CELEBRATION is a vital part of life, but never more so than now, when the world at large is so dark and threatening. The Chelsea Flower Show is an annual reminder that, in every community throughout the country, the British passion for gardens gives every one of us many joyous opportunities to celebrate—although never so triumphantly as at Chelsea. This year, yet again, the RHS gave us real cause for cheer with a show that, at the same time as reflecting the ever-changing gardening scene, wholly maintained its historic standards of excellence (Review, page 122).
It wouldn’t be Chelsea without excellence, not only in horticulture, but in presentation. Sometimes, it’s with originality: the way the spectacular quality of New Forest hostas was matched by the exuberant inventiveness of their display. More often, it’s doing the expected, but brilliantly, such as Taylors with its matchless daffodils, winners of some 30 Gold medals.
Eagerly sought after, these Gold medals are hugely valuable advertisements for their cultivators, but, even so, intense rivalry and controversy surrounds the choice of Best in Show. Several displays win Gold, but only one is singled out: this year, the young designer Ula Maria won the coveted award for her garden inspired by the Japanese concept of forest bathing. It certainly wasn’t everybody’s favourite—many had already plumped for Tom Massey’s WaterAid garden —but Chelsea wouldn’t be Chelsea without controversy and it would be a pity if we took too seriously the po-faced commentators who complain if there’s any criticism of the judges.
Agromenes hopes that, instead of merely repeating the undoubted truth that ‘judging is fair and above board’, the RHS will consider seriously Monty Don’s concern that this very transparency leads to too much box-ticking and too little regard for that ‘sense of delight’ that makes a great garden. Of course, it’s right that there should be criteria to be met, but in the end what matters is the total effect: a garden that lifts the heart in celebration, which is what Chelsea as a whole did.
A series of small changes has really made a difference. By example and without preaching, the RHS included
