It was a long wait for the return of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, after last year’s event was moved online and this year’s usual May fixture was rescheduled for September for the first time in the show’s history. In fact, it had been 28 months since the last show, so it’s safe to say we were pretty excited to finally head back to one of the highlights of the horticultural calendar!
Despite the later date of the 2021 show, the weather gods were certainly smiling on us, as we headed off for some autumnal garden inspiration, and the choice of a wool coat was instantly regrettable!
In all honesty, like many attending this year’s unusually autumnal event, we were not sure what to expect from 108th RHS Chelsea Flower Show, but we were certainly not disappointed. Yes, the planting was different due to the later season, but there was a cohesion to it, and it actually made a lovely change to the usual summer planting that we see at shows. There was a more muted colour pallet across the board, with the show garden designers delivering disarming and engaging designs.
There was an abundance of naturalistic planting, as well as a pumpkin on every corner (at least!) to serve as a reminder that this was no ordinary Chelsea! The prominent theme was the positive impact of plants on our health and wellbeing which reflects the millions who have found solace in the garden over the past 18 or so months.
We were lucky enough to be able to visit the trade stand of one of our newest clients, Haws Watering Cans. The brand was at the show for the first time in 25 years, and we were thrilled to be able to support the team in their return. It was a triumphant return, too, with many visitors taking up the #HawsAtChelsea challenge – I suspect there was more than one glass of champagne poured from the watering cans over the course of the week (take a look at the Haws Instagram if you want to know what we mean!).
It was also a proud moment to see our client Hillier win the Chelsea Flower Show 2021 Plant of the Year, with its Cercis Canadensis ‘Eternal Flame’. The beautiful, fire-coloured bushy plant caught the attention of the judges with its heart-shaped leaves and captivating colours, and ensured that Hillier continues to be part of the Chelsea conversation, as it should be.
It was great, too, to see so many smaller planting areas, such as balcony and container gardens. For such a prestigious show to acknowledge that gardening can, and should, be opened up to anyone, no matter how small their outside space, is a fantastic step in the right direction. Clients of ours, such as elho, are passionate about this – making gardens and gardening accessible to all, so here’s to more of this!
When we left the show after a great day of exploring and gathering inspiration, we took a stroll through the fabulous Chelsea In Bloom displays. The theme this year was ‘Extraordinary Voyages’, and it really did feel like that as we walked through the streets of Chelsea, as we were transported to all corners of the world! It was hard to choose a favourite, but The Ivy’s magical toadstool display took some beating!
So there it was, the return of the most famous flower show in the world, and it was well worth the wait. Whether you visit for inspiration, to keep ahead of the latest trends, or simply to mingle with the great and good of the gardening world, it remains a wonderful event and goes to prove that a change is as good as a rest, and that Chelsea is better than the rest!
