RHS Chelsea triumphs again!

The 2005 Chelsea Flower Show, the 83rd on the Chelsea Hospital site, has once again offered a showcase of wonderful gardens to stimulate, motivate and simply wow garden lovers and visitors alike. The Royal Horticultural Society and sponsors Merrill Lynch have brought together some 600 exhibitors to the Chelsea Hospital site which this year sees the show being open for an extra day.

It's estimated that during the week some 8,000 bottles of champagne and 20,000 glasses of Pimms will be drunk not to mention the 28,000 rounds of sandwiches and 110,000 cups of tea! The atmosphere is friendly, enjoyable and simply special and visitors have been enjoying wonderful show gardens, floral exhibits in the Great Pavilion and an amazing array of trade stands.

There is a lot of white planting this year and a strong "Peace" theme running through designs. 2005 is the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and both the 'Chelsea Pensioners Garden' and Sir Terence Conran's 'Commemorative Peace Garden' for the Imperial War Museum, reflect the theme. Children from Oak Lodge Special Secondary School also selected peace as the theme for their chic garden 'Peace is Special'. This garden, described as unashamedly modern, reflected the conversion of landscapes from war to peace.

The less formal planting style has again predominated and there have been some excellent innovative ideas.

The Best Show garden of 2005 went to the Royal Hospital Chelsea garden designed by Julian Dowle. (pictured right) A delightful nostalgic garden, with significant input from the Chelsea pensioners themselves, proving a show stopper. It's the first time in the 83 year history of the show that the Royal Hospital Chelsea has had its own show garden. Set in 1945, as war comes to a close and soldiers are returning home the garden is complete with a thatched pub called the 'Chelsea Pensioner' and a beer garden, much enjoyed by the Chelsea Pensioners' themselves who definitely added to the nostalgia.

We absolutely loved the Merrill Lynch garden designed by Andy Sturgeon. This garden richly deserves its Gold. Andy creates a workspace that is an extension of the home and doubles up as a private garden. The influence is calming and serene - a dramatic water feature, in the form of a chute running down from the roof of the building finishes in a stainless steel mesh which makes the water virtually silent and not a distraction to those working. Solid oak cubes 'float' above and through the planting. An absolute joy.

A sense of outrage prevails at Reckless that the Savills Garden designed by Clare Agnew did not achieve a Gold. Clare was awarded a Silver Flora for her delightful design which is a reflection of the Grand Tour laid out on the classical lines of European gardens of the early 18th century. We loved it, especially the temple colonnade and the choice of large Box (Buxus) pyramids underplanted with ivy. This is Clare's first design for a show garden at Chelsea and we hope that she will be tempted back in the future.

Gold medal winner 'In the Grove' designed by Christopher Bradley-Hole is another favourite with show goers. (pictured left) Sadly, this will be the last garden to be commissioned by Sheikh Zayed, as he died last year, but the garden serves as a fitting memorial for a man who was a model for environmentalists and conservationists throughout the world. Christopher creates a harmony of ideas to depict the grove – a setting in which humankind has most often sought harmony. Beautiful planting which includes Bamboos and Yew, Roses, Tree Peonies and Hostas and Carex muskingumensis with Stipa arundinacea - just wonderful.

One of the delights of Chelsea are the gardens which come from outside the UK and this year we were entertained by the Australians who brought a taste of Australian Urban Chic to the show. Fleming's Nurseries justly deserved their gold with this sleek and modern interpretation of the Australian landscape.

The Fetzer Vinyards garden 'Fetzer wine garden' designed by Kate Frey was another Gold Medal winner. This was a lovely natural garden inspiring gardeners with its diversity of wild flowers and cover crops promoting a positive organic message.

Once again Chelsea has astounded, stimulated and simply just stunned visitors, for those of you lucky enough to go - enjoy.