Chelsea Flower Show – the flowers (I want them all!)
Besides Show Gardens and stalls of garden sundries Chelsea also has flowers on show, as you might expect. These are housed in a huge marquee structure. Inside are various plant stands set up by nurseries and assorted organisations. I’ll give you an idea of what was on offer. Bear in mind that this is a fraction of what was there. Do click on the pictures if you want a closer look.
Colourful perennials – I remember as a child having these flowers in our garden. They are regarded as rather old fashioned now but I still like to see them – nostalgia I suppose!
Lupins
Spring bulbs including Narcissi and Tulips – kept chilled to delay flowering. I was rather taken with this pale blue Muscari.
Muscari 'Blue Magic'
Tender plants such as Pelargoniums, including these scented ones.
Scented Pelargoniums
Ferns – this picture reminds me that my Dicksonia (Tree fern) seems to have died on me after I planted it outside….Sob!
Ferns
Eye catching individuals. I’ve never been that keen on Heucheras but I’m slowly beginning to find them attractive.
Heuchera 'Southern Comfort'
Cacti – look at all those different shapes. Fascinating plants, especially when large.
Cacti
One of my favourites, though not everyone likes them.
Carnivorous Plants
Grasses and grasslike plants. The brown just asks to be stroked – this is forbidden of course!
Grasses
A superb display of Herbs by Jekka McVicar. Look at the frothy yellow woad, once use to provide blue dye.
Herbs
Iris sibirica appeared in many of the show gardens. I’ve become quite a fan – they are so colourful but also very neat and tidy plants.
Iris sibirica
Large Alliums were also the stars in the show gardens. I’m definitely getting more of them.
Alliums and Hippeastrums
Look at this oddball!
Allium 'Hair'
In fact there were plants galore. You cannot buy plants at the Chelsea Show, only order them. Luckily that puts a stop to my impulse buying – so I made a long list of wanted plants instead.
Plants, plants, plants, plants
I want them all!
19 comments
Each display makes its speciality plants look so appealing. I imagine there was a lot of impulse ordering. Those lupins are arranged in such a great colour sequence. The purple flower combinations in the fifth photo from the bottom look so good. I have some Muscari ‘Azureum’ that are a similar light blue colour like ‘Blue Magic’. Mine would never make it to a Chelsea display, though. They are much more sparsely planted.
N S:These displays make you focus more closely on the plants – which they deserve. I saw Muscari ‘Azureum’ too – it was also very beautiful.
How I would love to go there. Thanks for sharing.
Donna
Donna: I’m sure you would love it!
Just scrumptious!
Zoe: Indeed they were
I would want all of those too. Allium ‘Hair’, what a scream! Funny that you can’t buy plants at the show – that’s one of the big draws at our Seattle one. I have a pale blue muscari that looks similar though I’ve forgotten the name. They are a humble bulb but I love when the spread in my garden, they are always welcome and many are so long-lived! Lupines always make me think of Monty Python, “Your Lupines, or your life!”
Karen: Now every time I see a Lupin I’ll think of Monty Python!
Yes – I was rather relieved that plants weren’t on sale, but got lots of inspiration for later when I finally get the bottom border cleared. Did you see how much those lupins were – 6 for £45!
VP: In some ways it’s good not to be able to buy – allows more time to concentrate on sensible plants for my own garden, instead of buying unsuitable ones
“Never been that keen on heucheras”! Wash your mouth out with soap. You must join Ssh (Secret Society of Heucheraholics) and then you will grow to love them.
That allium ‘hair’ is gorgeous.
Arabella: I will try to love them more, though I may need an intervention
I love lupins. I have some seedlings coming up. Lets hope I can get them to grow here. Thanks for showing us all these lovely photos.
Judith: That might be a first – Lupins in Crete!
You lost your tree fern? Tragedy! How do you know it’s gone? I kept mine in a pot and tried to protect it, but I can’t tell if it’s alive or not. I lost all the fronds, and there’s no sign of new fronds yet, but the trunk still feels firmly attached to the soil and doesn’t seem lifeless if I poke at it. It’s a very scientific study. Is that how yours is too?
Megan: We are both doing the tree fern poking in the hope of a bit of green. I live in hope but I think something should have happened by now!
Oh, how divine. My favourite is the soft pastel colours of the poppies in the last photo, but when I look again I think they are all my favourites!
Catmint: I loved the poppies too – they have gone on my wants list!
Enjoyed the tour EG especially the close up of Jekka McVicar’s stand. That little pale blue muscari lives up to its name. Perhaps it’s just as well that plants are not on sale at Chelsea
Anna: If you have no self control then restrictions on plant buying are a boon!
How wonderful…I think the poppy is lovely…and i want lots of alliums in my garden next spring! Once you decide to totally embrace heucheras.here’s one for you~~ It’s wonderful…Big pale green maple shaped leaves…blooms in the fall. Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’. Gail
Gail: I am going to look at Heucheras more closely from now on
Wow! Great photos
The flowers are so much more sustaining of interest than the show gardens (hint, hint BBC).
I, too, feel the need to ‘footle’ my tree fern to see if any fronds are on their way. It’s a bit embarassing…
HM: I hope we Tree Fern owners are not going to be disappointed!
It isnt a Hydrangea, its a Viburnum!
Zoe: Duh! of course it is. My brain is going its own sweet way. Thanks for letting me know
Hi EG, wow, that is pretty lucky that you can’t buy the plants right there. Those lupines are amazing, as are the carniverous plant display. I planted woad from seed this year and got two plants. It is on some invasive lists in the US, but not in my state of Tennessee. Then I saw it at our local nursery. Good to see what it is going to look like when it grows up.
Frances
Frances: You’ll have lots of frothy yellow flowers to look forward to!
Someday I will get to attend the Chelsea Flower Show.
It looks as if it is amazing!
Sherry
Sherry: It is well worth it though very tiring trying to see everything – you have to pace yourself!
I want them all too!
Dawn: See what effect they have – just as well I couldn’t buy any
I am a big fan go pitcher plants too and have a small bog garden where I grow them with Venus Fly Traps and other bog plants. I love your photos of the flowers at the show; they inspire me.
Karen:I’d love a bog garden in the ground but I have to make do with containers!
I want them all, well, except for the carnivorous plants, just not too keen on them, I’m afraid. I see that Arabella has boxed your ears for the not being keen on Heuchera’s.
Thanks for the lovely pics!
Yolanda Elizabet: Yes she did – every time I see a Heuchera I’m going to feel guilty if I don’t like it
Such a great selection, I would be wanting a few of all of those.
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