Events


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 [...]


Orchids at Kew – could it be more exciting? by Susanne Masters

February 12, 2013

We see magnificent plant displays regularly, at Chelsea and other RHS shows. We do ‘oo’ and ‘ah’ as expected, the plants are always amazing. But could there be a different dimension to these displays? Kew is doing an orchid show until the 3rd of March. Susanne Masters visited – and wondered whether Kew could make [...]

Chaumont 2012 reviewed by Anne Hanley

August 14, 2012

We don’t seem to have heard so much of the garden festival at Chaumont recently – or is it simply that I don’t read enough of the garden media? It is clearly still going on its colourful, wonderfully French way and I’m very happy to have an excellent review of this year’s gardens from Anne [...]


Painswick Rococo Garden – 21 images from the Art in the Garden exhibition by Anne Wareham

August 2, 2012

I cannot claim this as a review – rather the editor’s privilege to produce a brief, pictorial indication of what is to be seen at this exhibition, which we visited in the drizzle on the 31st July. I have a pile up of material waiting to be published here (our first blog review soon..) and life has [...]

Hampton Court Health Warnings by Helen Gazeley.

June 25, 2012

“Most artists aren’t that philosophical or conceptual. They’re just artists who work within a certain style and if you took their so-called concept into a 6th form debating society, it would be ripped to shreds.” Grayson Perry, RSA Journal, Autumn 2008. Quite. This year, at Chelsea we saw a shining example of a garden with meaning, [...]


Chelsea 2012 by Anne Wareham

May 22, 2012

I did my usual for Chelsea – asked people I met on Press Day a question I thought would be of interest to thinkingardeners. Less celebrities this time. All pictures by Charles Hawes, but the unnamed person in them, while bearing a passing resemblance to me, is clearly fifteen years older and much heavier… Anne Wareham editor [...]

Strictly Come Chelsea by Victoria Summerley

February 18, 2012

This piece is another act of dedication and concern from Victoria Summerley, who should have been packing for a much needed holiday rather than writing for us – and hopefully, for the RHS judges. (Her holidaying around means she will be unable to respond to any comments of queries on this piece) Her last piece [...]


RHS consulation on the judging at Chelsea – response by Victoria Summerley

February 15, 2012

The RHS has just held a forum to discuss and get responses to their thoughts about changing the judging process at Chelsea. Victoria Summerley attended on behalf of thinkingardens and here is her response and her suggestions. I hope that the RHS will take note of her thoughts. I have never found it quite so [...]

Chelsea 2011 by Anne Wareham

May 24, 2011

Chelsea 2011 “Is Chelsea still relevant?” – with thanks to Lila de Gupta for the question. This year I was wondering about the relevance of Chelsea and of show gardens in particular. I think that they are the joyful celebration of gardens made simply for the delight of looking at them (from the outside). I [...]


Hort Park, Singapore reviewed by Jonathan Fothergill

April 22, 2011

Travel time, readers from UK and USA – here’s interesting in South East Asia – a great piece from Jonathan Fothergill on Hort park, Singapore. Anne Wareham, editor Singapore, famed for its cut orchids and its botanic garden, has a new kid on the garden block.  Billed as a ‘One-stop gardening hub’ the HortPark is [...]

Chelsea 2009 – What did you learn?

December 14, 2010

Anne Wareham asks what did you learn at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009


Chelsea 2010 – Do Chelsea gardens benefit from having “themes”?

October 28, 2010

This piece unfortunately escaped the transfer from the old website so is being republished now. I just got an email from Graham Rice, responding to my interest in theming (ie. making gardens based on a theme) at Chelsea: “Just been watching the video of Chelsea on the Guardian’s website… And my question is this: Why do all these gardens [...]

Hampton Court Show 2010 reviewed by Stephen Anderton

October 4, 2010

“the question crying out to be asked is what does conceptual mean?”

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