The Chelsea Flower Show 2017

Highlights of our visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower show 2017.

Something a bit different today. I was lucky enough to visit the famous Chelsea Flower Show on Friday last week so I thought I'd share my highlights. Spoiler alert - this is a very photo heavy post!

The show has been held in the ground of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London since 1912 and is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.

There are a load of show gardens both big and small, a huge marquee they call the Grand Pavilion which is full of displays from plant growers from all over the place, and lots of beautiful stalls selling pretty much everything gardening related you can think of.

Everything was just beautiful but my personal favourite was the BBC 2 sponsored "Anneka Rice Colour Cutting Garden" by Sarah Raven, my photos don't really do it justice, it was a riot of colour and general loveliness.

There were some great gardening quotes in modern calligraphy all over the place.

I love how they used painted upturned jam jars as an edging in this 'Senses' garden designed to encourage kids away for their screens and into the outdoors.

This seems about right:

There were some beautiful pieces from sculptor Simon Gudgeon:

Leaf Spirit

Firebird We all loved the amazing animal sculptures made of drift wood by James Doran.

There's that Joe Swift bloke off the telly!:

If you do ever plan a visit here are my top tips:

• Book early, apparently it got sold out this year.
• Go to Victoria train station and get the shuttle bus instead of the tube. It takes you right to the gates, you'll be walking all day so save your energy.
• Take a packed lunch and plenty to drink - it's really expensive and once you are in you can't come out to get food and go back in - no stamp on your hand for re-entry here, it's not a festival!
• Use the money you save to treat yourselves to a jug of Pimms when it's 'Pimms o'clock' - it's practically the law to have a nice cold glass of Pimms on a hot sunny day here in the UK!

• It's really crowded, especially around the show gardens but people are all nice and there to have a good time. Just wait to get in close, chat to the people standing next to you, you'll get your chance eventually.
• If you can, watch some of the coverage on the tv before, so you can plan the things that you really don't want to miss.

This was a once in a lifetime, special family ladies day out for us, we just had the best time. We got SO lucky with the weather, warm and sunny.

Without exception every member of staff was just lovely too, friendly and helpful. One steward in particular went over and above the call of duty to help us at one point. It was like they really did care and actually wanted us to have a good day.

There are lots of garden shows all over the place but the setting for this one is just fabulous. Yes it's expensive, really expensive, but if gardens are your thing I'd definitely recommend adding it to your bucket list.