive, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. We only work with companies we have used and recommend.
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
Everyone Deserves
a Beautiful Garden
COLIN SIMPSON
World's Greatest Flower Show Back in Full Bloom
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
A COUPLE of years ago Afaranwide published a detailed guide to the English social season. This is a series of top-class sporting and other events held in and around London during the summer – think Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the like.
However, the 2020 season was rather different from the many that had gone before. Covid was raging around the world, and many of the events were cancelled or postponed. The loss of opportunities to sip champagne and rub shoulders with toffs was, of course, insignificant compared with the misery and loss caused by the pandemic.
Nevertheless, as life in most parts of the world has returned to near-normal, it’s good to welcome back the season. The tradition – as seen in Bridgerton – dates from the time before the First World War when the aristocracy left their country estates, settled in their London residences and attended grand balls and other social events.
It traditionally ended on the Glorious Twelfth, Aug. 12, the start of the shooting season, when the aristos headed back to their country seats to massacre game birds.
One of the curtain-raisers, the Chelsea Flower Show, was cancelled in 2020, with online offerings laid on to create a virtual version. Last year the show was delayed to September from its traditional May slot. This played havoc with exhibitors’ plans, as they have to ensure that the flowers they display bloom bang on time.
The world’s most prestigious and best-loved flower show dates back to 1862, when the Royal Horticultural Society staged the first Great Spring Show in the London borough of Kensington. Since 1912 it has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home for ex-soldiers. Residents, known as Chelsea Pensioners, wear distinctive scarlet coats and add colour to the guests wandering around the show.
Pristine State
In an operation worthy of an army, the gardens are assembled from scratch in less than three weeks and dismantled after the event ends in just a few days, returning the hospital grounds to their prior pristine state. The show has a massive profile in Britain, largely due to royal patronage and BBC TV’s verging-on-overkill coverage. Gold medals awarded by the RHS are highly coveted by designers who create special gardens for the event. Modest amounts of prize money are given – a gold medalist receives £650.
This year the show is back in its proper month, and continues until May 28. Sue and I went along to the preview day at the start of the week, and were delighted by many of the gardens and floral displays. A garden based on the work of 19th century textile designer William Morris caught Sue’s eye, as did one promoting rewilding. The latter, called “A Rewilding Britain Landscape”, won a gold medal and was named best in show. I liked a garden that had a soothing water feature and a display quoting the poet Alfred Tennyson: “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…”
Facebook is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about horticulture, but the social media giant’s parent company Meta has sponsored a garden called “Growing the Future”. It has an underwhelming augmented reality feature that suggests that Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate the metaverse have a long way to go.
When the show closes this garden will be transported to a new permanent home at the National Forest in the Midlands. This is an example of a relatively new trend. Where 20 years ago gardens and displays would be dumped afterwards, many are now being repurposed. The official manual given to exhibitors before the show includes details of a scheme to reuse materials in community landscaping and garden projects.
Mental Health
In all, there are 39 gardens, divided into categories such as show gardens, feature gardens, balcony gardens and container gardens. Much was made during lockdown of the beneficial effects of gardening on mental health, and this is reflected in the presence of 12 sanctuary gardens. Another distinct trend is the prevalence of white, mauve and blue flowers in many of the gardens – clearly this year’s colours in fashion-conscious Chelsea.
One of five container gardens – all the plants have to be in pots or other planters – was created by our friend Ann Treneman, who writes for the UK’s Times newspaper. Her attractive wild kitchen garden featured edible plants, and we were delighted when she was awarded a silver gilt medal, the second highest category after gold.
I asked Ann what it was like being a first-time exhibitor at the show. “It’s been quite exhausting because you have to get it just right,” she said. “Everything has to be in a container, and that’s quite a challenge in itself. The trees have to be in containers so the containers have to be a certain size. It’s quite fun, but it takes a lot of time. The container gardens are small places, but most people have small spaces, and everyone deserves a beautiful garden.”
I asked Ann what one thing she had learned that she would like to pass on to other gardeners. “Height,” she replied. “Don’t be afraid to have a tree because it makes everything else look better, it provides 3D.”
