Visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as an American

Since we moved to London nearly three years ago, I’ve been dying to attend one of the foremost British gardening events in the U.K.

Put simply, the U.S. does not host a gardening event like the stunning RHS Chelsea Flower Show that happens to attract nearly 165,000 people annually over a five-day period.

Tickets for this event, aptly nicknamed the “World Cup of Gardening,” sell out every year. So this year, I was determined to go and signed up as a RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) member and bought advance tickets way back in February! Hubby and I attended this year’s show on the second day in late May which was dedicated for RHS members only. 

Although we only live in a two-bedroom apartment here, one can always dream of having gardens like one of these, right?

I mean, how do you build an entire old stone house like this just for an event?

And how does one set mature trees into a temporary garden scene like this one? Amazing!

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show was everything I had imagined it would be and more! I took nearly 300 photos of the various show gardens, 17 smaller gardens and other gardening exhibitions, which spanned across 23 acres, so this blog post is more a photo post.

A wee bit of history:

·       Held in Chelsea since 1912, the show is hosted by the RHS on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

·       Originally called “The Great Spring Show,” the flower show first started in 1804 in a large tent with 244 exhibitors in Kensington. The show was used to highlight many of the top plant and seed merchants across the U.K. The show later changed names and moved to the hospital grounds in 1931.

Now, back to the main event!

Since we had the special RHS-member only tickets, the Chelsea Flower Show felt quite civilized and the gardens were quite fresh. I’ve heard that by the last day, the show can get a bit chaotic because it’s also the day that many vendors want to get rid of items and sell their flowers. Also, I chose the p.m. ticket, which means we only had access to the show from 5:30-8 p.m., because we both had to work. Having less times mean that you need to prioritize which gardens you want to see, but the advantage is that the gardens are better to photograph in those pre-sunset hours.

Sadly, I don't understand why the show doesn't stay open later because the sun doesn't set until nearly 9 p.m. at this time of the year.

Basically, if you attend the show in 2020, you won't be disappointed. I love flowers and I'm so happy I finally got to attend the show this year! Maybe next year, I'll buy an all-day ticket!

Hope you enjoy the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as much as I did!

The Montessori Centenary Children’s Garden

The garden was sponsored by the Montessori Centre International featured two greenhouses set among living walls and an interactive wildlife pond area.

The Donkey Sanctuary: Donkeys Matter

This garden featured a terraced garden of silver and purple Mediterranean-style plants. The international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary, was celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the garden provides a showcase for the charity's international work.

Walker’s Forgotten Quarry Garden

In a section of a disused quarry, this garden showed how nature is reclaiming the space with lots of foliage and a small pond.

More Garden Displays

Perhaps some Game of Thrones influence here? 

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