Saturday 4 June 2011

CRUISING DOWN TO CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

My second jaunt out in to the real world last week took me to the famous Chelsea Flower Show.  I don't go every year as it becomes a little like Groundhog Day I feel but this year I fancied it, but with no golden ticket in my hand it was going to be the sofa and Alan Titchmarsh on BBC2 to show me the highlights.  Just as I was resigned to this option (not a bad one mind), my lovely mum offered me a spare ticket, so off I trotted.

There was of course loads to see, and one of the areas that many designers addressed was the need for sustainable gardening.  The 'Living Wall' has been around for awhile and can look really effective.  How wonderful would it be if all urban new builds and offices had to integrate living walls - what a bonus....


Bees and bugs were high on some designers agendas, incorporating insect houses in to the design, and with the current plight of the poor old Bumble Bee not a moment too soon......


Saw some great ideas for borders.....


Lovely bits of architectural detail.....


LOVED the rotating curved slatted panels that gently spun round in the wind by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma for the Laurent-Perrier Garden....


Once I'd done with the show gardens, I headed off to see if I could see anything interesting amongst the sea of conservatory and lawnmower sellers.  Two really good finds.  First the super talented sun-dial creator David Harber who's work I'm already familiar with....


...and a new one for the contact book, Kadai fire bowls - fantastic ideas for furnishing a garden.


By this time I was beginning to flag a little - there's only so long you can squash along with crowds of Pimm's swilling WI and flower club coach parties.  I headed in to the tents to take a quick look around.  Found some great ideas for colour combinations and textures which I'll report on separately.  And I was about to give up, and God knows how I could have nearly missed it, this fabulous bit of madness caught my eye.  Mad, bright, brash and smile inducing, it was made of dried and fresh flowers by the rather patient people of Singapore.  You can't really tell from the photos how huge and bright the whole thing was - trust me, it was like Lego-Land on acid.......


Weary legs and a need for a proper cup of tea persuaded me it was time to head home.....

1 comment:

  1. SOOOOOOO jealous. Wish i was there and we could have strolled chelsea together. xxoo jaimers

    ReplyDelete