RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 Part 2

I can hardly believe that I am finally at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show! After all these years watching it on the TV.

I arrived early and went straight to the show gardens featured in part 1. But I’ve had my coffee break now and I’m ready for The Great Pavilion!

The Great Pavilion

Nothing can prepare you for the immense size of the pavilion. Even the open top London bus (upper-deck planted with tree ferns), just got lost.

I even found a Chelsea pensioner looking a bit lost. He told me, he usually knows his way around with no problems until, “they put all this here”. He was trying to find his way to the discovery area, where some school children were coming.

I had my photo taken with him whilst my husband looked on the map, and we sent him off in the right direction. What a lovely gentleman.

I was pleasantly surprised how spacious the pavilion was, but I’ve since read that the exhibitors from around the world were missing. This is obvious if I’d thought about it, due to the ongoing worldwide pandemic of Covid19. The other precaution taken because of the pandemic, was to put the show was on for an extra day this year, allowing less people in daily.

All in all it made for a more relaxing time, walking around, and ability to see everything easily.

The Central feature

In the centre of the great pavilion stands the Chillianwallah Memorial obelisk. This year the area was turned into a little bit of Italy. With huge Cyprus and olive trees, surrounding a piazza of columns and arches.

There were fabulous over-sized terracotta pots. I’d have loved to have taken one home on a trailer!

My husband and I have a real thing for olive trees, probably because of our love of Spain and the Mediterranean in general. We fell in love with particular specimen that looked like it had had a real good haircut!

The area was created by Olive tree specialist grower, Villaggio Verde.

It worked so well with the small stands around it, displaying autumn produce. I absolutely loved the market barrows, looking like they were selling their wares.

You were certainly under no illusion what time of year it was, as there were pumpkins everywhere. Including a giant specimen grown by Ben White.

Other areas in the pavilion were, Discovery, The RHS Experience, Floristry and Floral design, and most importantly The Nurseries.

Discovery

Is all about the science underpinning horticulture.

These displays were put on by Local Authorities, Colleges, Charities and people doing research.

The RHS Experience

This area explains all about the RHS charity and there are plenty of people on hand to answer any questions you have.

It also features two master growers picked from the other two RHS shows

RHS Hampton Court – Hardy’sCottage Garden Plants

RHS Tatton Park – Plantagogo

It’s also the place where you will find the shortlists for:

Plant of the Year competition

Won this year by – Cercis canadensis ’Eternal Flame’

Hardly a surprise that this little tree won. Small enough for most gardens, it has pink flowers in spring when mature. It’s gorgeous leaves are heart-shaped, and turn from bright red, to orange and finally bright yellow. A real doer.

RHS Sustainable Garden Product of the year competition

Won by – Ocean Plastic Pots

These are beautiful coloured plant pots made from discarded fishing net and recycled rope. What an ingenious idea!

Floristry and Floral design

There are two categories here, Floral Windows and Floral Installations.

I have to confess that I’m not really a fan of cut flowers and flower arranging. I prefer my flowers out in the garden where I feel they’re meant to be. But an incredible about of work and artistic talent was on display.

One particular floral installation really grabbed me though. It looked more like an art installation and I really liked it.

By Manchester artist Charlotte Smithson

Also one Floral display caught my eye, with its bright display of late summer flowers, mainly Dahlias, but also perennials Echinacea, Achillea, Scabious, and annuals Cosmos, and Tithonian.

It very cleverly showed multiple views through the circular windows. Encouraging us to think of nature as an never ending cycle.

It’s by florists Little Garden Flowers.

It just shows, never say never!

The Nurseries

All the plants on the nursery stands were of exceptional quality. But we all have our favourites, so here are some of mine

Medwyn’s of Anglesey – Gold

Of course having a kitchen garden myself, I made a beeline straight for Medwyn’s infamous vegetable stand. It was the most crowed stand and the only one where I had to wait to get to the front.

