Every year there are a few boxes one can tick for Things That Will Happen In Chelsea Buildup Week. 2011 is no different.
An industry figure saying something "controversial"? Check! (Carol Klein bemoans "corporate influence" on Chelsea and asks if it's had its heyday). Panicking show garden designers and camaraderie among the planters? check and check although admittedly the Aussies can't actually spell "camaraderie". Horticulture Week's Matthew Appleby slating practically all Chelsea coverage other than his own? Check. And last but not least, dozens of PRs requesting my presence on press day to drink slightly warm "bubbly" and make small talk when what I actually want to do is get a good gander at the show gardens before the heaving masses arrive: check. (Although in extremis I may succumb to this G&T).
For anyone outside the overheated, slightly fetid greenhouse that is the horticulture industry, though, none of this really counts. What matters are the following questions.
What gardens will look great?
I like the look of Cleve West's garden inspired by Roman ruins in Libya, and Matthew Appleby tips West as the favourite. I also rate Bunny Guinness's kitchen garden, not only because I'd like a woman to win best in show; I also love the concept.
I'm looking forward to James Wong's Malaysian garden, partly because he is such a nice chap, partly because his gardens always look different from everything else at Chelsea, and partly because it is half-underwater, an appealing thought in a spring so dry my garden's starting to resemble 1930s dustbowl America. According to the press release Diarmuid Gavin's "hanging gardens of Chelsea" has been inspired by the sci-fi film Avatar, which marks it down before I've set foot in the show.
Will Alan Titchmarsh be doing Chelsea on the telly?
Yes.
What plants should I buy?
Not sure until I see things "in the flesh", but you can't go wrong with anything from new exhibitors Crûg Farm and the new grasses from Knoll Gardens.
I'll be putting together a gallery of must-have plants early next week so stay tuned for that: we'll also be bringing you a post from someone caught up in the pre-opening frenzy of last-minute show garden planting and preening, a blogpost from Matthew Appleby about why Chelsea makes him sneeze, and Graham Rice on those not-so-new Chelsea introductions, and much more. All our Chelsea coverage will be available here.
Are you going to Chelsea this year or would you rather be double digging your allotment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
