Garden Design Unlimited has some great pictures of all the Chelsea Flower Show 2009 gardens.  If I were there, I would be making my top 5 list of favorites right now.  I am always compelled to do this – but it is hard to scrutinize by photo as I would in person, so I give you my top 6 with another one thrown in for discussion sake.

1).  I am quite partial to the Best in Show Garden. But since I already shared photos, I will leave pictures off.  Congratulations to Ulf Nordjfell.

2) I like the The Canary Islands Spa Garden a lot too.  It seems a bit dark, which I am not sure I love, but the whole idea of a spa garden (which was the theme of my own Chelsea submission) is something that I am fascinated to see.

The Canary Islands Spa Garden
Designers: David Cubera and James Wong Sponsor

3) Normally I am not a fan of the ‘re-creation’  gardens (as I call them).  They are those that seek to be nostalgic towards (generally) a region of England and simply re-create nature.  Almost always pretty to look at but always leaves me thinking that I could have been better off going for a walk in that place.  Anyway, though a little like that, I don’t care, I find the The Fenland Alchemist garden charming and I am totally intrigued by the lore of the garden and learning what an alchemist might have planted in such a place.

The Fenland Alchemist Garden
Designers: Stephen Hall and Jane Besser

4) Another Gold Medal show garden that has a knockout plant palette.  I am absolutely blown-away by the deep almost navy blue and raspberry red plant combo.

The Laurent-Perrier Garden
Designer: Luciano Giubbilei

5) Gardens for a purpose seems to be a bit of a trend.  For some of the same reasons I am fascinated with an alchemist’s garden, I am also interested in a perfumer’s garden.  What are they planting there?  I am so excited to learn more.

Perfume Garden
Designers: Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins

6) The concrete root-like structures in this garden are so interesting to look at.  I can’t tell if they would make me feel a bit like I was in a padded room or not, but the tree-like shape fascinates me.  I am wondering how they created those forms?

The Fenchurch Garden
Designer: Paul Hensey

And Finally — this garden doesn’t make my top 6 list…but I wanted to share it with you anyway.  I love seeing an idea that I had for a client get tested out by someone else.  A couple years ago, I designed a water feature and accent for a client who has a gray, poured concrete retaining wall that is 8 ft high and about 60 ft long.  A huge thing to look at and real design challenge.  Anyway, I suggested using stone veneer to make it look like it had layer deposits and crags.  Not to cover the wall but to create a modern art element on it.  Very similar to this wall feature, I am excited to see someone else have the idea too.  Also, I can see that perhaps it is a lot more artistic an endeavor than I thought as I don’t particularly like the way this looks but can see what needs to be done to achieve my vision.  (when that client gets around to implementing it).

The Modern Rock Garden
Designer: Tomoko Osonoe
all images in this post from Garden Design Unlimited