It was worth the wait though, as the display of vegetables is absolutely outstanding!

Taking centre stage was a gorilla’s face carved into a pumpkin, by Christian Russell from All Carved Out.

I’m so glad I made it to Chelsea this year as it’s Medwyn Williams’s final Chelsea, after winning no less than 13 Gold medals. Certainly not unlucky for him.

Dibleys Nurseries Ruthin North Wales – Gold

As house plants have become so popular again, Chelsea have a new section called ‘House Plant Studios’ that are outside and I’ll be visiting.

In the meantime you can’t miss the extremely colourful stand from Dibleys nurseries. They are house plant experts with a fabulous display of their Streptocarpus.

I have to admit slight bias including this stand, as they’re from North Wales, just a stones throw from where I’m based. Keeping it local.

Roualeyn Fuchsias Conwy, North Wales -Gold

Here we are with the third stand from North Wales. We know how to grow good plants here!

Specialist fuchsia grower Roualeyn Fuchsias won a well deserved gold. Their stand looked like a firework display, fabulous colours!

Raymond Everson Clematis – Gold

On Raymond Everson’s Clematis stand I managed to catch Mark Lane filming for BBC2 Chelsea Flower Show programme, where you can still go to and catch up, or re-watch your favourite bits.

Ottershaw Cacti -Gold

I grow a few cati myself, but I do have a tendency to over water them. I wish I could grow such perfect specimens as these from Ottershaw. Cacti envy!

Harkness Roses – Gold

Who doesn’t like a rose! I assume being so late in the season, that these beautiful roses on the Harkness roses stand were the second flush. Although these specialist growers are so clever at making plants do as they command, that who knows?

GreenJjam – Gold

Penstemons are one of those fabulous perennials, that just flowers all summer long. With a wide range of colours from subtle pastels to bold and bright. GreenJjams stand showed them off a treat.

Heucheraholics Nursery – Gold

I love heuchers, I have loads of them in the garden, they look good all year around. The stand from Heucheraholics Nursery really showed off their varied colours. The orange gourds contrasted with them brilliantly.

Sienna Hostas – Silver-Gilt

I have a raised shady hosta border at home with quite a variety of hostas. Unfortunately mine have a few holes in at this time of year, thanks to the slugs and snails. This stand from Sienna hostas, was hosta perfection!

Their top tip for keeping our slimey friends away is a garlic wash. You can find the recipe for it on their website.

The Kells Bay Gardens Plant Centre – Gold

It was all a bit jungley at the one end thanks to the fabulous tree ferns from Kells Bay garden centre.

Pennard Plants – Gold

These thin purple and white aubergines were certainly eye catching on the Pennard Plants stand. I’m definately going to have to have a go at these next year.

W S Warmenhoven – Gold

Alliums in autumn, how clever is that? A little bit of ‘normal Chelsea’!

South West in Bloom/Stonebarn – Community Floral Feature – Gold & Best Exhibit

Everyone was taking photos of the elephant’s on the Sidmouth in bloom stand. They won the award for the best exhibit in the great pavilion, which was well deserved. All the work was done by volunteers.

Pheasant Acre Plants – Gold

If you wanted a stand that shouted autumn Chelsea, then look no further than Pheasnt acre plants. Their magnificent stand of Gladioli and Dahlias could be seen from quite a distance. Flower heaven.

Hoyland Plant Centre – Gold

This is one of the few stands that I bought something from. I think I did really well, considering the temptation all around me!

I love agapanthus, and when I saw this ‘Black Magic’ for sale on the Hoyland plant centre stand, I’m afraid I had to have it!

Jacques Amand International – Silver-Gilt

As well as the agapanthus, I bought autumn flowering crocus Colchicum ‘autumnale’ and some Nerines ‘Prince of Orange’, from Jacques Amand. I didn’t even know you could get orange Nerines!

I think my little haul of bulbs, showed real restraint!