The Chelsea Flower show which has been one of the biggest annual flower show events has been cancelled this year due to the lockdown.
The show has been held in the grounds of the London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea since 1912, this will be the first year its been cancelled sice the world war. With today’s technology developments, they have opened up today Monday 18th May for RHS members, to get a first look at the first ever virtual show, uncovering some of the unseen parts of Monty Don’ s garden. Members of the public can join in Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd.
RSH Flower show said that;
May 20 1913 saw the first show at Chelsea, known as the Great Spring Show. The first shows were three-day events held within a single marquee. Royal visits were yet to become a tradition – the King and Queen did not attend in 1913, but the King’s Mother, Queen Alexandra, attended with two of her children. The only garden to win a Gold medal before the war was also in 1913 and was awarded to a rock garden created by John Wood of Boston Spa.
The Chelsea Flower Show celebrated its 100th birthday in May 2013. A temporary ban on gnomes was lifted, with well-known faces – including Elton John and Helen Mirren – painting gnomes to sell for charity (pictured). In total, 20 Gold medals were given to gardens in 2013, with a non-British firm taking ‘Best in Show’ for the first time. The Chelsea Plant of the Year became the Chelsea Plant of the Centenary – with Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (introduced by Blooms of Bressingham) winning the crown.
Today, the Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by M&G Investments, continues to go from strength to strength. The show has formed strong bonds with a myriad of designers and sponsors, and continues to be the world’s most famous flower show at the very cutting edge of garden design. With a Main Avenue packed with top names and the Great Pavilion bursting with exhibitors, the 2019 show is shaping up to be one of the best yet.
We’re featuring some of the best-loved designers, celebrities and personalities in the world of gardening and open the week with an introduction with RHS President, Sir Nicholas Bacon.
Other highlights include:
- Go behind the scenes with multi-Gold medal-winning Raymond Evison at his iconic clematis nursery
- Get practical advice on selecting perennials from Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants
- Achillea are loved by gardeners and wildlife alike – find out how to grow and care for them
- How to grow perfect peonies and tulips, plus practical floristry inspiration
Enjoy more behind-the scenes garden tours and find amazing ideas to try at home. We’re also celebrating the simple joy of growing your own plants and flowers, fruit and veg and bring you some tips from the professionals.
Line up:
Tuesday 19th: Welcome to Virtual Chelsea week. Catch our video tours from the gardens of well-known Chelsea designers and experts as they show you their own spaces and talk about favourite plants and style tips.Meet Chelsea Gold medal-winning designer Sarah Eberle, who gives us inspiring design tips from her beautiful woodland garden.
Wedsnesday 20th :Well-known Chelsea designers and experts show you their own gardens and give planting tips. We also focus on the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening, which are proving so important in these challenging times. BBC presenter and designer Adam Frost invites us for a walk around his rural garden in Lincolnshire, and celebrated florist Nikki Tibbles unveils a feast of colour and artistry in her seasonal demonstration.
Thursday 21st: Enjoy more behind-the scenes garden tours with Chelsea designers and find amazing ideas to try at home. We’re also celebrating the joy of growing your own flowers, fruit and vegetables and bring you tips from the professionals. Chelsea wouldn’t be complete without the involvement of the Chelsea Pensioners – this is your chance to join them tending their allotment, growing plants and vegetables.
Friday: Our exciting line-up of video and inspirational articles today highlight how gardeners play such an important part in supporting wildlife and the environment.Designer Tom Massey will be planting some of his Chelsea-bound plants in his small front garden to get the space buzzing with wildlife, while also creating a mini-meadow – great ideas to try at home.
Saturday: On this final day of Virtual Chelsea we’re got a packed day of inspiration with a focus on smaller space gardening, plus a special message from our Director General, Sue Biggs. It’s awards day and we announce the winners of the Chelsea Plant of the Decade and RHS Garden Product of the Year as chosen by you, our voters.
If you are missing attending the amazing annual event and would like to get involved and have something to look forward to whilst in lockdown then head over to the website www.rhs.org.uk and join in with the Virtual Show 19th May – 23rd May to watch world-leading designers, plant experts and practical gardening advice – all from the comfort of your home
