This year my timing has been atrocious; Chelsea week has coincided with my plumber having a long awaited window in which to revamp my bathroom. I arrive home at 10 pm and am bombarded with choices between different toilet seats, colour schemes, tiles, towel rails, you name it!
Being that it is impossible for me to visit any bathroom shop I had despaired until I realised that inspiration was all around me.
Where better to choose a colour scheme than in the great pavilion where you are surrounded by every colour nature has to offer. I was looking for the perfect blue and spotted a Baptisia australis on the Hardy's Cottage Garden Plant stand. A lupin-like hardy perennial and I think one that is highly underrated as it is easy to grow. That's the walls sorted, now for the floor tiles...
Walking through the swanky furniture stands I looked down and saw a soft marble mosaic floor tile, just the ticket.
If only I had the space for a large hot tub and giant shower just like the Canary Island Spa garden but I do like the matt black finish, it gives a sophisticated edge and is definitely something to consider.
All I need now is some gorgeous scented oils from the Perfume Garden and I can recover from a long but enjoyable week at Chelsea.
beetography
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Keywords:
Winter Berries
Robert Nyman
Like, flowers
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I've got a guilty secret one of the things I really look forward to at Chelsea is visiting the floristry tent. When I confess this to my gardening friends they look mystified. 'Floristry?' they sneer 'Oh I never look in there'
Why is this? It seems that the world of horticulture is as rife with snobbery as the 'foodie' culture that has evolved over the last few years. For some reason floristry has been rather looked down on and ridiculed by 'real' gardeners. Admittedly it's an ephemeral art but I think that gardeners, especially garden designers, can learn a lot from the way florists use their materials.
I particularly admire their appreciation of form and scale. They create drama and interest, harmony and elegance by really utilising the shapes and textures of flowers, leaves and stems. I like the 'less is more' attitude in a lot of floral art - the arrangements allow you to fully appreciate the beauty of individual blooms or markings on a leaf. Twisted stems, sculptured bark and sinuous grasses are carefully sourced and selected to enhance the design but nothing is included that isn't absolutely necessary.
When it comes to colour combinations the floristry tent is a great place for inspiration. I know that florists are not constrained in the same way that gardeners are, by climate, soil etc but if they looked at their planting plans with the same unprejudiced artist's eye that florists do they might create something original and special.
This year the RHS is awarding several new floristry awards. The RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year was awarded to Neil Whittaker and Young Chelsea Florist of the year which will be announced on Thursday. Hopefully this will help to raise the profile of this underrated art form. So if you want to find me you know where I'll be. My secret's out.
Gilly Brennan - Horticultural Researcher
Info from:
Private Club
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