Adventures in Gardening

Sneak preview for you on this years exhibit

The Road to Adventure

Well, its nearly the end of January - where did that one go? It disappeared under a snow drift, and with it all my good intentions of being ahead of the Chelsea game. That's not strictly true - I have managed to progress the plan and get most of the main building materials lined up. I know Ricky is on the case with plants - at some point I need to get together with him to explain the themes of the exhibit a little further - as ever they have moved on as plans progress!
Anyway - this year's theme: Adventures in Gardening. Where did that one come from? Well during a talk at our Sunningdale garden centre Gary, our manager said that I had made gardening sound like an adventure, - I loved the idea so the Chelsea theme was born. That's often how it happens - on the spur of the moment.
This year I am teaming up with The Scotts Miracle-Gro company. Both of us want a different angle and way of relaying our message to gardeners. An integral part of the exhibit will be the Secret Garden, or "Diary Room" as it has become known. Here gardeners will be able to give their gardening tips to help other gardeners or ask questions of the experts. These pearls of wisdom will be captured on short videos which will form a library of real gardening advice from real gardeners. Visitors will be able to watch the action in the Diary Room through a window in the garden pavilion at the front of the exhibit, or watch it on a TV screen - clever eh? Just got to make it happen.

Anyway the rest of the exhibit is a road to adventure across White Water, through Indian Intrigue,past Moroccan Magic to Venetian Adventure coming to rest amidst Sylvan Spirit. Its really all about putting plants together in an adventurous way in inspiring settings. The objective being to encourage the gardener to jump in and have a go without worrying about what's right or wrong.
As for accessories - I've got a lovely big Indian goddess, an incredible slate sculpture by Tom Stogden, a fantastic Scandinavian outdoor room by Hillhout, and Divine paving by Organic Stone. Went to visit them on Monday - full of enthusiasm and ideas as ever - Paving based on Golden Section - Sacred Geometry- magic beneath your feet! Tim Redwood thinking about Moroccan architecture and need to speak to Mehrdad about Venetian Glass - have masks for the ball already!

Today's effort - started to wory about forklifts, black polythene and so on and bought a cane Peacock chair on the internet for £10 - The Diary Room is starting to get very interesting and imaginations in the office are going wild. Chelsea is underway.
Next the focus moves to Trade Open Days on the nursery - designed to inspire our customers and let them know what we are up tothis year The theme - You've guessed it - Adventures in Gardening - Let the journey begin!

Chelsea Flower Show 2010 - planning has started

keep visiting here for up to the minute news, plans and pics!

Descent to normality - The epilogue

It's the Tuesday after Chelsea and already the show seems a lifetime away. I can't believe that only two weeks ago only the trees were on site, and the garden was only a few lines on a sheet of paper and a heap of materials.

So much has happened in the past week and we all try to remember it all to little avail. "Was that last wednesday or Thursday?" - can't remember - it doesn't matter anyway. So many people pass through our Chelsea world in the space of a few days - all outside their normal environment. Here celebrities, gardeners, Royals, friends and relatives are all the same. Reminds me of that famous Dickens piece about the same wind blowing across the peasant's patch that blows across the nobleman's - can't really remember that properly either.

"Was Chelsea good"?, "Did you get the Gold?" - have been asked that a few times in the past few days. The answer to both is yes. Both the staging experience and the show itself were fantastic. I hate leaving it all behind - I feel as it I've left a part of me there in the Pavilion when I walk away from it at the end of the show.

I'm lucky - I don't have to do the demolition. Ricky and the clearing crew took care of that on Sunday. Today was clearing up the odds and ends - The war torn remains that come home and need to be dealt with.

Piles of e mails await attention - amongst them greetings, congratulations and salutations. These I want to read - to hang on to - they are the remains of Chelsea 2009 and I'm not ready to let go yet. Perhaps its time to move on and start thinking about next year? - Do I have an idea for Chelsea 2010 ? - Well, you'll have to wait and see.

64th Consecutive Gold Medal!

An early start for Ricky, Mark and Ellie (with not a little apprehension during the taxi ride!) who were on the exhibit at 7am to open up. The team from Hampshire had beaten them to it, and had unloaded the magazines and headed off for breakfast already.

But the fantastic news was that we have been awarded our 64th consecutive Chelsea Gold Medal - Mark sent me a text at 7am to give me the good news, which was very welcome.

8am - and busy start - loads of interest from the public, which is always great to receive - the themes of the exhibit really seem to have struck a chord.

Ricky works his magic with Alan and Carol who enjoy their visit - i dont know how he does it. I'm writing this on the exhibit now at 11am, and its packed with visitors, so time for me to stop writing and start talking - Enjoy the Show!

Monday - Press Day

Frantic action this morning as we rush around the exhibit cleaning, tidying, and sweeping ready for the press launch at 11am, and the judging at 2pm. The press lauch was exceptional - with a great turnout and some wonerful compliments; not only about the garden, but my new book as well (Losing the Plot, in case you missed it).

The Queen arrived on the exhibit later and was very complimentary - always a pleasure!

Now we prepare for the Gala Evening, and as for tomorrow - the thing that really matters; the public - i cant wait!

Subdued Sunday?

Sunday morning started bright and fairly warm with a modest little breakfast at our usual cafe. Glad I went for the lighter option - scrambled eggs(about half a dozen), a few rashers of bacon and a ton of mushrooms washed down with an ocean of tea. A good start to the day before embarking on the homeward straight.








Although I am always quite relieved to get to this stage its always rather sad that the fun creative part is nearly over. The worst part is the team breaking up at the end of the day. We become very close in these few days working on the exhibit and it seems as if we have worked together as a team for a few years rather than a few days.

One tends to forget that the show is still to come and there is still the marathon of Press Day, Royals, and Gala night to get through before the curtain rises on Chelsea 2009.

At this time I always think that this is the best exhibit we have ever done, whether I will feel the same at the end of the week remains to be seen.



However, although I say it myself, it is brilliant and that's thanks entirely to The Hillier Chelsea Team - a bunch of incredibly talented individuals that weave their magic in The Great Pavilion. We could not have achieved it without any single one of them, especially the stage management Neil and Nigel who manage the construction, the logistics, loading, unloading and party arrangements.


And of course the other important element of Chelsea - the plants - what can I say Mr Dorlay you've done it again!

Now, I've got an idea for next year.............................

But for now - have a look at all the pictures of the finished exhibit - click here