Chelsea with Willmott Ford

Yesterday I went to the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time with Willmott Ford.  Having been to Hampton Court I had heard Chelsea was a bit smaller and a bit more cramped.  This didn't seem to be the case although you never felt you got a good look at the gardens, a bit like seeing Lenin in state, a quick look and keep on moving.  

There were some fine gardens on show although I'm getting a bit bored with the wild garden with a ramshackle hut at the end of it.  I know its about the planting but most people just want a garden that is easy to manage with a bit of lawn for their children to play on.  There were lots of reflective pools on show and the dominant type of paving seemed to be similar to Travertine in colour, lots of beige...

 The QR Code Garden by Jade Goto and Shelley Mosco our CAD tutor, well done Shelley its a shame we missed you.

 The Rooftop Workspace Garden by Patricia Fox, one of my favourites

 The Teenage Cancer Trust Garden by Joe Swift, very eye-catching colours, very bronze. 

 The Arthritis Research Garden by Thomas Hoblin, excellent!

 Carol Klein doing her stuff.

Andy Sturgeon's garden, didn't want to like it, but I did.

 Arne Maynard's garden, he was the only top designer we saw standing there talking to the punters, well done Arne, where were the rest of you?  Pleached trees?  Wasn't I doing that at Calverley Grounds in 2010?  We all get our inspiration from somewhere Arne.

 The Blue Water Garden.  Nice, except for the blue water and the hut.

 Alan on top of Diarmuid's fine erection.

 Aha, a useable space.  Willmott Whyte's garden.

 A wild garden with a shack...

 Another wild garden with a shack...

 Guess what?  Yep, another wild garden with a shack.  How many ways to skin a cat?

 Ah, formality.  Bit of a trip hazard though.  The World Vision Garden by John Warland and Sim Flemons.  Could have sponsored a lot of children for the cost of this.  I'm just saying...

 L'Occitane Garden by Peter Dowle, smelt good with all of the Curry Plants.

The Furzey Garden by Chris Beardshaw.  Another one...

And Willmott Ford, Garen Designers of Distinction...