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What is wrong with green at Chelsea?
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Message 1.Â
Posted by copywrite (U3184365) on Tuesday, 20th May 2008
So many celebrities at Chelsea have been moaning that this year the large show gardens are full of green: ie, no flowers. Chris Tarrant even said that "they don't seem to have made much effort"
.
Oh how I laughed at that comment Chris - funnier than Tizwaz.
Isn't subtlety, delicate foliage and atmosphere what really makes a garden?
Or maybe these celebs were only there to be 'seen'. Well, some of them are better seen and not heard, what, what? -
Message 2
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Tuesday, 20th May 2008
for me, flowers make the garden.
but then i like cottage gardens.
to be honest, a lot of the gardens used green very well.
but for me, if I want green, I go to the municipal park. no flowers there. -
Message 3
Posted by Alexlondon11 (U2577420) on Tuesday, 20th May 2008
Hi Copywrite,
Yes, it seems a bit odd that a 'green' garden denotes a lack of effort. I mean, flowers can't even 'flower' if is wasn't for the green chlorophyll that enables photosynthesis to take place!
Green is extremely important in a garden and not just for municipal parks. Isn't that what Vita Sackville-West's White garden in Sissinghurst is all about? She planted it full of white flowering plants, not because she liked white, but because it would show up all the different hues and variants of green.
To me, there are few things more beautiful than the dappled green shade cast by lofty trees.
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Message 4
Posted by dahliadelight (U3132899) on Tuesday, 20th May 2008
i prefer cottage gardens too
dd -
Message 5
Posted by Kernow Canna (U10937844) on Tuesday, 20th May 2008
Green gardens are for municiple or NT parks
Gardens need coloured flowers -
Message 6
Posted by Kathy (U898169) on Tuesday, 20th May 2008
green is marvellous, okay?
I am glad I am finally in fashion, I have been telling people how ace green is for ages and they usually just laugh, oh noes.
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Message 7
Posted by copywrite (U3184365) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
To me, if you can only appreciate flowers, you are missing out and I would not wish that upon anyone. It's about enjoying all of it - foliage, flowers, grasses (leaves and flowers) - the lot. The textures, tones, patterns and so on that foliage alone relies upon can be equally as entrancing as a colourful meadow or border.
We all know that too much colour in a garden is a strain on the eye. So sometimes, subtle tones are contemplative and relaxing.
If anyone were to say "I only like flowers", I would invite them to really start looking. It's a bit like kids who say "I don't like vegetables". So - eat your greens! -
Message 8
Posted by Jenks812 (U5452843) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
It's not that I "only like flowers".
Just with flowers you get the green and the colour.
No flowers in a garden says lack of imagination to me.
They can dress it up with colourful language but only having green doesn't do it for me.
Too much colour in the garden, I agree, is a strain on the eye.
No colour is, equally, a strain. -
Message 9
Posted by hdehoon (U2175617) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
The Best in Show was nice, but not very original. It was more like an old fashioned park, with trees and green plants. oh well, if you wait long enough, everything gets in fashion again.
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Message 10
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
This is the first time I have ever been inspired by show gardens at Chelsea - the 'green' gardens blew me away. Tom Stuart-Smith's garden with its lush greenery, restrained palette in colour, materials and plants, and the strong yet seemingly simple design won me over. His garden has no useless frills and just oozes lush, cool, inviting restfulness. It had an integrity that other green gardens didn't have and I found myself wishing I could have my garden designed by TS-S (but I won't because I very much doubt I could afford it).
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Message 11
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
I agree, Tom Stuart-Smith is a master and his gardens have been my favourites at Chelsea for several years... he always does something really creative and knows his plants.
I would suggest it takes more skill and knowledge of plants and their forms, to win not only a Gold, but best in show, using restraint and not playing to the gallery. Those cloud-pruned hornbeams are just fabulous.
I'm going on Friday and look forward to seeing if his garden is a beautiful as it looks in the pictures. -
Message 12
Posted by Kernow Canna (U10937844) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
I only like flowers, ok?!
Green is for wimps, colour is for the bold,brash and beautiful
I'm with Chris Tarrant and Christo Lloyd - and I couldn't be in better company
Off to NOT eat my greens now, but to prepare my ..tomatoes,radish,beetroot,pickles,cheese,apple ( red), new potatoes and mixed red leaves for supper -
Message 13
Posted by copywrite (U3184365) on Wednesday, 21st May 2008
Has anyone on this thread so far - or anyone reading it - been to Chelsea yet? Maybe you can pass an opinion on the pervasive greenness...
I'm waiting for Saturday for my day. It really is different when you're actually there because your relationship to the space is totally different and some of the gardens are much smaller while others are bigger.
Strangely, I did expect Tom Stuart Smith's Laurent Perrier garden to get Best in Show from the TV images, whereas last year I was completely wrong. -
Message 14
Posted by copywrite (U3184365) on Tuesday, 27th May 2008
I have returned from Chelsea and have some remarks if anyone is interested...
As always, the gardens were different in reality to how they appear in the media. These are the gardens that created most impression:
Tom Stuart-Smith: Excellent but different to how it appeared on TV - much smaller and didn't impart the tranquility I had expected
Shao Fan's Chinese garden - Excellent and my favourite. It made me laugh as it was a garden with an idea - a real story to tell, and the planting was restrained, artistic and appropriate.
Diarmud Gavin: I hated this on TV with its crude metal parasols fashioned like poor 1970s holiday camp decor. But it didn't seem that bad on the day. I do wish he had come up with a planting that hadn't repeated his idea from 1-2 years ago when he planted Stipa Tennuissima between clipped box domes.
BUPA: Loved this on TV and on the day. Cleve West is a designer I will watch closely.
The George Harrison tribute: Not my cup of tea as it used colour in a very over-stated way. For the very same reason however, many others would have loved it. This is a fault in my own tastes, no doubt.
The highlight: The Great Pavilion. The exhibitors here are wonderfully helpful even when exhausted after 8 hours a day on their feet for a whole week (I went on the last day, remember). Favourite stands: Kelways, a lady who presented amazing Camassia's (Margaret Owen), the Alpine Society, Hillier's, Knoll's and probably 8-9 others that I can't quite name from memory.
All in all, well worth the money and time
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