Chelsea Flower Show

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of the world’s biggest gardening events; a 5-day celebration of everything that’s great about gardening. This year’s Chelsea Flower Show is happening in London on Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 May.

This annual event attracts gardening enthusiasts from all over the world, and every year it draws exhibitors from countries as far away as Sweden, Barbados, Sri Lanka, Australia, Jamaica, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

There are 600 exhibitors in total at the show, which is held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.

The Great Pavilion is the centrepiece of the Chelsea Flower Show, and this year’s exhibitors include Liverpool City Council with ‘Mr Roscoe’s Garden’ which showcases the diversity of Liverpool’s 200 year old botanical collection; and eThekwini Municipality Parks Department, who look into the future with a water-wise garden inspired by the changing climate.

Following on from its debut success last year, the Marshalls Garden Design Forum will return to the Great Pavilion at this year’s show. The Forum will host a series of daily talks throughout the show from some of Britain’s most prominent gardening experts. Not only does it give you the chance to hear fascinating and topical talks, but also the opportunity to quiz the experts with your questions.

But it’s not all plants, flowers and gardens – you’ll also have the opportunity to do some shopping at the show. There are lots of great stalls around selling everything from botanical paintings and gardening tools to handmade furniture and organic wine.

The exhibits are judged by specialist RHS judging panels before the show opens, and are awarded Gold, Silver-Gilt, Silver and Bronze Medals. Last year’s winners included gardens and displays by Bradstone, Cancer Research UK, Fortnum & Mason, the University of Reading and Laurent-Perrier (UK).

For more information about the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and some of the other leading RHS Summer Garden Shows visit RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

 RHS Chelsea Flower Show (www.rhs.org.uk/index.htm).

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