I LOVE this post! And not just because I get a mention in it! So much to chew on here. I love your thoughts about none of these show gardens actually being gardens. You're absolutely right that gardens need a past and future and these theatrical groupings of plants are mere botanical blips. If one of these "gardens" does anything to encourage more sustainable land practices then that certainly seems like a win.
And while I'm sad to hear that you didn't share a tea (or champagne) with Monty or Carol, I'm very impressed with your Repair Shop selfie AND the media coverage of you hanging out with Stephen Merchant! Very cool!
Next year, I'm flying over for the show and we'll show up on press day with matching shirts emblazoned with Monty's face. Then he'll probably want a selfie with us.
I would love a post about water features! I also want one, I also think my garden is too small. I’d love to see some inspiring solutions. Especially that are wildlife friendly and low-maintenance; we have an allotment garden 3km from our house so we’re not there every day to refill or clean water. I’ve dreamed about a tiny pond but got intimidated. Thanks for any practical advice!
I would love to create a little pond - even if all I do is sink a container into the soil - but that would use up valuable bed space and I’d have to sacrifice at least one of my existing plants to make it happen. The alternative is to have a patio-based pond/water feature in an impermeable container, maybe even with a little solar pump in it. Potentially less wildlife-friendly (can’t imagine it would be as useful for frogs/toads), but easier to create and maintain. Watch this space for updates, and maybe even advice…
Re. Lesson #2. I, embarrassingly, had similar musings to the "visitor" when attending the Malvern Spring Festival. I was initially wondering, how did the bees know there was a show on? And then thought that perhaps the bees maybe were the greatest beneficiaries of the show gardens? But then I was worried what would happen to the bees once the show was over, would they suddenly all go hungry? Hopefully there's enough more permanent flowers etc in Chelsea to keep them all well supplied with nectar.
I share your concern about where the bees will turn once the gardens have been stripped away and the lawns reinstated. My only hope is that if they were resourceful enough to find the Chelsea flowers, they’ll be resourceful enough to find an alternative. Fingers crossed!
I LOVE this post! And not just because I get a mention in it! So much to chew on here. I love your thoughts about none of these show gardens actually being gardens. You're absolutely right that gardens need a past and future and these theatrical groupings of plants are mere botanical blips. If one of these "gardens" does anything to encourage more sustainable land practices then that certainly seems like a win.
And while I'm sad to hear that you didn't share a tea (or champagne) with Monty or Carol, I'm very impressed with your Repair Shop selfie AND the media coverage of you hanging out with Stephen Merchant! Very cool!
Next year, I'm flying over for the show and we'll show up on press day with matching shirts emblazoned with Monty's face. Then he'll probably want a selfie with us.
Thanks for your understanding, Boaz. I’ll start contacting local T-shirt printers…
I would love a post about water features! I also want one, I also think my garden is too small. I’d love to see some inspiring solutions. Especially that are wildlife friendly and low-maintenance; we have an allotment garden 3km from our house so we’re not there every day to refill or clean water. I’ve dreamed about a tiny pond but got intimidated. Thanks for any practical advice!
I would love to create a little pond - even if all I do is sink a container into the soil - but that would use up valuable bed space and I’d have to sacrifice at least one of my existing plants to make it happen. The alternative is to have a patio-based pond/water feature in an impermeable container, maybe even with a little solar pump in it. Potentially less wildlife-friendly (can’t imagine it would be as useful for frogs/toads), but easier to create and maintain. Watch this space for updates, and maybe even advice…
Re. Lesson #2. I, embarrassingly, had similar musings to the "visitor" when attending the Malvern Spring Festival. I was initially wondering, how did the bees know there was a show on? And then thought that perhaps the bees maybe were the greatest beneficiaries of the show gardens? But then I was worried what would happen to the bees once the show was over, would they suddenly all go hungry? Hopefully there's enough more permanent flowers etc in Chelsea to keep them all well supplied with nectar.
I share your concern about where the bees will turn once the gardens have been stripped away and the lawns reinstated. My only hope is that if they were resourceful enough to find the Chelsea flowers, they’ll be resourceful enough to find an alternative. Fingers crossed!