TV and Radio permalink
Chelsea
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Message 1.Â
Posted by greyBettyBlue (U8470616) on Saturday, 26th April 2008
Is it too much to ask that the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú show us rather more of the plants this year than has been the case in recent years?
When I tune in I do not expect to see the usual talking heads going on and on ad nauseum when all I want to see is the Chelsea Flower Show.
It's like tuning in to Match Of the Day and being presented with more of Linneker and Hanson than the actual football. -
Message 2
Posted by GardenGnome (U4271468) on Saturday, 26th April 2008
But like most TV coverage of any event, you get to see a lot more than if you are actually there. As you will know if you have ever sufferd the Chelsea crush
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Message 3
Posted by elderman4 (U10843761) on Saturday, 26th April 2008
.......Ah, but then you would not go and Chelsea would lose out. I used to go each year, especially on a Friday when the plants are for sale, but the dramatic price increases have priced me out, along with all the other true gardeners like the garden societies and the W.I.and the allotment gardeners etc who cannot afford to go. Now it's just the for the super rich where it's the 'in' thing to be seen at Chelsea. Trouble is they all employ gardeners
If they really wanted the keen gardeners to go they would have a 'cheap' day. -
Message 4
Posted by Dugless (U11787403) on Sunday, 27th April 2008
Although last year;s coverage on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú1 and 2 was superficial, the emphasis seeming to be on celebs, coverage on digital [press the red button] was vastly superior. You actually got to see the gardens and listen to the designers.
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Message 5
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Sunday, 27th April 2008
Going to Chelsea in person costs about the same as a ticket to a football match these days and it's valid for a whole day, not just 2 hours. There's no violence, no chanting and, best f-of all, no football! Just endless lovely plants and gardens and, since they reduced the numbers allowed in each day, no crush unless you're daft enough to try and see the main garden displays in the afternoon when the place has filled up.
Buy a whole day ticket, get there early and enjoy. Do take your own sandwiches though as queues and prices can be horrednous for those. -
Message 6
Posted by copywrite (U3184365) on Tuesday, 29th April 2008
Obelixx,
that's excellent advice. I was there on the Saturday when they sold off the plants last year and will be again this year. I think it is a great event and there is no 'crush' as described. The huge queue for toilets meant I never went the whole day
and the food queues were even worse (and considering there is so much to see I didn't want to queue and eat for 2 hours!). So definitely bring your own food, go easy on the liquids and make sure you see everything.
As for the price issue, my ticket costs £31.00 as an RHS member. If I wanted to go to the theatre, I'd expect to pay the same or more. On the basis that I'd like everything to be cheaper, I generally agree it is expensive. But when compared to the average price of other 'attractions' not so. Another way to look at it: given that a good nursery charges around £3.50-£4.00+ a plant, you couldn't even get 10 plants for that price.
It's one day a year and I won't be giving up my ticket. I just hope the rain holds off until the end - just like last year! -
Message 7
Posted by barbara1835 (U10780912) on Tuesday, 13th May 2008
How do you do everyone....I have just discovered these pages and I have just ventured in here from Mustardland.
I like this gardening thread very much, and I feel most at home with the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú, having tried another forum which is very different.
I don't understand the controversy on some of the other threads, but then I'm a newbie.
I am going to Chelsea on Tuesday, first thing.
I think I shall wear my Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú message board user nickname....do say hello if we run into each other.
Barbara1835 -
Message 8
Posted by drwalter (U1365507) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
I quite agree.
Last year it seemed that every programme last year repeated itself from the previous night. Yes, it is difficlut to produce six prime-time shows about the same subject matter but there has to be a re-focus on the content.
I am not interested in the "personalites" but the plants. I am not bothered about the Medals or the stress the build process that started nine months ago.
Re-focus on the plants, please.
How about an on-screen graphic (and the GW show too) that not only displays the name of the plant but, like the information on a packet of seeds, whether it is HP, HHA, HB, etc, Height-Spread, sowing period and flowering/harvest time.
This would be informative. I recall a geoff Hamilton or Alan Titchmarsh programme used a "sliding scale" calendar as it went forwards-backwards in time through the planting process. It was very helpful. -
Message 9
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
Now it's just the for the super rich where it's the 'in' thing to be seen at Chelsea. Trouble is they all employ gardeners
If they really wanted the keen gardeners to go they would have a 'cheap' day. Â
I've paid £23.00 for my ticket (my husband pays £50 plus to see Chelsea Football Club) which gets me in from 3.30 to 8pm. After many years I find I don't need a full day because many of the stalls are there year in year out so I do an immmediate rece to establish which show gardens I really want to see in detail, head for the floral marquee then go back to the gardens between 7-8pm when the ground empties out. Bliss. -
Message 10
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
That sounds like a plan Karen P but as I come from a little further away I like to have the whole day. That way I also get to see the gardens as the light changes through the day as the sun changes angle.
This was particularly evident at Tatton last summer too and completely changed the appearance of the slate dining room garden, for example. In the morning in shade it looked very different from in the afternoon with the sun lighting up every tone and glint in the stones. Early morning at Chelsea is also a good time to see the gardens without queuing. After 11 or so it gets rather busy.
Apart from a raid for gardening gloves - limited ranges here in Belgium - and a good laugh at the wrought iron stands - prices double or treble or more than here in Belgium - I don't bother much with the stands, just the gardens and floral marquee although Rhoda and I talked ourselves into a deal on rusty obelisks last year. -
Message 11
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
Are you going this year Obelixx?
