Because you can’t visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in person this year, we’re bringing you our highlights from across social media. This year, the show has gone virtual! No show gardens have been planted, there is no Great Pavilion, due to Covid-19. Instead, designers, growers and presenters are sharing their knowledge and their own gardens online. You’ll find design tips, planting ideas, garden tours, ‘how to’ demonstrations, and question and answer sessions. Here are some of our highlights from the virtual show so far.
All week, we’re sharing photos of some of the best show gardens from previous RHS Chelsea Flower Shows, on Instagram. This romantic Mediterranean garden was designed by James Basson in 2015, and has us dreaming of summer holidays!
Do you have a favourite RHS Chelsea Flower Show show garden of all time? The vote to choose the garden of the decade has closed, but you can find out which garden has won the coveted RHS People’s Choice Garden of the Decade on Sunday 24 May, on BBC One.
The 'BBC RHS People's Choice Garden of the Decade' vote is now open!
You have until 11pm on the 18th of May 2020 to have your say. Head to our website to vote for your favourite garden and find all the T&C’s.https://t.co/J17mgBjl43— BBC Gardeners World (@GWandShows) May 17, 2020
Ever wondered what Her Majesty The Queen’s favourite flower is? Well now you can find out. The RHS is encouraging us all to share photos of our gardens and plants, using #MyChelseaGarden, and even the Royal Family have got involved.
Members of the @RoyalFamily have shared a selection of images of some of their favourite plants and flowers at this time of year ????????????
See what they've chosen and why: https://t.co/UkYFOGLUmY pic.twitter.com/mFooZfdicI
— The RHS (@The_RHS) May 18, 2020
Gardening isn’t just for us mere earthlings! Astronaut Tim Peake joined the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to talk about gardening in space, and whether the prospect of astronauts growing their own food is a real possibility. To find out the answer to this, and how Tim’s rocket seeds fared in space, listen again to his interview on Youtube.
Thanks again to everyone who joined us this morning for a fun discussion on growing food in space, on Earth and on other planets. If you want to catch up, all #TimTalksSpace videos are available here:https://t.co/J3YmOzpIGs pic.twitter.com/OJKxDGhchh
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) May 18, 2020
Rachel de Thame has been filming from her beautiful home garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. She shares a shot of a dazzling tulip display, captured during a break in filming.
Designer Jo Thompson has four RHS Chelsea gold medals to her name. As she can’t create one of her stunning show gardens this year, she interviews hair stylist to the stars Sam McKnight, as he give us a tour of his own private garden.
The fabulous floristry was always a sight to behold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Floral designer Simon Lycett gives a demonstration on how to create a handheld bouquet of seasonal flowers that’s fit for The Queen.
Outdoor public spaces are more treasured than ever right now, and they were the inspiration for the show garden the Harris Bugg studio would have created for this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Here, they give a sneak peak of the design for their pocket park. We’re keeping our fingers crossed we’ll get to see the real thing in 2021.
Missing the #rhschelsea hubbub on what would have been the start of the show week! Our @mandggarden that would have been was an urban public green space, pocket park-like in its design; a haven for people and wildlife. ???? we will be able to show you more in 2021… pic.twitter.com/4T1r88AhSf
— Harris Bugg Studio (@HarrisBugg) May 18, 2020
BBC Radio Two DJ joins the virtual RHS Chelsea Flower Show and shares photos from her own private garden.
A youthful Alan Titchmarsh interviews Andrew Fisher Tomlin on his show garden in 1996 – check out the smart waistcoat! It’s not just the show gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show that reflect the changing times, clearly the dress code has changed a little too.
On @The_RHS #RHSChelsea press day I had a look out for some photos from past Chelsea’s. One of these is from my second show garden in 1996 on press day with MrT himself, how slim are we and look at that footwork! pic.twitter.com/dUZYD8mEWW
— Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer (@FisherTomlin) May 18, 2020
Artist Iain Welch captures the spirit of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is his simple line and wash drawings.
Happy virtual #RHSChelsea #pressday. Another wonderful drawing by @iaindwelch to celebrate the event. I will miss admiring the plants with my fellow @GdnMediaGuild members. #missingchelsea. Can you spot the Queen & @andreajonesphot camera? @The_RHS pic.twitter.com/OpZOtkpCo9
— Tamsin Westhorpe (@tamsinwesthorpe) May 18, 2020
Want to grow vegetables in a small garden? The Vegebag is designed to help you do just that, and has been awarded RHS Chelsea Garden Product of the Year 2020. “The current lockdown has unleashed a wave of passion across the country for all things gardening and particularly for growing fruit and vegetables, and after detailed debate and inspired by the mood of the nation the judges are delighted to announce that the Vegebag by Vegepod is this year’s winner,” said chair of judges Chris Harrop.
Clematis expert Raymond Evison shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at their Guernsey nursery, as part of today’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. RHS members can see this and discover some of Raymond Evison’s favourite clematis varieties.
Got a shady garden? Want to know the best clematis to grow? Raymond Evison shares some of their favourite clematis varieties to suit any spot as part of this year's virtual RHS Chelsea Flower Show. @the_RHS #RHSChelsea
— Gardeners' World Mag (@GWmag) May 18, 2020
Save £25 on a patio clematis collection
Perfect for patio pots, these clematis will produce blooms for six months of the year. Bred by multiple Chelsea Gold Medal winner Raymond Evison for their compact habit and prolific star-shaped blooms.
