Gardens, Plants and Chelsea!

 Once again it is Chelsea Flower Show time, and even the laziest of armchair gardeners must marvel at the fabulous entries on display. With something for everyone, it is such a feast of colour and design.

There are very few places where a garden cannot be created. All it takes is a space, some soil, and a few plants or shrubs, and in a relatively short time, a living garden will materialize, so it`s always great to get some inspiration and ideas from this famous annual show.

It needn`t be expensive, as many gardeners are only too happy to share  cuttings or split plants to anyone who is interested.

The road to Chelsea is not an easy one, and for all that we see the perfect blooms, trees and shrubs, a huge amount of planning, preparation, nurturing and lots of dedication and sheer hard work will have gone into producing them and getting them safely to the Show.

There are so many moving parts which are necessary to bring it all together, and so many things that can go wrong.

The weather has  a huge influence, as a bad winter or spring can wipe out or badly hinder young plants.

As in humans, disease is another factor, as bugs and viruses can spread rapidly and kill off plants.

This year in particular must have been difficult, as nurturing plants which required heat during the winter frosts, would incur huge energy costs.

Everything has a deadline. Specimens must be of the right criteria for their class in Show. The size, type, colour, health and nutrition must be perfect and exact for display on the required day. 

There must be many sleepless nights for the producers as the big day comes around, and the prospect of transporting the precious cargo safely to Chelsea has to be a nail biting experience.

It doesn`t end there of course, as all the exhibits have to be kept in pristine condition whilst they are on display. That means that there are always outside forces which could go wrong, such as a change in temperature or plant trauma, so high maintenance is required to keep everything fed, watered and looking good.

The onsite gardens require an enormous amount of work, which start months before the Show, and can involve excavation, planting, utilities such as water and light, and building of structures, long before the final  assembling of the exhibit.

There has been quite a shift in recent years of the various briefs which are set out for the Show gardens.

Moving slightly out of favour are the immaculate, manicured lawns with razor sharp edges, weed free borders and rather formal plantings.

Such  presentations relied on getting rid of anything which was likely to spoil the show of garden perfection, by pulling out or chemically treating weeds, cutting grass to the minimum, and getting rid of any sign of wildlife habitation which might be in the way.

We are now all aware of how important it is to look after the environment, and that has made us realize that we ignored important elements as unwanted  and often unsightly in the pursuit of a rather rigid unnatural look.

Insects are a case in point. How often have we trodden  on an insect without giving it a thought, when in actual fact it was probably carrying out a vital job in the garden, often underground.

These unassuming little things, whilst carrying all sorts of important jobs, are also food for birds, so if we get rid of insects, we run the risk of having fewer birds.

Weeds also come under this category. They are often very pretty plants and can have uses, but because they may grow and spread rapidly, they are unceremoniously pulled out or killed with chemicals.

The current trend for the Chelsea Show gardens tend to be theme led.

There are some of manicured perfection, but there are many which are positively rustic, which include, weeds, wild life habitats and showing off the natural world in all its glory.

It`s hard to imagine that these show stopping gardens look as if no human being has been there and yet they have been carefully assembled by the human hand to appear effortlessly natural and untouched.

There are other reasons too for the change in themes.

Everyone knows what a beneficial effect gardens and green spaces have on mental health.

This has not been lost in Chelsea, as many designs are targeted at contributing to mental wellness by promoting  colour, scent, calmness, sound and texture which appeal to the senses and can help a whole range of mental health issues.

The colour green is especially linked to promoting a feeling of peace, so trees, shrubs and green plants are particularly useful in lowering feelings of stress and anxiety.

A group which was previously forgotten about were wheelchair users,  often denied the joys and benefits of gardens and woodlands due to poor access provision and lack of visibility. 

Further  improvements are needed, but by designing gardens at a level which can be viewed and enjoyed from a wheelchair, and being able to negotiate a garden space, is a huge improvement and benefit for users, and has encouraged many wheelchair gardeners to participate in what was a hobby previously outwith their reach.

Many exhibitors are rewarded for their hard work by receiving awards. It is usually the highlight of a producer`s career to receive an award at Chelsea, and adds to their prestige as a gardening professional and authority when they go back to the daily work at the nursery or garden.

The work for next year will commence following the end of the 2023 Show.

New varieties of plants will be talked about and produced, new ideas exchanged.

Many of the exhibits will have been sold at the Show, but many will be transported in their entirety to a permanent site, for the benefit of others.

It is good to see such a prestigious show, not only grow in popularity, but also to contribute much to society by making us all aware of the huge benefits plants, trees and shrubs can have on our well being, and encourage us to join in.