The RHS has introduced a new eco-friendly criteria for judging the show gardens this year and that means designers have gone down the "easy" route of re-wilding. However, this category can also include plants that are wildlife friendly - habitat, nectar, pollen, fruits and seeds - as well as materials that are re-cycled or locally sourced and designs that have water management features such as porous paths, water capture etc.
As has been said, it's like a Paris or Milan fashion show where often outlandish designs are then adapted and trickle down to wearable fashion.
Gardening should be about pleasure but we all need to take into account what materials and chemical or other products we use and where our plants are sourced in order to reduce risk to the environment but no-one should feel guilty about wanting to keep more traditional borders and planting schemes if that's the style of garden you like.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have to admit I watch mostly to see the plants and planting combinations, not the garden designs. Although there are a few lovely ones this year - I like Chris Beardshaw's RNLI garden, the Morris & Co garden and the Perennial garden.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
To be brutally honest, @WhereAreMySecateurs, I am not sorry you feel I attacked you. Twice on separate threads, you told lies. I called you out for that.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
There's a description of each garden with photos, the medal awarded, designer, sponsor and so on. You can check out the show gardens but also all the Sanctuary and Pot gardens and the RHS' bee garden designed by Joe Swift.
The planting in Chris Beardshaw's garden is, as ever, sublime.
@WhereAreMySecateurs - you do need to get your facts straight. No beavers, or their homes, were damaged to build that garden. It wouldn't be allowed by the rules anyway.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I’ve suddenly lost interest in the Chelsea Flower Show after all these years which is really sad but the constant focusing on rewilding has left me cold!
I have a three quarter acre garden of which a third is flower borders, another third vegetable garden and the rest is lawn. My flower borders are overflowing with pollinating plants which feed my neighbours beehives so why do I feel I’m not doing enough for the environment if I don’t invite weeds into my garden and let my lawn go wild? I realise gardens have to change over time but somehow it’s taking all the pleasure out if it for me. Does anyone else feel the same?
You need to read 'No Nettles Required - The Reassuring Truth about Wildlife Gardening' by Ken Thompson. Your garden is probably more than pulling it's weight in terms of wildlife, and you don't need to invite weeds into the garden.
I haven't been following Chelsea, but I did catch a brief glimpse of the Best in Show garden. I'm slightly surprised the RHS went for it to be honest, as stuffy as they tend to be. As stated previously, for better or worse, Chelsea is all about staging and artifice, and to pull off a garden that looks so genuinely wild and untouched is actually quite an amazing achievement.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Why do you think the RHS is stuffy? Many of the members are ordinary gardeners and the experts on the various committees for evaluating plants and best practice for growing and sourcing are usually professional gardeners. It's not all landowners and gentry or toffs.
In the last couple of decades the RHS has made great strides in promoting gardening in schools and communities to help with education, social cohesion and well-being. The new RHS Bridgewater garden in Salford has been built with a deliberate policy of employing and training local people and has involved the local community every step of the way. Hardly stuffy.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
As has been said, it's like a Paris or Milan fashion show where often outlandish designs are then adapted and trickle down to wearable fashion.
Gardening should be about pleasure but we all need to take into account what materials and chemical or other products we use and where our plants are sourced in order to reduce risk to the environment but no-one should feel guilty about wanting to keep more traditional borders and planting schemes if that's the style of garden you like.
Twice on separate threads, you told lies. I called you out for that.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/gardens
There's a description of each garden with photos, the medal awarded, designer, sponsor and so on. You can check out the show gardens but also all the Sanctuary and Pot gardens and the RHS' bee garden designed by Joe Swift.
The planting in Chris Beardshaw's garden is, as ever, sublime.
@WhereAreMySecateurs - you do need to get your facts straight. No beavers, or their homes, were damaged to build that garden. It wouldn't be allowed by the rules anyway.
I haven't been following Chelsea, but I did catch a brief glimpse of the Best in Show garden. I'm slightly surprised the RHS went for it to be honest, as stuffy as they tend to be. As stated previously, for better or worse, Chelsea is all about staging and artifice, and to pull off a garden that looks so genuinely wild and untouched is actually quite an amazing achievement.
In the last couple of decades the RHS has made great strides in promoting gardening in schools and communities to help with education, social cohesion and well-being. The new RHS Bridgewater garden in Salford has been built with a deliberate policy of employing and training local people and has involved the local community every step of the way. Hardly stuffy.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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