Taste and Themes at Chelsea by Daniel Bristow
Quite a few of us have ideas about themes and taste at Chelsea (see ‘Do themes help?). But we rarely hear a critical comment from a designer who is actually showing a garden at Chelsea. It takes bottle. Here is Daniel Bristow, (“Propagating Dan”)with...
Chelsea – Buildup Sunday by Anne Wareham
I thought there might be some people who’d like to see what Chelsea is like the day before it opens. So here’s some snaps of Buildup Sunday. Anne Wareham editor Anne...
Chelsea 2015 – a review by Katherine Crouch
This is what you want, I think – a real reflection of Chelsea without the hype. Thanks for an amazing effort Katherine, getting it to me so fast and with so many pictures and so much messing around for my benefit. (I’m a monster editor) Anne Wareham,...
Chaumont 2014: review by Valerie Lapthorne
A belated (my fault) review of the 2014 Chaumont Garden Festival – but not too late, it runs until November. I wonder, contemplating these gardens: is it all rather old-fashioned? Anne Wareham, editor International Garden Festival, Chaumont-sur-Loire 2014 by...
More Chelsea
I’m risking boring everyone with more Chelsea stuff – in this case, some thoughts about the actual 2014 show: mine and those of Katherine Crouch. I promise that normal service will be resumed shortly. (ie not quite so often ..) Anne Wareham, editor I...
Chelsea Parade, photographed by Charles Hawes
What people were wearing at Chelsea – during build up and on Press day. Photographs by Charles Hawes – and some from me. Some people you may know, many you won’t. #nomontydon Anne Wareham, editor Then the afterthoughts by Anne: (though I have...
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...
Chaumont 2012 reviewed by Anne Hanley
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...Painswick Rococo Garden – 21 images from the Art in the Garden exhibition by Anne Wareham
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...
Hampton Court Health Warnings by Helen Gazeley.
“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...
Chelsea 2012 by Anne Wareham
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...Strictly Come Chelsea by Victoria Summerley
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...
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.
