In fairness some of these honours are given for other things like charity work or establishing educational foundations etc, not always the thing they are best known for. I agree tho the honours in general have become a bit of a farce.
Probably the most farcical in recent years was the entire England cricket team getting gongs of one flavour or another for beating Australia, in Australia, for the first time in about 50 years. They promptly lost the next series 5-0 but I'm not aware of any player who gave the award back saying they didn't deserve it..
Just switched off Chelsea Flower Show after that awful exhibit won best in show, I thought it was supposed to be a garden! @chickys lovely garden only got a silver.
I don't think you quite understand what Chelsea is about. It wasn't awful it was a magnificent recreation of a natural environment, which is quite common at Chelsea. Was it a garden? Probably not, but then most of the Show Gardens aren't. Was it dramatic? Yes.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
The RHS has been promoting gardening and its benefits for physical and mental well-being for years whether as mental health or as educational, social and community building activities. Monty has also done a lot in this area, especially, but not only, during lockdown and that's why he's been given the VMH.
It isn't just about horticultural excellence. You only have to look at the 10 latest RHS ambassador appointments which include Nikki Chapman and Jo Wiley - not exactly known for horticultural prowess but who are known to love gardening and promote its benefits.
As for the judging, it has been explained before. They judge on the execution of the design against the brief given by the designer. There are points awarded for whether the built design met the written criteria and then the quality of the build and the quality of the plants and a recent criteria is how eco-friendly it is.
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Probably the most farcical in recent years was the entire England cricket team getting gongs of one flavour or another for beating Australia, in Australia, for the first time in about 50 years. They promptly lost the next series 5-0 but I'm not aware of any player who gave the award back saying they didn't deserve it..
Need we say more?
It wasn't awful it was a magnificent recreation of a natural environment, which is quite common at Chelsea.
Was it a garden?
Probably not, but then most of the Show Gardens aren't.
Was it dramatic?
Yes.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
It isn't just about horticultural excellence. You only have to look at the 10 latest RHS ambassador appointments which include Nikki Chapman and Jo Wiley - not exactly known for horticultural prowess but who are known to love gardening and promote its benefits.
As for the judging, it has been explained before. They judge on the execution of the design against the brief given by the designer. There are points awarded for whether the built design met the written criteria and then the quality of the build and the quality of the plants and a recent criteria is how eco-friendly it is.
That's how it is often not the most attractive garden that wins.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/exhibit-at-a-show/judging-at-rhs-shows
@raisingirl @wild edges I was joking about the coffins! Definite overkill on that spec.