A few of my plants in my garden.

One side of the garden

Iv had such a busy week, tonight is the first chance iv had to turn on the computer and tonight we have to get ready to go down to Derbyshire to Roberts parents tomorrow after work. Its Roberts birthday 20th and fathers day the 21st so we are meeting up with some of the family Saturday night and going for a chines meal.

I have brought a David Austen climbing rose to grow up against the wall, but there is no soil near the wall so Robert made me this big planter out of some left over paving slabs. Just need some compost to fill it now.

my first sweet peas the start of many I hope.

Robert is growing salad leaves in this vertical bag, its cut and come again and I'm enjoying having fresh leaves for tea.

Robert's weather station.

One of my wall basket.

Window box

Harlow car trip

Not only did I have a day out at Barnsdale on Sunday but Monday four friends and I had a return trip to Harlow car in Harogate. It was a very hot and although I had a hat on all day I got a headache and felt very tiered. We sat in the shade and had our picnic and ice lolly and admired the wonderful flowers. We took a walk through the wooded area and the smell from the azaleas was fabulous. The huge herbaceous boarders were full of alliums, the meadow full of wild flowers a brand new alpine house full of excellent specimens.

Visit to Barnsdale

Last Sunday with the promise of good weather a belated birthday trip and no moter racing Robert and i had a trip to Barnsdale garden in Rutland, just down south on the A1. There were over 25 gardens started by Geoff Hamilton back in the 90s and after his death his son carried on building new gardens and keeping up the original one's. As we walked round I recalled the gardens as they were made on the TV programs for the BBC, we used to look forward to Friday nights when it was on and still is today with different presenters over the years. Although I had made a picnic there was no where to eat it but for the car park, you were not allowed to take it into the gardens, so we brought lunch there from the cafe and ate it in the gardens watching other visitors, our first meal out side this year, (and if today's cold weather is anything to go by its our last). We spent the whole day there, plenty to see lots of seats to sit look at the flowers, plants trees and veg.

More Chelsea, and NAFAS

The off-shore garden designer Sarah Eberle

I have a few more gardens from Chelsea to show starting with this one, quite usual all water not sure how you get to the door as the middle stone is under water. At least it would deter unwanted visitors. It won a silver medal.

This was the 1984 garden and got a bronze medal

The two photo's above were designed by Drusilla Stewart and William Beresford for the help for heroes Sanctuary Garden. It was neat and clean lines and was in aid of helping our fighting heroes.

Another example of plants growing up the wall. This was the Fenchurch garden designer Paul Hensey and not only won silver gilt but most creative award.

There were many more gardens but this garden was a bit of fun and seemed to be attracting a lot of attention. Paradise in Plastic By James May and a lot of others was awarded a special plastic medal.

Now for something different.

RHS Chelsea Florist of the year

Sorry I can't tell you who won but they are all very clever and all made from plant material and worth a look at.

The next photo's are from the ladies who belong to the NAFAS association this year it was the turn of the Wessex and Jersey branches and won a gold medal. It was title was Inside Outside and was very contemporary lovely colours.

The show was about to close we were nearly done in and went for a cup of tea and noticed the Que for the floral art marque was gone. We had tried to take a look earlier on in the day but the Que was so long I was afraid we wouldn't get round the whole show, so with tea in hand we had a mad dash round the exhibits taking some photo's of what I thought was the best, here are just a few sorry no names of the designers or the medals.

Before I end this blog I though a word for the plant growers must be mentioned. They do a brilliant job of getting the flowers to bloom for the show, holding flowers back and forcing them forward.

How they get daffodils in may to look this good

and delphiniums this tall

Tropical flowers from overseas

And finally this display by Zita Elze was stunning a interior designer, florist and garden designer.




I hope you have enjoyed just a small amount of Chelsea as much as I enjoyed going again this year, who would of thought 7 years ago when i was part of a team and won a bronze medal it would still inspire and bring such joy to me.