Royal Chelsea Flower Show Part 2

Part 1 of my post on the Chelsea Flower Show was about the show gardens but this post is about the two other sections of the flower show.  The show also has a huge exhibition in the Pavilion and there are Artisan gardens which are the other two judging categories.

This lily stand won gold medal because not only was the overall effect amazing but each individual flower was perfect.

This new feathery, frayed lily is my new favourite variety.

Name is Roselily Natalia.

Everywhere you looked inside would make you walk towards each respective stand that we ended up doing a zig zag inside.  

But Avon Bulbs was one of the best and of course won gold.

Rhododendroms were one of the most popular flowers 100 years ago and the same nursery are still exhibiting a century on.

They won gold as each bloom was perfection.

I am not a huge rhododendron fan but one could not fault these.

These grasses didn't have the color and wow factor  but I liked the variety of the various ones you could choose as a border.

I have clematis in my glorified light well so I am always stunned it grows even with neglect so I am always so touched when I see them in bloom.  

I I have a thing for these little flowery caverns.

Every other minute, something over yonder kept grabbing my attention. My head was constantly like what's that over there?

This stand by Warmenhoven won a deserved award.

Look at that stand!

And look at the amaryllis hanging upside down!

My friend isn't a huge gardener either but this stand inspired her to read about the soil conditions needed for the plants.

Alliums look better than they smell.

We both couldn't stop looking at the flowers.

Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries had a fantastic garden of all sorts of flowers that also won gold.

The flowers matching the outdoor furniture.

Flowers get most of the glory but shrubs are the supporting actors!

Tulips are one of my faves and this stand blew my mind.

Of course, Blom Bulbs won gold.

Just look at that shade and each petal.

Next year, I am going to be at this stand on the last day of the show when they sell off the flowers at massive discounts.

McBeans Orchids have been showing for the whole 100 years of the 

Chelsea Show and they won gold.

I am normally a David Austin fan and I still am. But now I am an equal Peter Beale fan as I was so taken by this stand 
by Peter Beales Roses.

I surprised myself and my friend by liking such a traditional and 

old fashioned garden.

I loved the hat in the background.  

That was the hat that belonged to the late Peter Beales...

I felt sorry for some stands as the flowers and 

the display was rather stoic.

These hyacinths were so cute and they reminded me of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace.

I love the formality and clean lines.

But it was in contrast with the wild gardens.

I kept thinking Kate Busy was going to pop up and start singing.

I was surprised at how few peony stands there were.

But what was there was amazing.

Picking your favorite type would be like picking your favorite kid.

But not all stands were amazing and rather average.

Mind you, the stand selling gold medal Nemesia were doing a roaring trade however.

My favorite section of the whole show was the Artisan Garden row.

This was the gold medal winning garden for Wateraid.

Le Jardin de Yorkshire not only won gold but also the People's choice award but I reckon that had a lot to do with Alan Titchmarsh and the "Yorkshire mafia."

The Tour de France is starting from Yorkshire next year and the towns the race is going through the towns listed.

If you look just bottom center of the pic below, you will see a native orchid of Yorkshire.  Yes you read that right.

The bottom was the silver medal Walkers' Pine Cottage Garden.

The pic below was the gold winning One Stone garden.

The designers were two young guys in their twenties and it was good to see the younger generation do so well at the show.

I will be honest and say that the dolls were a bit scary in the

Magical Childhood garden.

I adored this crofter's garden. 
Having been to the Hebrides, I found this a lovely interpretation.

I had a soft spot for the Get Well garden.

The best artisan garden went to the following which 

was not at all surprising.

I wonder who the lucky person is who got this!

Now not all things were designed for huge gardens and unlimited budgets.  There were a few ideas that I took away with me.

I loved the planting of succulents and other plants in between the stone and wooden fencing/border.

I might just about be able to lean this against my house.

I hope you got a feel of what the flower show is like and hope that some of you book your tickets early for next year's show!

Thanks for joining me!