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Countdown to the Chelsea Flower Show
Posted by: Jekka McVicar, 08 February 2008, 05.08PM
The weather seems to be getting more and more unpredictable. From the start of this year, here in South Gloucestershire, we've had night time temperatures as low as -3°C and as high as 11°C. A few weeks ago we were flooded and then unbelievably the snow settled on the floods!
All this and it is a mere 16 weeks before we are on site, and 12 weeks before the gardens are built at the Chelsea Flower Show. I always find it a miracle that the plants are ready for the show. It's as if the plants know Chelsea is the best show in the world, so they perform their socks off.
This year we are growing organic herbs for, not only our display, but also for two of the large show gardens. This is how a small organic nursery covers the cost of putting on its own exhibit. It's a huge responsibility; we have to grow the best and make sure that everything is perfect for the designers and clients. The gardens are 'The Daylesford Organic Garden - Summer Solstice', which is being designed by the charismatic team of Tommaso del Buono and Paul Gazerwitz and 'The BUPA Garden' which is being designed by the wonderful Cleve West. As to our display, this could, if we achieve a gold medal, be our 60th RHS Gold and our 13th at Chelsea. With that in mind the theme of our display will be 'The Medicinal, Mythical and Magical World of Herbs'.
We'll be highlighting the wonderful properties and stories of herbs such as Artemisia abrotanum, Southernwood, Abrotano (Italian), Fu ngaai (Chinese, Cantonese). Medicinally, this plant has been used as a bitter tonic to treat menstrual disorders and as a vermifuge (a treatment to destroy parasitic worms) to rid children of threadworm. Historically, it was said to repel demons, deter snakes and thieves and act as an antidote to magic potions. On the downside, it was thought to cause impotency!
Over the coming weeks I'll be writing about how we're doing, what we're growing and some tricks for getting plants to the show on time. I'll explain how we tackle pests and diseases, how we grow plants from seed and raise them organically to flower for that one special week in May, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Comments
Angie
12 February 2008, 10.11AM
cook
26 February 2008, 08.37PM
My Urban Farm Blog
06 March 2008, 01.59PM
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