In the run up to the rescheduled Chelsea 2021 – the first time it’s been held in September – there had been a lot of speculation about the gardens. Would they be a blaze of autumnal colour. Would dahlias capture the spotlight, or grasses come to the fore?
In the end, most of gardens were more subdued than many predicted with subtle colours – and very few dahlias.
The colours and planting of the Guangzhou Garden are beautiful and I kept returning to it. Designed to highlight how good town planning should connect people with nature, it combines water, rocks and bamboo ‘shelters’ that rise up out of waves of planting. It won gold and the coveted Best in Show.
Urban planning is also the theme of this year’s M&G garden, designed by Hugo Bugg and Charlotte Harris. Hints of an industrial past are woven through the garden, including repurposed metal pipes and old paving. It also won gold.
This garden stands out for its use of plants that are past their flowering peak – usually a black mark for a Chelsea garden. There are seed heads and yellowing foliage, making it an authentic autumn garden.
It was good to see the Yeo Valley garden after my visit to the Somerset plot that inspired it. I could see echoes of the Yeo site, notably in the silver birch, and, like the farm’s garden, it follows strict organic principles.
Sarah Mead, who runs the firm with her husband, Tim, worked with Tom Massey on the design and both declared themselves pleased with the resulting garden. It was another gold medal winner.
It was popular also with the Chelsea pensioners who were out in force for press day – they seemed to have missed the show as much as everyone else.
This sculpture caught my eye on the ‘Bodmin Jail: 60° East’ – A Garden Between Continents.
There were some gardens that did go all out for autumn colour, including this one in the new category of Sanctuary Gardens. Vibrant planting (also pictured at the top of this post) was wrapped around a calm centre.
I did find dahlias on the RHS feature garden, COP26, which shows how gardens can be used to combat climate change.
I really liked the colours in this planting, one of four distinct areas in the garden.
Balconies and containers at Chelsea 2021
Chelsea 2021 has some new features, generally believed to have been brought in to ‘bulk out’ the show when some exhibitors decided not to switch from the planned May to new September date (there are only six show gardens). A last minute stop gap they may have been, but they are a really interesting and timely addition with a relevance to a large section of the gardening public.
The Balcony Gardens show how a tiny space, high up in the middle of a city can become a sanctuary and place of escape.
The only downside is the way they are laid out with visitors looking into the gardens. It means the planting is hemmed in behind railings and the view is one that few beyond the birds would see in real life. Reversing this would have given us the balcony owner’s view out onto the city and stopped the railings getting in the way.
There were some interesting details though, including the use of plants as a sort of ‘living grout’ between paving slabs.
I really liked the colours on this balcony by Martha Krempel – and it has dahlias.
The Container Gardens were created by recently qualified designers making their Chelsea debut. They were mentored through the process by designer and RHS judge Paul Hervey-Brookes and, like the Balcony Gardens were not judged.
Another new section introduced at Chelsea 2021, they are ideal for inspiring peope with little outdoor space, or who need portable gardens because they live in rented homes.
There is a wide range of styles. John McPherson’s is by far the most vibrant and needs close examination to spot all the details.
Using containers has not restricted Sara Edwards who has created a mini forest in her space (above left), while Ellie Edkins conjures up life by the beach (above right).
Mika Misawa’s ‘A Tranquil Space in the City’ (above left) shows how calming an uncluttered garden can be with a single flowering plant centre stage.
I really liked the shape and planting of the containers in Anna Dabrowska-Jaudi’s garden (above right) with the fluid shape and mixture of textures.
There is also an avenue devoted to houseplants at Chelsea 2021 with garden studios transformed by plants. The ‘Green Bathroom Retreat’ by Conservatory Archives was particularly appealing and shows how every room can be transformed.
I spent a second day at RHS Chelsea looking at the nursery displays. Read about it here.
RHS Chelsea 2021 runs until September 26. More details here.
Enjoyed this. You can read more of my show reports here. Make sure you don’t miss future blog posts by signing up for an email alert.
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