All Week…right here…scouring the internet for the most fun and interesting Chelsea Flower Show pictures and tidbits.

The fairly controversial Plasticine garden by James May.

I am watching twitter moment by moment to see James Alexander Sinclair’s coverage of the queens visit. I have no idea why I care about all this so much!

I am forever fascinated by the vegetable displays at Chelsea and this radish topiary lives up to all my expectations.

images via the daily mail.

I am intrigued by the painted posts in this Show garden designed by Paul Stone of the Eden Project.  Called ‘The Key’, it is designed to echo the life journeys that people make.

from the Star Tribune:

Not sure I care much for the garden above, but I love this:

Beatlemania erupted at London’s Chelsea Flower Show on Monday as Ringo Starr rolled up in a gaudily painted Mini to join George Harrison’s widow for the opening of a garden inspired by the “quiet Beatle.”
Photographers swarmed around as Starr drove up in the Mini decorated with symbols of the Hindu faith that Harrison embraced.
“Peace and love,” Starr said as he kissed Olivia Harrison on each cheek.

The press stunts are so fun!

Apparently there is a little bit of controversy…no gnomes – in fact one display had theirs (a supposed lucky charm) taken away, while another entire show garden is made of plastic….hmmm…these Chelsea folks take themselves very seriously, but I think they need make sure their high brow ambitions don’t stifle progress.

Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT defending gnomes, but it reminds me of when I submitted a design for a show garden at Chelsea and when reading through the rules I was surprised to see that there was a specific rule that stated that Crushed CD’s were not allowed in your show garden.

Really? It always strikes me odd to make such specific and reactive rules for a design show. Years later I still find this a little conflicted. This is the Garden Design equivalent of a designer fashion show right? The show is as much about ideas and concepts as it is about real working solutions. Things have to be adapted from the runway to everyday and whose to say what makes good taste?

I guess the Chelsea people.

What I am trying to saying is, I don’t envy the very thin line that I think they are walking. What do you think?

I once lived near the Chelsea Grounds, and I loved how the whole neighborhood got in on the action. Like this display in a local shop.

Awards tomorrow and more to come as I unearth it…