John Brookes (MBE) : After nearly 50 years of Chelsea visiting, this was not a memorable one. Designs seem to be going back to traditional, the moderns (except the roof garden [Patricia Fox for RBS], which I liked), looked very dated.
Noel Kingsbury: “Just made my once every few years visit to the Chelsea Flower Show. It does all feel like deja vu and I do basically go for the people, as the Monday press day is like a huge works party for the garden press..Sarah Price's garden for The Telegraph, accomplished, but the trouble is everyone was doing this this year, mostly natives.”
Michael Marriot: “The reaction to our roses was very good, we had lots of enthusiasm from fans and press alike.“The best thing about Chelsea is there is everyone here, from professionals to press to your standard gardeners. “Our fans love our roses and often make a beeline for our stalls and garden.”
*Congratulations to Michael btw – for Silver Guilt Flora at David Austin*
Andy McIndoe "One year, a tree was delivered complete with a nest of baby blackbirds, but minus the parents. We spent the next few days digging up worms for the hungry chicks," he recalls.
*Congratulations to Andy btw – Hillier has just won its 67th consecutive gold medal!*
Stephanie Donaldson It was all very lovely at Chelsea –subtle colours softly intermingled with one another in pleasing combinations. It has to be said that the odd splash of vivid colour came as a relief.