I liked the container gardens and even smaller balcony gardens as I felt they were more relatable than some of the large and lavish show gardens.
Extravagant Shopping
We had not been to the show since before we moved abroad more than 15 years ago, and much has changed. Everything seems bigger than we remembered, and there are many more opportunities for extravagant shopping. If you want a striking piece of outdoor statuary, this is the place to come, and you wouldn’t know there was a cost of living crisis.
There was a startling, very un-Chelsea moment when a troupe of scantily clad dancers performed next to a steel drum band. One of them made the day of a gentleman with a walking aid as she patted him on the shoulder as he passed.
The great pavilion, a vast tent that dominates the site and showcases numerous beautiful displays, is as stunning as ever. Across the show there are many tributes to the Queen’s platinum jubilee, including a design in the pavilion based on the image of her used on postage stamps.
There was much “will she, won’t she?” conjecture concerning the Queen – a perennial visitor to the show – on preview day. She has recently suffered from mobility problems, and it was not certain if she would turn up for the traditional royal visit. In the event, she appeared in a chauffeur-driven golf buggy.
Attracting Celebrities
Preview day is known for attracting celebrities, though the only ones we saw were comedian Tom Allen and Spandau Ballet star and keen gardener Martin Kemp. So much for those who say gardening isn’t very rock and roll. Those we missed included Stephen Merchant, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Irons, Vicky McClure and Anna Maxwell Martin.
Overall, I felt more could be done to create a more inclusive and diverse show – it remains very white, with many older and well-off participants and visitors.
If gardening really makes us feel better – and I found gazing at all those flowers soothing for the soul – then everyone should be encouraged to benefit.
NEED TO KNOW: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
WHERE: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR, UK.
WHEN: May 24-28, Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for RHS members only, Thursday to Saturday open to the public.
TICKETS: Some were available at the time of writing – see the RHS’s website for details and prices, as well as information about getting to the site.
FOOD AND DRINK: Range of options from coffee and cake to fine dining. Afternoon tea served by staff from the Dorchester hotel, anyone?
TOP TIPS: You’ll walk a lot so wear sturdy shoes, and take an umbrella.
MORE INFO
THE official website has all the information you’ll need to plan your visit, as well as details about the Royal Horticultural Society and its other events. READ MORE
RELATED
ROYAL ASCOT, Wimbledon and Glyndebourne are among the highlights of the UK’s summer social season. Find out how the coronavirus crisis is affecting them. READ MORE
GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL: Classic English country house opera returns this summer with Covid precautions in place. First of our 2021 UK social season series. READ MORE
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY has become a hot topic – but how do you achieve it? Here are five top tips, and we visit a new “sustainable” shopping mall. READ MORE
INSIDE LORD’S AND MCC: Lord’s the home of cricket, is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club, one of the world’s great institutions of its kind. Check out our insider’s view of both. READ MORE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
Disclosure: Afaranwide is an affiliate of leading travel operators such as Japan Rail Pass and Global Work & Travel, and the language-learning tool Toucan. If you purchase through our site we receive, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. We only work with companies we have used and recommend.
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
Everyone Deserves a Beautiful Garden
World's Greatest Flower Show Back in Full Bloom
COLIN SIMPSON
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
A COUPLE of years ago Afaranwide published a detailed guide to the English social season. This is a series of top-class sporting and other events held in and around London during the summer – think Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the like.
However, the 2020 season was rather different from the many that had gone before. Covid was raging around the world, and many of the events were cancelled or postponed. The loss of opportunities to sip champagne and rub shoulders with toffs was, of course, insignificant compared with the misery and loss caused by the pandemic.
Nevertheless, as life in most parts of the world has returned to near-normal, it’s good to welcome back the season. The tradition – as seen in Bridgerton – dates from the time before the First World War when the aristocracy left their country estates, settled in their London residences and attended grand balls and other social events.
It traditionally ended on the Glorious Twelfth, Aug. 12, the start of the shooting season, when the aristos headed back to their country seats to massacre game birds.
One of the curtain-raisers, the Chelsea Flower Show, was cancelled in 2020, with online offerings laid on to create a virtual version. Last year the show was delayed to September from its traditional May slot. This played havoc with exhibitors’ plans, as they have to ensure that the flowers they display bloom bang on time.
