Articles


What Kind of Dream? by Lucy Masters

June 5, 2013
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This is the entry which won first prize in the 2013 Thinkingardens Competition for an article about Chelsea Flower Show in its centenary year. Congratulations, Lucy! Anne Wareham, editor Chelsea: What kind of dream? by Lucy Masters The Show Gardens are the centre piece of RHS Chelsea and hundreds crush and queue to see them. They [...]

Too Many Things by Catharine Howard

June 5, 2013
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Catharine Howard asks what the RHS is up to and why in her piece for the thinkingardens Chelsea 2013 competition. Anne Wareham, editor Too Many Things by Catharine Howard. Chelsea, with its breathless television coverage, reminds me of those glossy magazines that show pictures of parties you should have been at.  But had you been [...]


Garden Hero at Chelsea by Simon Webster

June 5, 2013
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Garden Hero’s entry for the thinkingardens Chelsea 2013 competition… Anne Wareham, editor Garden Hero’s reflections… I received a book last Christmas – 1001 gardens to see before you die – which in reality would mean that I would have to see one a week for the next 20 years, which is highly unlikely given the location of [...]

The Love of the Familiar by Alison Levey

June 5, 2013
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A nearly – winner  in the Chelsea 2013 competition. Nearly! Anne Wareham, editor Chelsea – a little bit familiar? by Alison Levey When I tell people I am going to The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show I generally get one of two reactions: either “ooh, I’ve always wanted to go there, I am intending [...]


Spraying Gold Medals like Confetti by Janey Auchincloss

June 5, 2013
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Janey Auchincloss contemplated the issue of sponsorship for the Chelsea 2013 thinkingardens competition. Anne Wareham, editor ‘They are spraying gold medals around like confetti, ‘ by Jane Auchincloss. Less than a year ago, such a comment would have aroused joy in the entire population of the United Kingdom. Our Olympians were triumphing over the rest of the [...]

Chelsea is nothing to do with Garden Design by Rupert Butcher.

June 5, 2013
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Rupert Butcher takes issue with the relevance of Chelsea (and maybe even the RHS?) to garden design or gardening in his piece for the Chelsea 2013 thinkingardens competition. Anne Wareham, editor Chelsea is nothing to do with gardening or garden design, by Rupert Butcher. Chelsea is a piece of fantasy, it can be a lovely fantasy [...]


A Floral Fantasy by Bill Rose

June 5, 2013
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Bill Rose was the runner up in the thinkingardens Chelsea 2013 competition, winning a copy of Chris Young’s book. Well done, Bill. Anne Wareham, editor A Floral Fantasy by Bill Rose. Chelsea Flower show is without doubt a floral fantasy. Which I adore. I  cannot help myself, I am both in awe of the displays of flowers, [...]

Chelsea 2013 uncovered by Charles Hawes

May 21, 2013

The photographers hope to get a press pass again next year…         Charles Hawes has a good selection of high resolution photographs of Chelsea Flower Show on GAP Photos. (Including one on the photo library front page.) The photographs on this page and other high res Chelsea photographs can also be obtained for [...]


Chelsea 2013, some thoughts from Anne Wareham

May 21, 2013

This year was marked for me by having one garden that shocked me by its badness, and one that delighted me. And the other remarkable thing was the extent of agreement about both those things amongst the people I talked to. Prize for shock went to Jinny Blom’s garden for Prince Harry and his charity [...]

The End of Botanical Gardens? by Ewan Michaels

May 9, 2013

The Botanic Garden of Wales always seemed an odd idea, and it is true (see below) that is has struggled for survival  from the moment it appeared. I wonder if anyone thinks Botanic gardens are still relevant today – and if so, why and what for? Here are Ewan Michael’s thoughts on the matter… Anne [...]


Tranquil Havens full of Birdsong by Abbie Jury

April 18, 2013

This is another longish one I’ve let by, just as a warning for those of you with short attention spans. Having seen so many similar owner entries in the Yellow Book over the years (“This other Eden, demi-paradise” ..) I was riveted. Wonderful stuff. Thank you, once again, Abbie. Anne Wareham, editor Abbie Jury: For the [...]

RHS judging: an interview with an RHS judge by Victoria Summerley

April 2, 2013

It may seem difficult to believe in the current wintry climate, but the Chelsea Flower show opens in a few weeks’ time. For the past few months, while the show garden designers have wondered whether their plants will survive the winter, the RHS has been re-examining the way it awards their medals. Victoria Summerley talked [...]


Your Views about Views? by Susan Cohan

March 19, 2013

There has been discussion in the British press recently, I believe, about whether we should specifically protect important views, before they are all covered by wind power stations. Views, as borrowed landscape, are vital to many gardens.  However – when we can’t even protect AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), or the view from Highgrove, [...]

Three Actors by Tristan Gregory

March 11, 2013

Speaks for itself, this article. It comes with a great addition: a piece of original artwork by Paul Steer, created especially to accompany this piece. Thank you to both contributors – and anyone/thing else involved…. Anne Wareham, editor Tristan Gregory: I was cutting away at some Hawthorn trees one Saturday morning in an attempt to [...]

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