Jean Vernon

A matter of balance?

Jean Vernon — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:16:00 GMT

With this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show now packed away for another year, is it time to take stock of the highlights and lowlights of this world famous show?

What will be your overriding memory of Chelsea 2009. Will it be the People's Favourite - The Cancer Research Garden promoting the work of a charity that helps people from all walks of life and a disease that has probably blighted every family the world over? Or will it be the other People's Favourite - the 'abominable' 'Paradise in Plasticine'? Plasticine has also touched the lives and probably the hearts of the masses and this Urban Garden has generated masses of publicity for the show.

Celebrating 250 years of Thomas Andrew Knight

Jean Vernon — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:20:00 GMT

It seems to me that a few things slipped under the radar at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

One exhibit was celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the very first Presidents of the London Horticultural Society. This is the very same Society that was given the Royal warrant by the Prince Consort in 1864 and became the Royal Horticultural Society.

Trees for bees

Jean Vernon — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:15:00 GMT

As gardeners we are all aware of the vital role that bees play in nature.

We are also very well placed to do alot to support the ailing bee population. The jury is still officially out on what is the real problem affecting our honey bees, but it is clear that bee disease and pollution are playing their part.

New ideas with roses

Jean Vernon — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:57:00 GMT

Chelsea flower show was awash with ideas and inspiration across the showground. But most of the creativity was in the show gardens.

In the Great Pavilion were plenty of other creative ideas if you took a little time to search them out.

Three cheers for the Chelsea Organisers Office

Jean Vernon — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:08:00 GMT

Can you imagine what a huge job it must be actually organising, orchestrating and co-ordinating the world's best flower show?? In the current economic climate I'm sure that the organisers really didn't know who was really exhibiting until they actually arrived at the show ground.

David Bellamy on butterflies and bees

Jean Vernon — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:14:00 GMT

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the launch pad for many things over the week. This year one major lawnmower company and exhibitor (Countax) invited environmentalist David Bellamy to the show to publicise their sponsorship of a new Butterfly conservation project; Butterfly World.

Bumble bees on amphetamines?

Jean Vernon — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:28:00 GMT

You never quite know what opinions you'll get on the gardens and exhibits at Chelsea flower show. It can be a daunting experience, especially when talking to flambouyant characters such as presenter and garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair. I stopped him on main avenue at Chelsea with garden designer Alice Bowe.

Golden Grasses

Jean Vernon — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:10:00 GMT

Three different personality threads were drawn together at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Botanist and environmentalist Sir David Bellamy, garden designer Cleve West and Neil Lucas from Knoll Gardens have joined forces to promote the importance of natural planting and biodiversity.

Ecological, Economic and an Eco Wonder @ Chelsea

Jean Vernon — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:59:00 GMT

One thing that's clear from this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show is that visitors are gleaning much more than information on plants that inspire them. It's a tough year for everyone and the garden designers have been working with reduced budgets to very tight briefs. There are a variety of ideas for everyone to take away, but one garden simply wowed the judges with its design and ethos.

It's a great show

Jean Vernon — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:05:00 GMT

Isn't it lovely when everyone has such positive things to say about something. Normally the news is full of doom and gloom but just about everybody I spoke to at Chelsea this week had only positive things to say about it. Even if it had been raining, too windy or if they were suffering from the pollen which blights the show for many visitors.

Lawrence and Alice Dallaglio were happy to stop and share their views despite the threat of the rain.

Paparazzi and Film Stars

Jean Vernon — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Getting near the film stars at Chelsea Flower Show on Press day is a problem. Not only are they surrounded by minders and supporters and friends, but there's usually a thick layer of snappers waving large expensive cameras in their faces too which makes it a bit tricky getting even a short sentence from them.

The right tool for the job

Jean Vernon — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:56:00 GMT

I spotted Sandi Toksvig with a new spade at Chelsea Flower Show this week, the bad news is that she told me she'd broken her old one on Sunday trying to move a rock. There needs to be a Prevention of Cruelty to Tools Trust set up somewhere that makes it unthinkable to use any garden tool for anything other than it was designed for.

She'd worn herself out looking round the show. "We've seen it all and now we are exhausted," she said. "We like the cottage gardens mostly, anything there that's old-fashioned and English. And I liked the Plasticine Garden, I know that's slightly controversial, but I thought it was brilliant."

Is there a connection between old-fashioned, English, Plasticine and dare I say, James May?? Have I missed something?

A little less flambuoyant than previous years?

Jean Vernon — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:31:00 GMT

Rolf Harris and his wife Alwen were making the most of their time at Chelsea. Alwen had bought a new coat and was modelling it down Main Avenue when I caught up with them.

Gary 'grow your own'

Jean Vernon — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:08:00 GMT

Plants and flowers tantalise all the senses and some of the exhibits in the Great Pavillion show this well. The Tropical Flora of Grenada is a feast of colour, smell and flavour and a real hit with visitors.

The 'boss' on plasticine, plants and gardens

Jean Vernon — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:44:00 GMT

Working for the RHS is a privilege (is that enough creeping do you think?) the team I work with are experienced, knowledgeable and very sociable creatures (a bit more??) but even I (and perhaps Digger) am surprised to see, hear and read the positive reaction to Plasticine Paradise. It is though, I feel, a shame for some of the other garden designers and the fantastic show gardens that this 'pseudo garden creation' has stolen a lot of the limelight and show coverage.

Anyway, back to my sycophantic rantings. Ian Hodgson, Editor RHS Journal 'The Garden', had his own views on things this week.