I’m a gardening pro, and these are the gardens that blew my mind at the RHS flower show
NOW in it’s 111th year, Chelsea is the Queen of Flower Festivals – the jewel in the RHS Crown.
Thousands flock to the prestigious event from all over the UK – and it ends today after six days of floral fantasia, tricky weather and mind blowing builds of dreamy designs.
Attended by everyone from King Charles and Camilla, to Dame Judy Dench, Sue Barker, Joel Dommet and Alan Titchmarsh, it’s one of THE social events of the year.
The winner of the 2024 Plant of the Year was a white, star shaped petalled cherry, called Prunus Starlight. Second was Cosmos atrosanguineus Cherry Chocolate, and third was Agave ‘Preying Hands’.
Here’s my top ten take-homes.
- The ‘best in show’ Gold Medal winning serene Muscular Dystrophy Garden, designed by Ula Maria.
Based on the Japanese concept of Forest Bathing, it’s sponsored by Project Giving Back and offers MD patients a change to pause, relax and reconnect to nature – something that people with the disease don’t often get to do. Really humbling. It was really serence and peaceful and will be relocated to Glasgow after the show.
2. The fabulous Hampshire Carniverous plants in the Great Pavillion had pure tropical vibes – although they’re completely hardy and can grow in the UK.
3. The Glasshouse Effect’s Houseplant Studio was the first exhibit designed and built by women in prison – cleverly reflecting their inspiring journey through HMP East Sutton Park, Kent.
4. The National Garden Scheme’s garden designed by Tom Stuart Smith was a remarkable woodland scene, overflowiing with beautiful white and greens.
5. The innovative Netflix-sponsored Bridgerton Garden was a ‘secretive and secluded space” inspired by character Penelope Featherington. Different – but fun.
6. Standing under the huge rainwater harvesting pavilion surrounded by really clever resilient planting at Tom Massey’s WaterAid garden was an absolute joy.
7. The No Adults Allowed garden by Harry Holding, was lovely to see – especially with its waterslide into a subterranean den – and all the kids swarming all over it.
8. The Sue Ryder grief garden was a great concept – designed to spark conversations about grief and highlight the charity’s bereavement service. Kate Garraway, who recently lost her husband Derek, spent time in the garden on Monday.
9. Primrose Hall Peonies were an absolute delight in the Great Pavillion. Such incredible flowers and colours.
10. She Grows Veg had a fabulous stand in the Grand Pavillion and a very well deserved medal. They send heirloom veg seeds straight to your door.
CAN THEY DIG IT?
IT’S National Children’s Gardening Week.
Running from today, visit www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk to find out a whole host of kids activities to get them curious about the outside.
This year, organiser HTA has partnered with the World of Peter Rabbit – and participating Garden Centres across the UK will be giving away free Peter Rabbit activity booklets.
If you can’t get your hands on the real thing, visit the website to download a digital version.
There’s also a page showing which centres have the booklets and an exhaustive list of all the activities on at your local gardening centres.
These include pot painting, special kids trails, building mini garden safari’s, seed planting, and so much more.
The week raises funds for the fabulous Greenfingers Charity, dedicated to providing magical gardens for children in hospices suffering from life limiting illnesses.
LITTLE PEOPLE BIG DREAMS
ROBERT Dyas is introducing Little Plant & Pause from today.
This will involve a series of child-friendly garden activities on Instagram during half term, including a Grow Your Own Runner Bean competition.
The winner will receive a bundle of garden games and children’s gardening equipment.
Visit any Robert Dyas store to pick up a free pack of runner bean seeds and help them grow a beanstalk!
Entrants are invited to tag Robert Dyas on Instagram @robertdyas with their best photo by July 31st, with the hashtag #LittlePlantandPause, for a chance to win.
BEEZY DOES IT
Urbee’s Bee Box’ is a fun and educational set for primary school-aged children, encouraging them to step outside and look at bees.
Endorsed by Buglife – the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, it includes bee ID, info and activity cards, Seedballs® and much more. www.urbee.co.uk
THIS WEEK’S JOB
Start thinking about pinching out the tips of fuschia’s to encourage them to put on bushy growth. With the higher temperatures comes more weeds, so try and keep on top of them.
THIS WEEK’S TIP
If foxes and squirrels are digging up your bedding plants – scatter some general kitchen chilli flakes – will deter them, but not bother the birds.
WIN!
One lucky winner will get their hands on a Cobra Cordless MX4340V mower worth £335.99!
Hand propelled and battery-powered, it has five cutting heights and is a great piece of stylish but practical kit..
To enter and for more details, visit www.thesun.co.uk/COBRA or fill in THIS FORM.
Or write to Sun COBRA competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.
Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 8/06/24. Full T&Cs HERE
SAVE!
DIG deep for this lovely £22.99 Burgon and Ball Kids spade,
Or go for Amazon’s Carousel £12.99 version.
LEARN!
Q. I have found an ever increasing variety of wide bladed grass trying to take over my lawn.
Despite spending hours picking this grass out, it always returns. Is there a suitable weed killer for this grass or another method for its removal.
Steve Epton, via email.
A. This sounds like Couch Grass. Weed killer is tricky as it destroys everything around it, stays in the soil and is bad for wildlife, but if that’s the path you’d like to go down – then something with glyphosate in it would be best – like Roundup Ultra?
When it’s died back, rake and reseed.
Or dig it out – make sure you get all the rhizomes and all. Then fill the hole with a mix of soil and seed. Go native with the seed, like Bent and Fescue – as they love being mowed and give really good cover – leaving less space for the annoying Couch to poke through.