RHS London Shows

The RHS holds several shows at the Horticultural Halls in Westminster each year, two of which take place in October. There are pumpkin competitions, fabulous autumn veg displays, chrysanthemums and other plants and flowers on display from the top nurseries and photo and art exhibitions. They also have a late opening where the visitors get to taste exotic cocktails and snacks in a relaxed, clubby atmosphere.

RHS London Shows

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Centenary Flower Show at Chelsea

This year the RHS is celebrating one hundred years of Chelsea Flower Show, and it is carefully worded thus as there were a few show missed during two World Wars, making it the 92nd show in the one hundred years. It was cold, today and the volunteers were shivering in their special orchid motif T-shirts, even with long sleeves underneath. Nevertheless, there was a sell-out crowd. In fact every day to the close on Saturday is a sell out and has been since just after Christmas.

This orchid is the motif on the volunteer T-shirts

 The gardens are looking wonderful and all the designers have pulled out all the stops to try and gain one of those prestigious medals at this centenary show. That also applies to the exhibitors in the Great Pavilion where the plant displays are equally stunning - perhaps even more so.

The Best Artisan Garden was awarded to Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Laboratory for the Tokonoma Garden,representing an alcove within a traditional Japanese tatami room.

 

The Best in Show Award went to Flemings Trailfinders Garden, who always put on a wonderful Aussie display. This is their last year at Chelsea, so it is very fitting they get this huge accolade.

In the Great Pavilion there were stunning displays from flower arrangers, countries, nurseries and plantsmen.

Hillier Nurseries

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanic Garden, Thailand

Fabulous flower arranging from young florists

NAFAS - an underwater theme

 A couple of other gardens we like:

M&G's Centenary Garden - Windows through Time

Stoke- on Trent - Story of Transformation

Arthritis Research UK, Chris Beardshaw

There was so much to see, I can't show it all here!

 Well, they seem to have had a good time at Chelsea.


RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 - This link will not last for ever

Orchid and Botanical Art Show

The last show of the spring at the Hort Halls. Its all to Orchids and Botanical Art this time - with the Botanical Art really stunning, but no photos, naturally. The orchids more than made up for that!

In Lawrence Hall

Phalaenopsis Btother Pico ' Sweetheart'

Dendrobium nobile Stardust ' Orange Gem'

Baptistonia sylvana

Dendrobium fimbriatum 'oculatum

Paphiopedium Sweet Sunrise

Paphiopedium Tiger;s Eye 'Downland'

Paphoipedium 'Saint Swithin'

Coelogyne cristata alba

Great London Plant Fair

Another RHS London Show, this time it's the Great London Plant Fair with lots of nurseries exhibiting and selling some beautiful plants for the keen gardeners that come to the show. There was also the Daffodil and Hyacinth competitions, with rows of entries being judged by the strict Society judges, as well as the competition of the Alpine Garden Society. On Tuesday evening there was a late opening from 6 - 9pm. It was 50s themed, with cocktails and dancing and some of the RHS staff dressed up in 50s style. There were cocktails from two 'plant friendly' places - the Midnight Apothecary and the Gin Garden.

It was a cold day!

50s Morris Traveller for Gardeners

Midnight Apothcary setting up

The Gin Garden getting ready

The lights go on and the party's starting!

Midnight Apothecary
Gin Garden