Blooming lovely! Highlights from Chelsea Flower Show
The creme de la creme of gardening exhibitions opened this week - and Euronews Culture was at the start of Chelsea Flower Show in London to bring you a rundown of all the best things to look out for - whether you’re visiting or admiring the designs from afar.
Officially opened by newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla, 2023’s event is taking place - as always - at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea and boasts 36 as well as countless stalls featuring the best of plants and garden furniture from across the globe.
It’s full to bursting with inspiration for even the least green-fingered garden fans and no matter how small or large your outdoor space, it’s possible to take aspects from the award-winning designs and apply them to your own garden.
Common themes at this year’s flower show are muted colours - lots of whites, pale yellows and purples - the ongoing rewilding versus manicured garden debate, sustainability, accessibility and drought tolerant planting to combat rising temperatures.
On Tuesday 23 May, awards were handed out at the world’s most prestigious gardening event - here are the top prize winners…
Best Show Garden: Horatio's Garden designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg
Paid a visit by Queen Camilla, the garden meets the needs of people with mobility issues and embraces the mission of the Horatio’s Garden charity which aims to create and nurture beautiful, accessible gardens in NHS spinal injuries centres.
Best Construction Award (Show Garden): The Centrepoint Garden designed by Cleve West
This striking garden, featuring a ruined house, weeds and a tree torn from its roots, aims to serve as a metaphor for what it means to be young and homeless. The Centrepoint charity helps those young people without a home and the garden incorporates around 120,000 dots, highlighting the number of homeless youths in the UK.
Best Sanctuary Garden: The National Brain Appeal's Rare Space designed by Charlie Hawkes / Best Construction Award (Sanctuary Garden)
This space, which won two awards, was designed to be enjoyed by people living with dementia, featuring bright visuals and calming surroundings, including a textured path, brightly coloured seating, soothing water features and sheltered spaces for those afflicted.
Best Balcony & Container Garden: Feels Like Home designed by Rosemary Coldstream
This small garden was inspired by Coldstream’s childhood in New Zealand and features sculptural
plants, rich colours and natural materials which come together to make the space 'feel like home' for the designer. It also touches on the theme of the increasing necessity for drought resistant plants for a changing climate across the globe.
Best All About Plants Garden: The Talitha Arts Garden designed by Joe and Laura Carey This design celebrates the creative arts and their therapeutic power to help those who’ve suffered trauma. It uses a minimalist palette focusing on the contrast between darkness and light and uses sculpture and muted colours as a metaphor for trauma recovery.
Other highlights from Chelsea Flower Show
In a Chelsea first, designer Manoj Malde married his partner of 33 years, Clive Gillmor, in his own garden at the show.
It’s the only wedding ever held at the Flower Show in its 110 year history and was particularly significant for this year’s theme of diversity and inclusion and was celebrated by the RHS. Judge Alexander-Sinclair said, told the PA news agency: “It’s a Chelsea first and Chelsea one-off – it’s not something you expect to happen at a flower show”, adding, “Isn’t it a glorious idea? Somebody who actually designs this garden about bringing people together, then gets married [in] it. It’s a nice way to connect the whole thing”.
Very few animals are allowed at Chelsea due to safety concerns - in fact, bees were removed from The Newt’s garden in case of stings - so one four-legged visitor was the toast of the show.
Daisy, a dog rescued from a puppy farm, enchanted visitors as the official mascot of the RSPCA’s garden. As well as raising awareness of the charity, the designers explained they’re aiming to inspire gardeners, calling them, “the secret weapon against wildlife decline”.
Celebrities are a mainstay of the opening of Chelsea Flower Show and this year's star-studded guest list didn't disappoint.
As well as a visit from the King and Queen, Princess Kate joined Chelsea pensioners - ex-military members who live on the grounds of the Royal Hospital - as well as picnicking with school children.
Oscar-winning veteran actress Judi Dench was in attendance as well as 'Succession star' Matthew Macfayden and his wife Keeley Hawes.
Stars of the silver screen, including Jim Broadbent, ' Downton Abbey' actor Jim Carter and 'Absolutely Fabulous' Patsy - AKA Joanna Lumley - enjoyed the gardens on display.
Not to be mistaken for the King himself, actor Dominic West - who portrayed Charles in 'The Crown' posed for photos at the Flower Show.
Euronews Culture spoke to many attendees and the consensus was, although the favourite gardens mentioned didn’t win any top awards, the stand outs were…
RHS Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration designed by Dave Green
This small garden, commissioned by the RHS and therefore not eligible for judging, used plants favoured by the royal family, specifically King Charles III and the late Queen Elizabeth II, as well as elements used at royal residences. Designed to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles, it features a bronze sculpture of the new monarch.
A Letter from a Million Years Past designed by Jihae Hwang
This impressive garden features a large herb drying structure, usually found in the eastern part of Jirisan - known as 'the mother mountain of South Korea'. The design uses rocks weighing more than 200 tonnes which form a recreation of that mountain, as well as trees, plants and herbs selected for their healing and medicinal properties.
The Biophilic Garden Otsu - Hanare designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara
A ‘must see’ for Chelsea visitors, this garden focuses on the Japanese 'hanare', is a small house separated from the main building, considered to be a place of healing. Using moss and water features, this design is one of the most peaceful at the entire event.
While all awards given by RHS judges have been handed out, the People's Choice winner is set to be announced on Friday, 26 May.