While catching up on the Chelsea Flower Show, I've noticed that it often feels like the plants and flowers take a backseat to the hard landscaping features like sculptures, outdoor kitchens, and modern structures. For instance, the winning small garden leaned heavily on gabion walls rather than showcasing plants. Many of the featured gardens, such as the King's Trust Garden and the Avanade Intelligent Garden, seem to prioritize hard surfaces over planting. Should we consider renaming it to the "Chelsea Landscaping Show" instead?
5 Answers
You're right! The Chelsea Flower Show does attract a crowd that loves getting dressed up and enjoying a fancy day out, with gorgeous flowers as a backdrop. But the exclusivity and high ticket prices always seem to overshadow the gardening aspect. Still, it showcases amazing work from horticulturists and benefits important causes like the NHS.
I get what you mean! The plants really are meant to complement the overall design of the garden. They often emphasize how planting fits into the landscaping theme because everything needs to gel together for a successful garden. If you want to see all the blooms, don’t forget about the pavilion – that's where the flowers truly shine and are judged by quality.
I can't help but feel like money has become a star of the show lately too. It's more about the prestige and exclusivity than the plants themselves.
You've got a valid point! Landscaping has been a part of garden design for ages, and it's not just something that Western styles do. Gardens need to function well, offering spaces for seating, pathways, and other features while also looking great. Landscaping can actually support the plants, like using plant supports or creating rockeries, so it plays a crucial role in the overall garden experience.
Totally agree with you! The tent is packed with plants, but it doesn't get as much airtime. It's crazy how little coverage those actual gardens get. Honestly, though, the landscaping aspect doesn't really excite me either.
Right? I watch Gardener's World for the inspiration but can only handle short bits of the Chelsea show before zoning out.
Isn't it the RHS that benefits? Not NHS?