Early this summer saw us once again swap the leafy lanes of Somerset for the filthy underground tramways of Big Smoke in order to rub shoulders with the gardening elite at the Chelsea Flower Show. Nick was absent from this year’s festivities (he claims to break out in hives when confronted with folks wearing posh frocks and Panama hats) so it was up to me to bag some ‘quality content’* for this here website.
After elbowing past Gloria Hunniford at the gates, there was time for a few circuits of the showground and a swift game of ‘Chelsea Celebrity Bingo’** before knuckling down to work.*** My previous visit to Chelsea was all about the long lens, used to snag pictures of unsuspecting celebrities who were busy flitting between show gardens like booze bees in search of their next free Moet fix-up. For this year’s visit, I revisited the high risk, maximum reward, RIGHT UP IN YOUR GRILL voxpop format, as unleashed with devastating effect at Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival (then swiftly abandoned after a confidence crushing encounter at last year’s Chelsea.)
Often referred to as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’****, Chelsea has always been a showcase for cutting-edge horticultural craft, setting the trends for the season ahead. But what does Chelsea mean to the garden designers, exhibitors and punters that inhabit the show? Let’s find out…
Thanks to all those that humored me. Take it away, folks!
Jake Hobson
Niwaki
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
The atmosphere
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
A Wills Bees bespoke wallet.
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
A nice cold beer
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Lee Connolly
Skinny Jean Gardener
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
Finding gardening inspiration
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
A nice vegetable from Chris Evans’ Taste Garden.
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
A pint of something
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Sally Newall
Editor
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
The whole occasion. It doesn’t get more British than this
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
A treehouse
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
G&T made with Hendricks and lime.
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Fred Foot
Bulldog Tools
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
The variety of people that visit.
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
A bunch of flowers for the missus.
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
A pint of Abbot ale, served in my pewter tankard with a glass bottom and a King’s shilling in the base.
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Jaap Sneeboer
Sneeboer Tools
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
Meeting the gardeners
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
My wife!
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
Prosecco. Possibly gin, but I think Prosecco.
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Charlie Edmondson
Pepe garden furniture
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
A Mecca for gardening
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
One of my relaxing products
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
A glass of sauvignon blanc. Then another.
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Paul Whittick and Brian Smith
Chelsea Pensioners
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
Living here
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
Jo Whiley
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
H20 Mango. (Brian would grab a Guinness)
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Alan Titchmarsh
Legend
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
Being inspired by the new plants
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
I haven’t spotted anything yet
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
A nice G&T
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Rich Hall
Comedian
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
The sheds
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
The Royal Bank of Canada Garden. All of it.
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
A cold Modelo beer. It’s Mexican
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Kate Wyer-Roberts (with Dominic)
Garden Designer
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
The sheer variety of things to see.
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
This Nicolas Morton pebble seat
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
G&T with Fever Tree tonic, or a Badger ginger beer.
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Ann-Marie Powell
Garden Designer
What’s the best thing about the Chelsea Flower Show?
I love everything!
If you could take one thing home with you, what would it be?
Charlotte Harris’ garden
After a hard day’s gardening, what drink do you reach for?
Fizzy wine. I like my wine!
1. James Basson’s Maltese ode to Minecraft.
2. A panda trashing the ‘Chengdu Silk Road Garden’
3. All hail the May Queen! The M&Gs flower dress.
4. Ever increasing circles on The David Harber trade stand
5. Trumpet time on Manjo Malde’s ‘Beneath a Mexican Sky’
6. Charlotte Harris’s Canadian cool.
7. Stag, bear, horse, horse, horse, (and what looks like the rear end of a swine)
8. Joe Swift, Wishing he was fishing.
* Pictures of flowers
** That bloke from Strictly – Tick. Nick Knowles – Tick. Raymond ‘Bindweed’ Blanc (he gets everywhere) – Tick, tick, tick
*** Taking some pictures of flowers
**** See also ‘Billy Smarts Circus’
