2019 Chelsea Flower Show

[Old Grumpy]

Just got back to civilisation

Originally Posted by Serial_Apologist
It must be in the north, then...
...... as is everything good ......

from the smoke, visiting the Chelsea Flower Show with Mrs G and S-i-L who were attending the RHS annual bonanza. Quite an undertaking (the show, not the trip) and very interesting, but exhausting. Some of the show gardens were really spectacular. My favourite was probably the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden. Not so interested in miles and miles of plants in the massive Pavillion - but still very impressive.

OG

[teamsaint]

Just got back to civilisation



from the smoke, visiting the Chelsea Flower Show with Mrs G and S-i-L who were attending the RHS annual bonanza. Quite an undertaking (the show, not the trip) and very interesting, but exhausting. Some of the show gardens were really spectacular. My favourite was probably the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden. Not so interested in miles and miles of plants in the massive Pavillion - but still very impressive.

OG

What is the show like as a visitor experience, OG? Is it essy to get to see the things you are interested in, for example?

[Old Grumpy]

Yes, TS, we managed to see what we wanted to see. It was busy, but went back to a few things later and there were less people. The show opens at 8 and closes at 8, if you have the stamina!

We went on a members' day which may be quieter. We are not members, but S-i-L's friend is and got us some tickets.

OG

[teamsaint]

Yes, TS, we managed to see what we wanted to see. It was busy, but went back to a few things later and there were less people. The show opens at 8 and closes at 8, if you have the stamina!

We went on a members' day which may be quieter. We are not members, but S-i-L's friend is and got us some tickets.

OG

Thanks OG. We might do a show next year not having done one before. We fancied Malvern, lovely part of the world, but not quite sure what to expect from any of these shows really.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, TS, we managed to see what we wanted to see. It was busy, but went back to a few things later and there were less people. The show opens at 8 and closes at 8, if you have the stamina!

We went on a members' day which may be quieter. We are not members, but S-i-L's friend is and got us some tickets.

OG

I think I'm right in saying tickets have to be obtained well in advance of the event.

I went a couple of times, back in the 1990s, since when the Pavilion seems to have got bigger and bigger, and now occupies most of the grounds - I can't see the point of a garden show which is mostly indoors. Last year's show disappointed, but I have to say I was impressed by this year's, particularly the accent on environmental issues and sustainability, though the big item on rhododendrons a couple of nights ago on BBC2 seemed rather out of place in that context!

[Old Grumpy]

Rhododendrons:. yes, I thought that too, S_A. We are not horticuluralists, but have enjoyed the BBC coverage over the years. It was interesting to see what the gardens look like in reality. Of course the public can't go in them, unlike the presenters. The organisation, including access and egress, food, facilities etc was very good.

OG

[gradus]

We haven't been for a few years now but what I enjoy most is the plant show in the marquee/pavilion especially because it gives the opportunity to talk to expert growers about favourite plants. Generally speaking I'm not excited by the designers' show gardens/stage sets, which are of course cleverly done but don't much interest me, as I prefer the higgledy-piggledy cottage approach to gardening, as would be evident to anyone visiting!

[Old Grumpy]

We haven't been for a few years now but what I enjoy most is the plant show in the marquee/pavilion especially because it gives the opportunity to talk to expert growers about favourite plants. Generally speaking I'm not excited by the designers' show gardens/stage sets, which are of course cleverly done but don't much interest me, as I prefer the higgledy-piggledy cottage approach to gardening, as would be evident to anyone visiting!

Agree - higgledy-piggledy is good. Mrs G wants a "cottage garden" look - I think we have it, but she insists there should be clumps of plants with spaces (i.e. weeds!) between.

The theme this year of show gardens was very much higgledy-piggledy, the natural look.

OG

[oddoneout]

Agree - higgledy-piggledy is good. Mrs G wants a "cottage garden" look - I think we have it, but she insists there should be clumps of plants with spaces (i.e. weeds!) between.

The theme this year of show gardens was very much higgledy-piggledy, the natural look.

OG

I was wondering how much of that was the result of different designer being involved? Some of the 'big' names who are known for their stylised and formal(artificial to some) show gardens were not there this year, possibly due to big name companies not being so much in evidence either? Or at least that was my impression.
Gardening lends itself to using the key trends of biodiversity, environmental concerns etc, but if I'm being picky I would say that it was all a bit samey and safe as far as that was concerned; perhaps that's why I didn't find this year's show gardens especially interesting. It's the first time I've found myself thinking 'ho hum, whatever' while watching the TV coverage of the gardens, although the nursery stands etc in the Pavilion I enjoyed.
I went to Chelsea 1978-80 when being a member made sense geographically as we lived within striking distance of Wisley and I was able to attend the indoor shows in London as well. Not sure I could, or would want to, deal with the crowds now, even if finances etc allowed. Friends say that the 'out of town' shows are good.

[Serial_Apologist]

We haven't been for a few years now but what I enjoy most is the plant show in the marquee/pavilion especially because it gives the opportunity to talk to expert growers about favourite plants. Generally speaking I'm not excited by the designers' show gardens/stage sets, which are of course cleverly done but don't much interest me, as I prefer the higgledy-piggledy cottage approach to gardening, as would be evident to anyone visiting!

Whereas I feel exactly the opposite about Chelsea, as stated above!!! I always think the indoor arrangements of piled up vegetables and fruit, or just displays of same, shut away in the semi-gloom of the "pavilion", are merely larger-scale versions of the village garden fete. Trying to get everything looking "perfect", making nature fit our control freak-inspired expectations according to arbitrary human-imposed standards - the sort of thing the Dutch School of formal gardening normalised in the 17th century - just seems so artificial and, er, exhibitionistic! But there you are: I'm your curved banana man, so long as it tastes OK!

[oddoneout]

Whereas I feel exactly the opposite about Chelsea, as stated above!!! I always think the indoor arrangements of piled up vegetables and fruit, or just displays of same, shut away in the semi-gloom of the "pavilion", are merely larger-scale versions of the village garden fete. Trying to get everything looking "perfect", making nature fit our control freak-inspired expectations according to arbitrary human-imposed standards - the sort of thing the Dutch School of formal gardening normalised in the 17th century - just seems so artificial and, er, exhibitionistic! But there you are: I'm your curved banana man, so long as it tastes OK!

It's the nursery displays in the Pavilion I like seeing - and listening to the enthusiastic(obsessed sometimes!) proprietors talking about their plants. The stands are often recreations of natural settings the featured plants might be found in and are show gardens in their own right. I'm with you though on things like the veg displays, and the floral displays I sometimes find quite disturbing in the extent to which plant material is manipulated - clever it may be but my reaction tends to be 'ouch' or 'what a pity'.