Too Many Things by Catharine Howard
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...
Garden Hero at Chelsea by Simon Webster
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...
The Love of the Familiar by Alison Levey
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...
Spraying Gold Medals like Confetti by Janey Auchincloss
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...
Chelsea is nothing to do with Garden Design by Rupert Butcher.
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...
A Floral Fantasy by Bill Rose
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...
Chelsea 2013 uncovered by Charles Hawes
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...
Chelsea 2013, some thoughts from Anne Wareham
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...
The End of Botanical Gardens? by Ewan Michaels
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...
Tranquil Havens full of Birdsong by Abbie Jury
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....
RHS judging: an interview with an RHS judge by Victoria Summerley
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...
Your Views about Views? by Susan Cohan
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...
Three Actors by Tristan Gregory
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:...
Recent Posts from: Veddw
Ambivalence about Snowdrops
Well, I’m sorry, but I didn’t have a happy Christmas. We were both full of cough and were quite unwell. I have not recovered, and I find myself quite unable to write anything new. So I dipped into The Bad Tempered Gardener to offer you a piece on those plants which gardeners obsess about at this time […]
I’ve fallen in love with these.
I love my garden, I do. It’s at the heart of my life. But just recently I’ve been drawn back and back to a windowsill with some sweet dwarf pelargoniums.
Favour the Ferns
Many years ago The Financial Times sent me to do a feature on the RHS ‘Flower Show’ at Tatton Park . I was totally naïve and had no idea what I was supposed to do or to write about. So my excitement was tempered by acute anxiety. The term ‘imposter syndrome’ could have been invented for me. […]
Snowdrop mania is coming…
In the UK, right now, the horticultural world is about to drive us all mad with snowdrops. Pictures of. Articles about. Gardens with them. Anything people can think of to bash us over the head with snowdrops.
Brilliant Brecon
Recently we made a visit to Brecon. This is not far from us, in case anyone was getting over excited about the possibility that I might have been travelling again. It’s in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons, recently re-christened Bannau Brycheiniog.