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Message 12
Posted by David K (U2221642) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
To each his/her own! I'd rather attend a second division football match than Chelsea Flower Show anytime.
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Message 13
Posted by elliedaisy (U4404033) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
I agree, for whatever reason some of us can't go to Chelsea, so please more of the plants and less of the people.
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Message 14
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
Just had this email which has had me watering at the mouth... It would seem it'll be the 'Year of Foliage' at Chelsea from these examples:
Tom Stuart-Smith has done it again for me, just lovely, in fact I'm very tempted to start cloud pruning my hornbeam hedge just as he's done. -
Message 15
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 14th May 2008
Hi Karen. No. I've done it 2 yrs running so decided to go to Malvern instead this year. I posted the photos on TAPS
It includes show gardens and sub albums for the floral marquee and garden ornaments including CB, James A-S and Rachel for anyone who's missing them. -
Message 16
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Thursday, 15th May 2008
Thanks Obelixx. I'll take a look when I've got time. Must get back to work now.
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Message 17
Posted by peonymad (U10815255) on Thursday, 15th May 2008
I agree with the more plants vote, the celebs are ok in their place but as I wont be able to get to Chelsea, yet again. I would much rather see much more of the plants, and not just the "and here is this seasons Must Have."
Personally i feel that like many other specialist subjects that the beeb is representing, the program has got off track in showing the background to show gardens, or nurseries preparing for the show.
We all know there must be months of hard work we want to see the results of that work in the plants that are there. It always seems to be now lets just have a quick whizz round the floral marquee, oo heres an old friend lets stop and have a chat.PLANTS PLEASE -
Message 18
Posted by Sparky (U6716422) on Friday, 16th May 2008
Chelsea for me is hot, stuffy and very crowded. I decided that Malvern was a better option as you can actually get a seat for a coffee etc. The best bit is that you can actually BUY the plants there and then and get them home in the car. Admittedly the show gardens are not as spectacular - but more affordable and full of PLANTS! The Chelsea gardens are just a sea of concrete and water features. The plants are almost coincidental. I can see all I need to on TV (and as folks here have said, more than I could ever have wanted to know about how the plants were forced to be just right for the show). I shall watch AT and forget the C-list celebs.
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Message 19
Posted by Houdy222 (U8365378) on Friday, 16th May 2008
The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú coverage that we get is good enough for me. There's always plenty of variety of the different aspects of the show. Even though I live just 30 miles away, I just can not afford to go as most of my money is taken up on keeping me and my family's heads above water.Like everything else these days, it's too expensive,the ordinary man in the street is penalized by sky high prices. A day out at Chelsea for me and my wife would set me back the best part of £90, as the Americans say, it's a no brainer!!
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Message 20
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 17th May 2008
But would you spend those £90 on a concert or a football match or a show in the West End or some other day out? I reckon Chelsea is good value compared with many other activities athat don't last a whol day.
As for the "green" debate- are we going to demonise or cancel every single popular event because it has a carbon footprint?
How much waste is generated by having crowds gather for a football match? Just look at the state of Manchester this week and the man hours, fuel and water involved in the clean up for 90 minutes of football! Not to mention teh carbon footprint from shipping all those fans in from Scotland and elsewhere.
Will Wimbledon be villified for all the air miles spent by the competitors, their support teams and the spectators, not to mention non organic strawberries, mass produced cream and all the detritus of catering for so many?
Will there now be no more car shows or air shows? All terrible bad for the environment really. Let's all walk everywhere again and while we're on can we cancel the Olympics? Such a waste of time and energy and they bulldozed some thriving allotments for the London version.
At least Chelsea is about growing things and making our gardens a place of beauty and productivity for our long term benefit. -
Message 21
Posted by Houdy222 (U8365378) on Saturday, 17th May 2008
Sorry to say Obelixx, that I wouldn't spend £90 on any form of that sort of entertainment that you described, when you don't have that sort of money to spend, you can't spend it!! food and other household items come top of my list. Regrettably, I'm not as well of as a lot of people.
Rant over, sorry
Houdy222 -
Message 22
Posted by Gardenballet (U4233452) on Sunday, 18th May 2008
Can't wait to see Chelsea coverage this week!
Would not want to go down to the crowds in London though, I just love Malvern - so much space and car parking in the next field! -
Message 23
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Sunday, 18th May 2008
Houdy222 - I'm sure you're not alone and I hope you enjoy the coverage on the Beeb.
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Message 24
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Monday, 19th May 2008
Am I mistaken in thinking that the Beeb normally do a pre-Chelsea show on the Sunday (yesterday). Did I miss it? I seem to remember other years the the pre-show was in fact just a cobble together of the previous years coverage plus one or two sneak previews so presumably they decided not to bother.
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Message 25
Posted by clarylou (U6515234) on Monday, 19th May 2008
There was a Chealsea programme on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú1 sunday evening! So you did miss it!
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Message 26
Posted by Kernow Canna (U10937844) on Monday, 19th May 2008
And it was a good programme - a better preview show than in previous years. It was on at 8pm.
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Message 27
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Monday, 19th May 2008
My Radio Times lists 8.00 Sunday Indiana Jones on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú1, Wild China Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú2. There is not a mention of Chelsea anywhere on Sunday evening!!!!
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Message 28
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Monday, 19th May 2008
it was on at 5pm yesterday
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Message 29
Posted by Kernow Canna (U10937844) on Monday, 19th May 2008
Ooops!! Sorry!!! I videod it at 5pm and watched it at 8pm - hence confusion!!
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