Chelsea Flower Show

These are some random thoughts from the Chelsea Flower Show.
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Because of lack of space 7 designs which had received preliminary approval and were fully funded were rejected. I wonder how those designers feel about the inclusion of Darmuid Gavin’s flying pod, which bears the same relationship to gardening as Tracey Emin’s bed has to art.

I don’t think they will be consoled by the thought that this is a show and the pod is showmanship.
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Out of the 17 show gardens, 8 were given gold, an exceptionally high ratio. Bunny Guinness, who courtesy of the main sponsor, M & G, had one of the best plots and who had the deeply fashionable theme of “sustainable excellence” must have been very disappointed not to be among the golds. I was chatting to the people who supplied all the vegetable plants for her garden, W. Robinson and Sons (known locally as The Mammoth Onion) and they said they were amazed at the sheer volume of her order. It all looked splendid and the result must be a disappointment to Mammoth Onion as well. Apparently the judges said that her paths were too narrow!