Perusing the Pavilion: The RHS Chelsea flower Show 2014.
I recently had the opportunity to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, I’d last visited the show about 10 years ago and found it very packed with people and extremely difficult to move about. However I decided when the tickets went on sale earlier this year to give it another go.
Now although I did just about get all around the show, i’m not going to dwell on the show gardens in this post, mainly because other bloggers have covered this area much more eloquently than I think I could.
I’m going to concentrate on the Great Pavillion, because thats where the plants are!
Heucheras by Plantagogo.com
The War Horse is jumping from the Darkness into the light, this is represented by dark coloured foliage on the right of the picture, and the bright colourful varieties on the left of the picture. A Gold Medal Winning Display.
This was one of my favourite displays of the day, I am a big fan of Hardys Plants, such a wide and interesting range of plants available, and they attend most shows I visit, so lots of buying opportunities to be had. It was also one of the largest displays within the Pavilion with a path running through the display that you were allowed to walk on, quite unusual for a Chelsea display.
I took pictures of several plants that I really liked the look of, and added a few to my ‘must buy list’.!
A lovely little pink pea plant.
A lovely dark maroon leaved Physocarpus, I keep photographing this plant at the shows I go to, i’m going to have to find room for one I think.
Another plant i’ve liked for a while, this appeared to be all over the show in various displays.
This was a stunning plant, thats on my must buy list, I’ve since found it for sale as Kopper Kettle as well. Also it appears to command quite a high price from some nurseries, so I may have to bide my time for a while until the prices come down.
The Hardys stand was a Gold Medal winning display, and very well deserved.
A sweet little Greenhouse, a small veg patch of Herbs and Veg, some edible flowers such as Nasturtiums.
Not very realistic with everything crammed in together, no slug damage either, but a lovely sweet little patch with some very nice features dotted within the display.
A also liked the way that the back of the display had very good attention to detail as well.
Growing well in the wall as you would expect to find in a natural setting. Hooksgreen Herbs and the World of Beatrix potter Attraction was a Gold winning display.
There were other Veg displays to be seen.
W Robinson’s (they of the Mammoth Onion seed), have been exhibiting at Chelsea for many years, they have evolved their stand from showing just the veg, to showing the veg still attached to the plants, it was an interesting display showing many different varieties of plants that can be eaten.
The Judges Awarded a Silver-Gilt flora. Which I though was a bit harsh.
Culm View Nursery had a nice display of Candelabra Primulas and various Poppies, amongst other things.
The Ladybird Poppy was another plant that appeared to be present on just about every other stand.
I spotted this small and gorgeous Aquilegia ‘Clementine Salmon in the display, a nice colour with upward facing flowers. what happens to it in the rain, we can only imagine. This was added to my ‘to buy list’ however I have since found cheap seed available from another nursery, but don’t tell anyone. 😉 Culm view won a Gold Medal.
A lovely big bright display from South West in bloom, which shows quite a few out of season plants. This display won a Gold Medal and A Diamond Jubilee Award.
A display of Woodland Plants from Harveys Garden Plants, who received a Silver-Gilt Medal.
This was a spectacular display of bulbs and associated plants by Avon bulbs, They were awarded a Gold Medal for their display.
Lunaria annua Chedglow was one of their star plants, this plant has been highlighted on several Gardening programmes in recent months, and I couldn’t help noticing that the seed that they had for sale for this plant was much more expensive than any other seed that they had on offer. Perhaps i’m being slightly cynical… 😉
A stunning Tulip Abbu Hassan, this plant is becoming more popular these days, i’m seeing it everywhere.
Delphiniums on the Blackmore and Langdon stand, who were awarded a Silver Medal.
Lupins from Westcountry Nurseries, who were awarded a Gold Medal.
A nice display from Primrose Bank Nurseries.
I spotted a lovely pale yellow Trollis thats now on the must buy list.
A glorious fiery display of Pelargoniums by the Gold Medal Winning Fibrex Nurseries.
What now follows are a few random outside pictures….
(Twine made from wool)
And finally, if you’ve lasted this far, then thank you,
I’m going to leave you with a picture of my favourite thing from the entire show…..
Thats how I felt when I got home.
Happy Growing and stay dry.
The Cynical Gardener 
Great photos June, nice to be reminded of the event again through your photos and it’s great that were able to go again after a ten year hiatus.
LikeLike
I feel exhausted just reading about it! I suppose one day I will make it to the show but until then I will live vicariously through you.
LikeLike
With a 3.30 ticket there was not enough time to properly visit the marquee, so thank you June for your tour!
LikeLike
Much cheaper and less crowded to look at your photos, lovely pictures by the way.
LikeLike