It was the best of days!

Homebase Garden with bee hive

 As usual any one who doesn't like detail can miss out this post and just look at the pictures!


What a magical day! Made all the more special by having Kit with us. It is so lovely to introduce someone else to something that you love, with the hope that they too with love it as much as you do. I think she did.

Seating area and planting of Homebase garden

 We began early catching the 6.55 train to London. It is worth getting there so early because you get to see the show gardens with a small crowd rather than the hundreds later. We took a taxi to the waterside entrance, which means that the first garden we saw was the best in show – Trailfinders Australian garden. Unfortunately getting there so early they hadn’t turned on the water and there were no frogs quietly cheeping in the background. It is lovely but I don’t think we would have given it best in show! A quick coffee and then we were off to see the other show gardens. The planting this year is really beautiful in lots of soft purples, lilacs, lemons and some dark pink/crimsons. There are 15 show gardens this year – 10 got gold – wow! I loved most of them but had 3 real favourites

Kitty and I - looking slightly surprised by Paul calling

 

v    The Homebase garden – Sowing the Seeds of Change in association with Alzheimer’s society,  this garden was a mix of  edible and ornamental plants and looked so possible with the most lovely seating are and beehive shapes echoed throughout the garden 

v     The Windows Through Time M&G centenary garden, this would have been my best in show garden. It moved through gardening over the last 100 years and began with an old sandstone wall and moved through to a beautiful copper coloured sculpture through which you could look at the garden – very clever. The planting was so beautiful

The Arthritis Research UK Garden – Chris Beardshaw designed this garden bravely speaking of his own battle with arthritis since a child. He used 3 pieces of sculpture showing the pain at the beginning of diagnosis, a lucid area where you are coming to terms with diagnosis and getting help and lastly to the radiant garden where you learn to manage the condition and enjoy life again. I loved the story telling and the planting was exquisite.  

Windows Through Time -

 After the show gardens we had our first visit to the pavilion. As ever, we were overwhelmed by the size and the number of exhibits. I wish I could give you a glimpse of it in words but nothing I say can capture the size and beauty of some of the stands or the sheer number of flowers there are. I think every plant you could wish to see is there, beautifully displayed – swathes of lilies, clematis, carnations, chrysanthemums, roses, hostas, alpines, bulbs, orchards, violas, etc….. the list is endless! Kit and I had a wonderful chat with a man from interflora who had designed a fantastic stand. He was so helpful – giving us tips about flower arranging. We also saw the Young Florists competition which was based on a never ending circle. They were amazing – so intricate.

Pain!

 Next a visit to the Fresh gardens – these were all innovative gardens and included a garden with traditional planting around the garden surrounding a white structure with windows which opened the more people tweeted (rhs). We chatted to a lovely young man who was very enthusiastic! Along the avenue of the fresh gardens were 3 orange poles that had been used in one of the show gardens last year. Young designers had been awarded the task of decorating them. We loved one which had used a ‘bee ‘ theme and she had designed bee wings out of metal which looked wonderfully planted in amongst the flowers. I would have loved to take a few of those home!

Lucid - with beautiful planting

 

Lunch followed and a very necessary sit down! (A bed and a lie down would have been good at this point) We then visited the Artisan Gardens which maybe my favourite gardens of all. They are tiny little spaces tucked away in the woodland area. This year there are 8 of them. I loved the Le Jardin De Yorkshire, which has been inspired by the Tour of France coming to Yorkshire in 2014. I had a lovely chat with one of the very young designers who showed me a very rare orchid, which they had been given and had tucked into the planting. I also loved Un Garreg because of its rugged design and planting including a wonderful dry stonewall. However the highlight was the Alcove Garden designed by Ishihara and was a beautiful Japanese garden with running water and an open room.

Freedom and joy !

 

Kit and I then went to see the floral displays by flower arrangers around the country. Mmmm I went for inspiration but they were so beyond my reach! Amazing arrangements with so much imagination. 

 I then went to sit down while Kit and Paul tried to cover some more of the Pavilion – there is never enough time (or energy)! 

We did manage some celebrity spotting - mostly gardeners from TV - Chris Beardshaw, Alan Titmarsh, Joe Swift, Christine Walkdon and a few actors most notable Judy Parfitt from Call the Midwife.

Pavilion stand

 Reluctantly we left Chelsea at 4pm. I was quite sad to leave – always with that thought – what if I never do that again. I know we are privileged to live close enough to be able to do it in a day. It is such a highlight of my year. I am aware of how much energy I need to be able to do it and know that in the future I may not have that energy. I am so thankful. 

Talking to Owl designer

Today a day in bed – every joint in my body is tired but my head is buzzing with pictures. I now have to work my way through all the leaflets and take down the names of the planets we would like to try and grow. new plans - lovely!I do so love a plan!

Le Jardin De Yorkshire with the peleton

Un Garreg

An Alcove - Japanese Garden

The Giraffe that wanted to come home with us - he told me!

Pavilion display

Flower arrangement

Best in Show garden

Chris Beardshaw through the trees!

Flower arrangement

Owl I would have liked to bring home