Preview: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2010

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 166 months ago
Preview: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2010

rhs2010.jpg Despite fears that the cold winter and frosts might have decimated flowery prospects for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, tickets for the annual blooming extravaganza sold out a full 11 days before opening. And lucky you, if you managed to bag a ticket. Much like the weather, the show looks set to be glorious this week.

We're particularly interested to see the "living office", created by London's Indoor Garden Design, where a propagator heated by a computer fan grows vegetables; a fish tank is a grey water filtration system to feed plants and a compost bin recycles waste, whilst providing heating. Feeling office stressed? A large tree offers a calming influence in a break area. Aaah.

Competition will be stiff between the gardens as always but also in the Plant of the Year award where 'Ian Hislop' is up against an aubergine.

Looking at Chelseas past, 1962 suffered from an "arctic spring" but it all turned out lovely, as this fantastic British Pathe newsreel video - after the jump - shows. The Queen was indisposed on preview day but a super stunning looking Princess Margaret had a good nose around. We note that rose expert Harry Wheatcroft's facial hair is as well nurtured as his blooms.

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW


The narrator suggests that the Flower show will either affect the ordinary gardener with "inspiration or despair" but we fail to see how the gardens, blooms and style of Chelsea can bring anything but an awestruck smile to your face. If you're going, please do take some snaps for us and stick them in the Londonist Flickrpool. Let us know if you scoop some bargains at the Saturday afternoon sell off and don't forget to vote for your favourite garden.

Chained to your desk? Follow @the_RHS on Twitter. Check out previous coverage of Chelsea Flower Show on Londonist.

Last Updated 24 May 2010