Since 1912, the Chelsea Flower Show has set the standard for horticultural advancement and competition. The show is attended by world experts, royalty and garden enthusiasts lucky enough to score a ticket. Chelsea businesses also get in the spirit with stupendous floral arrangements on their storefronts. This year’s theme was “Out of this world!” It was reminiscent for me of the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade.
The grounds of a city park adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea are utterly transformed into a horticultural Eden. There are British cultural elements such as the advanced aged red coated pensioners. The pensioners are the beloved veterans who call the Royal Hospital Chelsea Home. They slowly walk the grounds posing for photos and basking in the glow of their temporary fame.
It is truly remarkable that in the span of five days over 150,000 people tour the show gardens and smaller gardens in the grand pavilion. This year there were 30 gardens from large to balcony sized. The creativity, color and aromas are difficult to capture even with the best digital equipment. There were 79 specialist nursery exhibitors in the Grand Pavilion.
Unlike a normal garden, every specimen appeared in perfect bloom and health simultaneously. On the last day of the show there is massive sale of leftover plant stocks. The show gardens are usually transported and planted in designated locations throughout the UK. As would be expected of such an event there is concern about waste and the fleeting impermanence of Chelsea.
The show gardens were spectacular and judged for top prizes. The Tate Museum featured a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth. Others recreated diverse landscapes from the Australian outback to a Japanese tea house. There was even a gigantic Mother Nature laterally recumbent, amongst the most imaginative garden at the show.
A shopping emporium is impeccably merchandised to appeal to the nascent and master gardener alike. A Japanese garden tool manufacturer and a Shetland wool twine manufacturer were among the more unusual vendors. We were smitten by the custom glass greenhouses and conservatories.
Serious hospitality is available for those with the stomachs, time and pocketbooks to appreciate Michelin-starred chefs. It is amusing that what is billed as a “champagne terrace” is in the proximity of four street food villages.
The people watching is par excellence at Chelsea. The Sloane Rangers are present with quiet luxury attire and fabulous hats. They coexist with the hoards of green thumbed enthusiasts who all look simply thrilled by the abundance.
While sipping on a Pimm’s Cup an elderly gentlemen named Albert approached to share the communal picnic table. Albert mentioned that he has attended Chelsea for decades and views it as the start of his summer. He excitedly shared his three new hosta acquisitions and spoke of them in a manner that my husband uses when discussing Porsche engines. I did find it charming that in this time of digital bubbles Albert was there enthusing about his itty bitty hostas and the thrill of watching them grow.
It did amuse me when he went on about his appreciation for hostas and the ease of growth and propagation as if they were unknown exotics. I let him speak but as an experienced shade gardener from the upper Midwest, I easily could have attested to my own favorites: “Big Daddy” and “Guacamole”. Ironically the Chelsea winner for Plant of the Year 2026 was a hosta called “Red Ninja”. It’s gorgeous and deep purple edged foliage.
Chelsea has something for everyone and every plant lover. I bought seeds from the Royal Delphinium Society. Of course it is likely late in the growing season to sow the seeds this year as they need cold for germination. The specimens on display were immense and so vibrantly colored I succumbed to the fandom.
The rose displays were unbelievable. A David Beckham rose was introduced. There was also a humorous allowance made this year for celebrity endorsed charity gnomes. Next year the prohibition of gnomes with again be in effect.
I likely saved a lot of money because, aside from seeds it was impractical and illegal to attempt to transport any plant material. I appreciate that there were several exhibits looking toward the future of horticulture. New specimens get introduced each year. It is clear that garden designs have evolved toward native cultivars and more wild looking natural layouts. There is obvious recognition that changes are necessitated by global warming particularly high heat and drought. -- Nancy Zellmer.
