Just got back from a fab day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I was very lucky to be in the Hospitality Village, and after meeting the fellow guests, we headed off to view the Courtyard Gardens.

My favourite was the Demelza garden, a cool haven of a seating area, surrounded by plants and sound from the pendulum water feature and tubular gongs with their deep echoing chime. It was a Silver Gilt Flora Medal winner. I also really liked the Freshly Prepped garden - an outdoor kitchen with all your fresh ingredients close at hand - imagine!

Of the thirteen Show Gardens my favourite was probably what would be considered the most traditional - the HESCO Garden - bursting with colour. I also liked the Cancer Research UK garden, but wasn't all that struck on the Best Show Garden sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, nor the Gold Medal winning Laurent-Perrier garden.

After champagne, canapes, and a four course lunch we headed back out to look round the Great Pavillion and the Urban Gardens. The Plants of Special Interest Nursery Garden was spectacular to my mind - really bright and striking. It won a Silver. James May's Paradise in Plasticine was 'non-compliant' but still fun and impressive.

The air in the Pavillion was heavy with pollen from all of the species displays. The perfume from the David Austin roses was gorgeous. I enjoyed seeing some of the more unusual plants like the carnivorous species, and seeing the diversity of species such as the begonias.

We didn't get round everything, and I could have easily spent another day there. It gave me great inspiration for our own garden, but I will have to restrain myself as we must focus on finishing the house!

Labels: gardening, seeing_doing