This year’s visit to Chelsea Flower Show lived up to expectations once again, with glorious weather (although the bright sunshine was challenging for the photography!) and fabulous gardens. It amazes me how comfortable and established the show gardens look despite have being built and planted in the two weeks prior to the show – testament to the planning, skill and timing employed by the designers and construction teams. Central themes to the show were children, sustainability and the future, evident in the fact that so many of the show gardens will be transported to hospital sites to give comfort at the most difficult of times in people’s lives.

Trends

As always, there were trends in plants used this year. There were one or two specimens used in many of the gardens, notably foxgloves, irises and California poppies and in contrast, pinus mugo, and corylus avellana. Quite a few of the planting combinations, from the bright and colourful to the more sedate muted blues and whites provided inspiration to take home. I’ve selected 8 examples, albeit the final one would be rather ambitious!

National Garden Scheme Garden – Tom Stuart-Smith

From my own perspective, I found the National Garden Scheme Garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith to be the most peaceful and relaxing space. Somehow, despite the surrounding hubbub, the tranquility shone through and I would have been happy to sit amongst the white foxgloves (digitalis albifora) and cow parsley (anthriscrus sylvestris) and while away an hour or two. This combination, planted under hazel trees (corylus avellana) had a naturalistic feel and for those wishing to recreate such a mood, almost perfect – however, better to substitute the cow parsley with a plant with less invasive properties and with a longer flowering period such as ammi majus, which is pretty easy to grow from seed. National Garden Scheme Garden Plant List

Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 – Matthew Childs

This delightful scene in the Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 captures the essence of the garden; medal winner Matthew Childs demonstrates naturalistic planting with the use of perennials, grasses amongst trees and boulders. The striking bright red of Dianthus cruetus is used throughout the garden – a perfect foil for the grasses and a plant I will definitely be growing this year – readily available in seed. Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Plant List

The Boodles Garden – Catherine MacDonald

Gold medal winner Catherine MacDonald’s ‘The Boodles Garden’ contrasts the formality of topiary and the hard landscaping of metal pergolas and pathways with an informal cottage style planting scheme using iris, geums and achillea to great effect, perfect for a domestic garden where a modern theme is preferred but maintenance of the natural effect provided by flowering borders is also required. Boodles Garden Plant list

Octavia Hill Garden – Anne-Marie Powell

Using terracotta brickwork and copper waterspouts to contrast with the greenery of marginal and aquatic plants, Silver-gilt and People’s Choice winner Anne-Marie Powell, in the Octavia Hill Garden has created a combination that really appeals to me. I can imagine sitting by the pool listening to the water falling, immersed in the verdant surroundings – perfect for contemplation. Octavia Hill Garden Plant List

World Child Cancer’s Nurturing Garden – Giulio Giorgi

Mixing herbs with succulent plants and finishing it off with California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), the World Child Cancer’s Nurturing Garden designed by Giulio Giorgi stood out as being very different from its Sanctuary Garden neighbours, with unusual earthy tone planting throughout the meandering pathway and blending in with the raised terracotta beds – very orange! World Child Cancer’s Nurturing Garden Plant list.

Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Balcony Garden – Mike McMahon & Jewlsy Mathews

On a smaller scale the Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Balcony Garden designed by Mike McMahon & Jewlsy Mathews show what can be achieved in a small space with big planting ideas for an in your face impact. With the dark grey furniture and railings complementing the fierce orange of the nasturtiums, with the tree ferns towering over the scene – simplicity to great effect. Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Balcony Garden Plant List

Futureproof garden – Baz Grainger

Baz Grainger’s Futureproof garden included borders with pale yellow achillea ‘Moonshine’ contrasting with the magenta tones of knautia macedonia and the tall spires of pale peach foxgloves. Planted in groups inter acting with each other, the effect would be simple to recreate and with a comfortable seat place amongst the flowers, a real haven. Futureproof Garden Plant List

MOROTO no IE Show Garden – Kazuyuki Ishihara

Finally, the bigger picture – the MOROTO no IE Show Garden Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara demonstrates a flow and unity across the whole garden. Texture is a key feature and the mossy mounds and boulders found throughout the garden contrast and compliment the varying colour palette of the acers and the standout blue of the Irises. There is a definite ‘forever’ feel about this space, natural and sustaining. MOROTO no IE Show Garden Plant List

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show doesn’t disappoint, it’s a great day out and certainly a ‘must do’ for those of us with a bucket list…..