My Garden

Gardening is the Key Gardeners across the world know that gardening is therapeutic, but our down to earth hobby is even much more than that. Through garden design, community spirit and the clever use of plants, one show garden at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show has a powerful message to portray... Read more..

I hear that James May's Plasticine Paradise has won him the coveted award of a 'Special Letter'. Would that be a 'P' for plasticine or a 'D' for don't do it again. Sure it's controversial, of course there's self promotion there and despite James' claims that... Read more..

Did anyone else notice a distinct lack of decking at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show? Not that I am disappointed in anyway, but it does appear to be disappearing at a satisfying rate. Has it simply rotted away from the designers product portfolio or has the credit crunch played a part in its... Read more..

Monday, Chelsea Press Day, saw a whole range of celebrities meandering around the Royal Hospital Grounds at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Some were more discerning than others about the content and the importance of the show. Broadcaster, Journalist and Londoner, Wesley Kerr was particularly taken with... Read more..

It's not just the gardens that are imaculately turned out for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, some of the visitors are as carefully groomed as the plants and flowers. Jennie Bond was officially off duty when I stopped her on Main Avenue on Monday. "It's absolutely wonderful not to be working... Read more..

If you were a flower what would you be? It's an interesting thought, but have you thought about how you'd feel to have a plant named after you? Many new plants are introduced every year at the RHS Shows and especially at Chelsea - just take a look at Graham Rice's blogs and you'll see... Read more..

You never quite know what you will see, hear or find at Chelsea Flower Show. This year celebrities were literally queueing up to donate elbow grease to water the plants on one stand in the Grand Pavillion. 'A Window of Opportunity' features a static outdoor gym, with bicycles cycling the water... Read more..

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... Read more..

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. "We've been in the main marquee and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially orchids they were stunning, what a show, just fantastic... Read more..

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... Read more..