The world’s most prestigious and best-loved flower show dates back to 1862, when the Royal Horticultural Society staged the first Great Spring Show in the London borough of Kensington. Since 1912 it has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home for ex-soldiers. Residents, known as Chelsea Pensioners, wear distinctive scarlet coats and add colour to the guests wandering around the show.
Pristine State
In an operation worthy of an army, the gardens are assembled from scratch in less than three weeks and dismantled after the event ends in just a few days, returning the hospital grounds to their prior pristine state. The show has a massive profile in Britain, largely due to royal patronage and BBC TV’s verging-on-overkill coverage. Gold medals awarded by the RHS are highly coveted by designers who create special gardens for the event. Modest amounts of prize money are given – a gold medalist receives £650.
This year the show is back in its proper month, and continues until May 28. Sue and I went along to the preview day at the start of the week, and were delighted by many of the gardens and floral displays. A garden based on the work of 19th century textile designer William Morris caught Sue’s eye, as did one promoting rewilding. The latter, called “A Rewilding Britain Landscape”, won a gold medal and was named best in show. I liked a garden that had a soothing water feature and a display quoting the poet Alfred Tennyson: “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…”
Facebook is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about horticulture, but the social media giant’s parent company Meta has sponsored a garden called “Growing the Future”. It has an underwhelming augmented reality feature that suggests that Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate the metaverse have a long way to go.
When the show closes this garden will be transported to a new permanent home at the National Forest in the Midlands. This is an example of a relatively new trend. Where 20 years ago gardens and displays would be dumped afterwards, many are now being repurposed. The official manual given to exhibitors before the show includes details of a scheme to reuse materials in community landscaping and garden projects.
Mental Health
In all, there are 39 gardens, divided into categories such as show gardens, feature gardens, balcony gardens and container gardens. Much was made during lockdown of the beneficial effects of gardening on mental health, and this is reflected in the presence of 12 sanctuary gardens. Another distinct trend is the prevalence of white, mauve and blue flowers in many of the gardens – clearly this year’s colours in fashion-conscious Chelsea.
One of five container gardens – all the plants have to be in pots or other planters – was created by our friend Ann Treneman, who writes for the UK’s Times newspaper. Her attractive wild kitchen garden featured edible plants, and we were delighted when she was awarded a silver gilt medal, the second highest category after gold.
I asked Ann what it was like being a first-time exhibitor at the show. “It’s been quite exhausting because you have to get it just right,” she said. “Everything has to be in a container, and that’s quite a challenge in itself. The trees have to be in containers so the containers have to be a certain size. It’s quite fun, but it takes a lot of time. The container gardens are small places, but most people have small spaces, and everyone deserves a beautiful garden.”
I asked Ann what one thing she had learned that she would like to pass on to other gardeners. “Height,” she replied. “Don’t be afraid to have a tree because it makes everything else look better, it provides 3D.”
I liked the container gardens and even smaller balcony gardens as I felt they were more relatable than some of the large and lavish show gardens.
Extravagant Shopping
We had not been to the show since before we moved abroad more than 15 years ago, and much has changed. Everything seems bigger than we remembered, and there are many more opportunities for extravagant shopping. If you want a striking piece of outdoor statuary, this is the place to come, and you wouldn’t know there was a cost of living crisis.
There was a startling, very un-Chelsea moment when a troupe of scantily clad dancers performed next to a steel drum band. One of them made the day of a gentleman with a walking aid as she patted him on the shoulder as he passed.
The great pavilion, a vast tent that dominates the site and showcases numerous beautiful displays, is as stunning as ever. Across the show there are many tributes to the Queen’s platinum jubilee, including a design in the pavilion based on the image of her used on postage stamps.
There was much “will she, won’t she?” conjecture concerning the Queen – a perennial visitor to the show – on preview day. She has recently suffered from mobility problems, and it was not certain if she would turn up for the traditional royal visit. In the event, she appeared in a chauffeur-driven golf buggy.
