CHELSEA GET READY FOR US
Words by Jessica Peace
Chelsea you had better get ready because we are coming and we are going to cover you in GERANIUMS - well, just your gate.
The Royal Horticultural Chelsea Flower Show has been an event in the gardener’s notebook since 1862. The show grabs designers and plant obsessives from all over the globe, locks them into the Chelsea embankment and gives them all just a couple of weeks to create their gardens and installations. This year we’ll be in with’em doing the gate!
What gate?...
THE BULL RING GATE
[Sound of us blowing our own trumpet - LOUD]
The Bull Ring Gate has only been smothered in flowers for the past two years and it’s basically where the florists show off. Last year Robert Hornsby kitted it out in carnations and the year before Shane Connolly got out his British blooms for the Queen’s 90th bash.
But this year we are bringing the geraniums - by the van load.
CHELSEA LATEIs it a coincidence that the year we come over they extend the bar licence?
Chelsea is staying open on the Friday and getting all the sweet ‘late night’ treatment - decked out with sexy lanterns, cocktails, jazz, a vegetable orchestra (!!!), tattoos (temporary I suppose?!), free headdresses for every reveller (sold), AND plants for sale. Just don’t trample on the gardens.
THE BIG GUNS 2018
The ‘Show Gardens’ are where the designers get their biggest sweat on. These are the guys you see on the telly and get the massive plots. This year designers include Sarah Price - famous for her ‘whisps’ and ‘swathes’; Jo Thompson - once had divers jumping into a natural pool here;
and Tom Massey - the new guy at Chelsea will be drawing attention to the refugees living in Domiz camp in Northern Iraq.
ARTY FARTIES
The Artisan Gardens are smaller and wackier than the Show Gardens. Two years ago Juliet Sargeant won this category with her ‘Modern Slavery’ garden and there has been loads more noise about the category since.
… there is also the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ category; the ‘Space to Grow’ category - for us with teeny gardens, and a big fat marquee stuffed with exhibits, plant stalls, food, booze…
DON’T bring any gnomes along, they’ve been banned for bad behaviour - no joke.
WHEN?
Tuesday 22nd - Saturday 26th May 2018.
GET YOUR MITTS ON TICKETS HERE
[… It is a bit pricey BUT there are cheaper half day tickets available - you can also catch it on the telly and iplayer.]