Chelsea in bloom as Flower Show lands
ALL those months of composting are coming to fruition as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show arrives. From Tuesday the area will be in full bloom with the world’s finest gardening talent on display. City PM rounded up six of the show’s hotly-tipped highlights.
AUSTRALIA GARDEN
This marks the debut for the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne at Chelsea, which is introducing the ‘The Australian Garden’, by Jim Fogarty. It’s been inspired by a journey from the Australian outback, through the rivers to the urban East Coast of the country. The designer has used all Australian native varieties, with the hope of inspiring Brits to try growing Aussie varieties in their own gardens.
www.rbg.vic.gov.au/australian-garden
LAURENT PERRIER
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and British sculptor Peter Randell have come together on this romantic garden inspired by Perrier colours. (The perfect inspiration for fizz after.)
www.laurent-perrier.co.uk
THE MONACO GARDEN
The Principality of Monaco exhibits for the first time with a garden inspired by Monaco’s architecture and landscape, created by award-winning landscape designer Sarah Eberle. www.gouv.mc
THE B&Q GARDEN
Created by Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins, B&Q’s garden will be the tallest ever to exhibit at the show, a giant eight meter high living wall, where everything planted on it– from the chilies, to the tomatoes, herbs and flowers – will be edible and supported by its own composting and watering system. The piece has been designed, B&Q says, to champion self-sufficiency in urban settings, demonstrating how plants can be grown in tight spaces using vertical planting and other solutions. Fans who didn’t get tickets for the show needn’t miss out, either. To partner the event, B&Q is staging a coup at Trafalgar Square. From 6.30 am this morning a group of B&Q staff, dressed in tomato costumes, will be handing out 100,000 free tomato plants to commuters. There’s no excuse to shun the vegetable patch now.
www.diy.com
JANE PACKER
Celebrity florist Jane Packer counts everyone from The Prince of Wales to Victoria Beckham among her fans and is staging a live flower arranging demonstration on Tuesday 24th, displaying how to make up several of her signature bouquets.
www.jane-packer.co.uk
M&G GARDEN
Multiple gold medal winner Bunny Guinness returns after an eight-year absence to design M&G Investments’ garden exhibit, left, a chic modern take on a kitchen garden with rows of cabbages, fruit, herbs and flowers all integrated to an elegant space. “I wanted to create something that was beautiful but fully functioning,” says Guinness of the design which also features a floating glass platform and seating around a working alfresco fireplace. www.mandgchelsea.co.uk
WIN TICKETS
Tickets have sold out, but title sponsor M&G is offering two pairs to City PM readers for Friday 27th. Enter the prize draw by answering the question:? “What anniversary is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show celebrating this year?” Email answers by midday Monday, May 23rd, to: [email protected]
Contact: WildCard, www.wildcard.co.uk for full terms and conditions.
www.mandgchelsea.co.uk