Attracting Celebrities
Preview day is known for attracting celebrities, though the only ones we saw were comedian Tom Allen and Spandau Ballet star and keen gardener Martin Kemp. So much for those who say gardening isn’t very rock and roll. Those we missed included Stephen Merchant, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Irons, Vicky McClure and Anna Maxwell Martin.
Overall, I felt more could be done to create a more inclusive and diverse show – it remains very white, with many older and well-off participants and visitors.
If gardening really makes us feel better – and I found gazing at all those flowers soothing for the soul – then everyone should be encouraged to benefit.
NEED TO KNOW: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
WHERE: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR, UK.
WHEN: May 24-28, Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for RHS members only, Thursday to Saturday open to the public.
TICKETS: Some were available at the time of writing – see the RHS’s website for details and prices, as well as information about getting to the site.
FOOD AND DRINK: Range of options from coffee and cake to fine dining. Afternoon tea served by staff from the Dorchester hotel, anyone?
TOP TIPS: You’ll walk a lot so wear sturdy shoes, and take an umbrella.
MORE INFO
THE official website has all the information you’ll need to plan your visit, as well as details about the Royal Horticultural Society and its other events. READ MORE
RELATED
ROYAL ASCOT, Wimbledon and Glyndebourne are among the highlights of the UK’s summer social season. Find out how the coronavirus crisis is affecting them. READ MORE
GLYNDEBOURNE FESTIVAL: Classic English country house opera returns this summer with Covid precautions in place. First of our 2021 UK social season series. READ MORE
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY has become a hot topic – but how do you achieve it? Here are five top tips, and we visit a new “sustainable” shopping mall. READ MORE
INSIDE LORD’S AND MCC: Lord’s the home of cricket, is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club, one of the world’s great institutions of its kind. Check out our insider’s view of both. READ MORE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
Disclosure: Afaranwide is an affiliate of leading travel operators such as Japan Rail Pass and Global Work & Travel, and the language-learning tool Toucan. If you purchase through our site we receive, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. We only work with companies we have used and recommend.
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
Everyone Deserves
a Beautiful Garden
World's Greatest Flower Show Back in Full Bloom
COLIN SIMPSON
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
A COUPLE of years ago Afaranwide published a detailed guide to the English social season. This is a series of top-class sporting and other events held in and around London during the summer – think Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the like.
However, the 2020 season was rather different from the many that had gone before. Covid was raging around the world, and many of the events were cancelled or postponed. The loss of opportunities to sip champagne and rub shoulders with toffs was, of course, insignificant compared with the misery and loss caused by the pandemic.
Nevertheless, as life in most parts of the world has returned to near-normal, it’s good to welcome back the season. The tradition – as seen in Bridgerton – dates from the time before the First World War when the aristocracy left their country estates, settled in their London residences and attended grand balls and other social events.
It traditionally ended on the Glorious Twelfth, Aug. 12, the start of the shooting season, when the aristos headed back to their country seats to massacre game birds.
One of the curtain-raisers, the Chelsea Flower Show, was cancelled in 2020, with online offerings laid on to create a virtual version. Last year the show was delayed to September from its traditional May slot. This played havoc with exhibitors’ plans, as they have to ensure that the flowers they display bloom bang on time.
The world’s most prestigious and best-loved flower show dates back to 1862, when the Royal Horticultural Society staged the first Great Spring Show in the London borough of Kensington. Since 1912 it has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home for ex-soldiers. Residents, known as Chelsea Pensioners, wear distinctive scarlet coats and add colour to the guests wandering around the show.
Pristine State
In an operation worthy of an army, the gardens are assembled from scratch in less than three weeks and dismantled after the event ends in just a few days, returning the hospital grounds to their prior pristine state. The show has a massive profile in Britain, largely due to royal patronage and BBC TV’s verging-on-overkill coverage. Gold medals awarded by the RHS are highly coveted by designers who create special gardens for the event. Modest amounts of prize money are given – a gold medalist receives £650.
