Textures Of Chelsea

Chelsea Flower Show 2017 was not the show of previous years - there were only 8 Main Avenue show gardens, less that half of the 17 that featured in 2016. 

However, there were still gems to be seen and admired, and influences to be taken. 

Highlights...

The highlight for me had to be The Listening Garden. Not just a calm green oasis with classic CorTen steel troughs - but the 'sound' of music playing beneath the garden could be 'seen' when the base beats interacted with the water, making ripples, and even making the water jump (you were unable to hear the music). To the front you could place your foot on a gravel path and feel the effects of the base underfoot, the small aggregates leaping and dancing to the vibration. 

It was simply an 'I LOVE it' garden. 

Water 'dancing' to the 'sound' of The Listening Garden at RHS Chelsea 2017

The Artisan Gardens shone too, with Gosho No Niwa No Wall, No War and The Walkers Warf gardens both standing out. I have to say, the leather deck chair in Walker's Warf garden was a real 'I want that' piece. 

The 'must have' leather deck chair!

With the Chelsea organisers having to bring in very last minute, un-judged BBC Radio 2 gardens to fill the gap left by the lack of Main Avenue sponsored gardens, hopefully there will be more official gardens to see next year. Although good job for bringing these last minutes gardens to the show. No mean feat...

Find out more...

The RHS website is a good place to read more about the gardens. Also, Shoot Gardening, the Plant Finder/Plant Maintenance website lists the plants in each show garden, so if you saw something you liked but couldn't ask anyone what it might be, likelihood is you can find it here.