Dahlias on trial

One of the important things the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) does is conduct plant trials. Those plants that meet the criteria are awarded the AGM (award of garden merit). 

Chelsea 2012: The Laurent-Perrier Bicentenary Garden

Arne Maynard’s romantic Laurent Perrier garden was one of our favourites at Chelsea, and deservedly won a Gold Medal.

The Taiwanese Orchid Tree

This Orchid Tree on the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association stand at Chelsea was made up of orchids in test tubes that were attached to a bare tree.

Chelsea 2012: (Not So) Fresh Gardens

This year Chelsea had a new category of gardens on show, replacing their Urban Gardens, but we didn’t think the Fresh Gardens were an improvement, although there were a few good ideas.

Chelsea 2012: The Brewin Dolphin Garden, by Cleve West

This Gold Medal winner was also voted Best Show Garden by the RHS judges, and was certainly a very accomplished, beautiful and sophisticated garden, full of nice touches.

Chelsea 2012: Best in show

The standard of the large show gardens in Chelsea this year certainly seemed up on the last few years (as demonstrated by the RHS judges decision to award 9 Gold Medals between the 16 show gardens).

Chelsea 2012: The Rooftop Workplace of Tomorrow

There were many aspects of the Rooftop Workplace of Tomorrow, designed by Patricia Fox, that we really liked, such as the recycled plastic furniture and planters that looked like stone.

Chelsea 2012: The Westland Magical Garden

The Westland Magical Garden, designed by Diarmuid Gavin , won the RHS award for the Most Creative Show Garden, although it was only given a Silver Gilt Medal.

Zantedeschia or Arum Lily

Zantedeschia is commonly called the arum lily, Easter lily or calla lily, although it is not a lily, a calla nor an arum, however, like the arum and calla, it is in the family Araceae.

Dicentra or Lamprocapnos spectabilis

Dicentra spectabilis (now more properly known as Lamprocapnos spectabilis – the change of name from Dicentra happened in 2006) are one of the most photogenic of flowering plants, with their graceful, arching flowers. They are native to woodland margins in the Northern Hemisphere.

Chelsea 2012: Lilium martagon + RBC Blue Water Garden

One of the flowers of the show was the Lilium martagon (or Turk's cap lily), which was on several show gardens, but especially prominent on the Silver Gilt Medal-winning RBC Blue Water Garden, designed to help promote water conservation by Professor Nigel Dunnett, who created our favourite garden at Chelsea 2011 (the RBC New Wild Garden).

Chelsea 2012: On show

There were lots of quirky displays, interesting artworks and expensive plants on show at Chelsea 2012. Above is one part of a 3 x 24 metre hand-painted canvas, Constructed Nature, by Hugo Dalton.

Chelsea 2012: Artisan Gardens

The Satoyama Life garden won a Gold Medal and was also chosen as the Best Artisan Garden – and for once we agree with the Chelsea judges, although it was a pretty obvious choice as it was easily the best of the small gardens – we also particularly like the designer’s work and his intricate use of moss.

...and down came the snow

The forecast is for snow(drops)

The Met office is predicting snow but so far we've not seen a snowflake. But, that doesn't mean we don't have some white stuff in the garden. 

Always reliable and always beautiful the snowdrops are up and in full flower.