This year the show is back in its proper month, and continues until May 28. Sue and I went along to the preview day at the start of the week, and were delighted by many of the gardens and floral displays. A garden based on the work of 19th century textile designer William Morris caught Sue’s eye, as did one promoting rewilding. The latter, called “A Rewilding Britain Landscape”, won a gold medal and was named best in show. I liked a garden that had a soothing water feature and a display quoting the poet Alfred Tennyson: “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…”
Facebook is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about horticulture, but the social media giant’s parent company Meta has sponsored a garden called “Growing the Future”. It has an underwhelming augmented reality feature that suggests that Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate the metaverse have a long way to go.
When the show closes this garden will be transported to a new permanent home at the National Forest in the Midlands. This is an example of a relatively new trend. Where 20 years ago gardens and displays would be dumped afterwards, many are now being repurposed. The official manual given to exhibitors before the show includes details of a scheme to reuse materials in community landscaping and garden projects.
Mental Health
In all, there are 39 gardens, divided into categories such as show gardens, feature gardens, balcony gardens and container gardens. Much was made during lockdown of the beneficial effects of gardening on mental health, and this is reflected in the presence of 12 sanctuary gardens. Another distinct trend is the prevalence of white, mauve and blue flowers in many of the gardens – clearly this year’s colours in fashion-conscious Chelsea.
One of five container gardens – all the plants have to be in pots or other planters – was created by our friend Ann Treneman, who writes for the UK’s Times newspaper. Her attractive wild kitchen garden featured edible plants, and we were delighted when she was awarded a silver gilt medal, the second highest category after gold.
I asked Ann what it was like being a first-time exhibitor at the show. “It’s been quite exhausting because you have to get it just right,” she said. “Everything has to be in a container, and that’s quite a challenge in itself. The trees have to be in containers so the containers have to be a certain size. It’s quite fun, but it takes a lot of time. The container gardens are small places, but most people have small spaces, and everyone deserves a beautiful garden.”
I asked Ann what one thing she had learned that she would like to pass on to other gardeners. “Height,” she replied. “Don’t be afraid to have a tree because it makes everything else look better, it provides 3D.”
I liked the container gardens and even smaller balcony gardens as I felt they were more relatable than some of the large and lavish show gardens.
Extravagant Shopping
We had not been to the show since before we moved abroad more than 15 years ago, and much has changed. Everything seems bigger than we remembered, and there are many more opportunities for extravagant shopping. If you want a striking piece of outdoor statuary, this is the place to come, and you wouldn’t know there was a cost of living crisis.
There was a startling, very un-Chelsea moment when a troupe of scantily clad dancers performed next to a steel drum band. One of them made the day of a gentleman with a walking aid as she patted him on the shoulder as he passed.
The great pavilion, a vast tent that dominates the site and showcases numerous beautiful displays, is as stunning as ever. Across the show there are many tributes to the Queen’s platinum jubilee, including a design in the pavilion based on the image of her used on postage stamps.
There was much “will she, won’t she?” conjecture concerning the Queen – a perennial visitor to the show – on preview day. She has recently suffered from mobility problems, and it was not certain if she would turn up for the traditional royal visit. In the event, she appeared in a chauffeur-driven golf buggy.
Attracting Celebrities
Preview day is known for attracting celebrities, though the only ones we saw were comedian Tom Allen and Spandau Ballet star and keen gardener Martin Kemp. So much for those who say gardening isn’t very rock and roll. Those we missed included Stephen Merchant, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Irons, Vicky McClure and Anna Maxwell Martin.
Overall, I felt more could be done to create a more inclusive and diverse show – it remains very white, with many older and well-off participants and visitors.
If gardening really makes us feel better – and I found gazing at all those flowers soothing for the soul – then everyone should be encouraged to benefit.
NEED TO KNOW: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
WHERE: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR, UK.
WHEN: May 24-28, Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for RHS members only, Thursday to Saturday open to the public.
TICKETS: Some were available at the time of writing – see the RHS’s website for details and prices, as well as information about getting to the site.
FOOD AND DRINK: Range of options from coffee and cake to fine dining. Afternoon tea served by staff from the Dorchester hotel, anyone?
TOP TIPS: You’ll walk a lot so wear sturdy shoes, and take an umbrella.
MORE INFO
THE official website has all the information you’ll need to plan your visit, as well as details about the Royal Horticultural Society and its other events. READ MORE
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