RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
- Molly Andrews
- Jun 3, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2024
I had the amazing opportunity to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower show for the first time this year. There were so many exhibitions and stalls that were full of inspiring ideas, in this post I'll try to create an overview of the designs and plants I got to see.
Balcony Gardens
This was the section that I was most excited to see at the event, and these small-space gardens were so beautiful. All the exhibits were quite different from the others, which displayed the diverse aesthetic possibilities for balcony spaces.
Tomie’s Cuisine the Nobonsai by Tsuyako Asada
I loved the minimalist shelving display on this balcony, each shelf in the grid displayed a singular plant pot, 'Nobonsai', which contrasted beautifully against the timber wall.
'Nobonsai' is a word that Tsuyako created herself which 'symbolises the small piece of nature we've cute out from the vastness of nature to make this balcony garden come to life'
This plastic-free, no-waste balcony incorporated 'Alice's composter' for feeding the container plants with food waste. Containers can require regular feeding to provide the plants with nutrients that can be washed away with watering or quickly taken up by plants within the pot.
I will shortly be creating a seperate post with more details about this composting system.
The Addleshaw Goddard Junglette Garden by Mike McMahon Studio
I met designer Jewlsy Mathews at the show, she desribed that through diguising the boundaries of the space, the area can feel larger. For this balcony, this was achieved through using lush leafy plants such as nasturtiums which were pouring through the balcony railings. The height and canopy of the taller plants, (e.g. Dicksonia antarctica, Cyathea cooperi, Tetrapanax papyrifer) also distorted the boundary constraints to create a lush haven.
La Mia Venezia by Kate Gould Gardens
Inspired by Venice, this balcony garden was packed with vibrant flowering and trailing plants, which created a romantic Italian garden - on a balcony!
Children With Cancer UK ‘Raines Repurposed’
This colour palette for this garden was relaxing and soothing with soft lighting globes, which were embedded amongst the flowers so the display will glow in the evening.
Container Gardens
These exhibits were beside the balcony gardens, they do not have the same weight contraints as balconies but they also demonstrate what can be achieved in small spaces.
The Ecotherapy Garden by Tom Bannister
This garden was packed with lush, shade-loving plants which included ferns, brunnera and hostas. The little pockets of moss creeping around the sides of containers softened the hard edges. The flow of water through several rills and basins (and cold pool!) which provided a lovely soundscape to complete the tranquil space.
The Water Saving Container Garden by Sam Proctor
Conserving water in a small garden or courtyard (especially with containers) is key to creating a sustainable garden. The framed succulents were a great feature in this garden, utilising wall space by displaying drought resistant plants, they were also highlighted with lighting.
The Anywhere Courtyard by Elisabeth Wright-McCalla
The tiles framing the living wall and fountain are also a gorgeous backdrop to the tree canopy and encircling planters. These create a space which feels private and peaceful.
Sanctum by Sonja Kalkschmidt
This container garden was a modular unit which invites people to be surrounded by nature in the pod-like structure. The size of the containers provide space to a generous amount of planting which helps to create the immersed experience.
mgr Changing Tides Garden by Lucy Mitchell
I loved the planting in this garden so much! The resilient plants create a practical and full garden with a very fresh and light aesthetic. The boulders used as planters show how, with the right plant seleciton, we can make use of all kinds of surfaces for gardens. It reminds me of some of the planting I have seen in Norway in seaside towns, where the glacial stone crevices have been filled with flowers in the summer time.
I’ll be posting more about the Chelsea Flower show shortly, I have more photos and details of plants and garden exhibits to share!
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