London

Botanicals and booze is a joyful mix if the visitors at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show were anything to go by yesterday. Situated off Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, Muddy attended the first public day (it runs until Sat 25 May) and it was buzzing. From the glorious show gardens to the lively bars and hospitality tents (11am glass of Champagne? Oh go on then) and Main Avenue was a sea of straw hats, floral dresses and pashminas. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="972" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.43.35.png" alt="Angelica Bell and Nicky Chapman at RHS Chelsea " class="wp-image-1717" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.43.35.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.43.35-300x292.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.43.35-768x746.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Tuesday is medals day, so there was a frisson of excitement in the air and an army of camera crews on the prowl. We spotted BBC presenters Nicky Chapman and Angelica Bell – although no sign of gardener&#8217;s pin-up Monty Don, who&#8217;s there all week. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-gardens">BEST GARDENS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Chelsea2024__TIM6045_May-19-2024.jpg" alt="Verdant Visions at Chelsea Flowers Show " class="wp-image-1714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Chelsea2024__TIM6045_May-19-2024.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Chelsea2024__TIM6045_May-19-2024-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Chelsea2024__TIM6045_May-19-2024-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Verdant Visions </figcaption></figure>



My hands down favourite exhibit was House Plant Studio&#8217;s Verdant Visions by talented James Whiting (Plants by There), a &#8216;nostalgic 70s inspired botanical trip&#8217; complete with a bright orange bedroom covered in an avalanche of plants and retro furniture, including mirror balls filled with spider plants rotating to a Kate Bush tune above the bed. It won gold so perhaps I have an eye for plant design (as opposed to growing them, which doesn&#8217;t always seem to work out&#8230;). 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="618" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.52.44.png" alt="Friendship Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show " class="wp-image-1713" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.52.44.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.52.44-300x185.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.52.44-768x475.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Friendship Garden </figcaption></figure>



The show garden that caught my eye was the Friendship Garden to commemorate the RHS Britain in Bloom 60th Anniversary. An oasis of wild flowers, alliums and daisies, beehives, woven wood sculptures and friendship benches, the stunning display celebrates supporting communities through green spaces and made me want to create one on my own doorstep. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="653" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.51.28.png" alt="Bradenton Garden @ res Chelsea" class="wp-image-1718" style="aspect-ratio:1.5313935681470139;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.51.28.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.51.28-300x196.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.51.28-768x502.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/bridgerton-season-3-release-date-spoilers-trailer-cast-and-plot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridgerton</a> fans need to make a beeline for the Bridgerton Garden, a &#8216;secretive and secluded space&#8217; based on Penelope Featherington and designed by Holly Johnston. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="632" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.57.22.png" alt="Forest Bathing garden at RHS Chelsea" class="wp-image-1715" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.57.22.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.57.22-300x190.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-10.57.22-768x485.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Forest Bathing Garden</figcaption></figure>



And even if you&#8217;re not in the least bit green-fingered, you can&#8217;t fail to appreciate the tranquility of the Forest Bathing Garden designed by Ula Maria for Muscular Dystrophy UK. Apparently it aims to &#8216;reconnect us with nature through our senses&#8217; and it felt the most authentic, natural display there to me, like I&#8217;d just discovered a secret woodland glade on a long summer walk. It won gold too, I&#8217;m going to ask to be a judge next year. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-of-the-rest">BEST OF THE REST </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="851" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.14.24.png" alt="Angus Ross furniture " class="wp-image-1716" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.14.24.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.14.24-300x255.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-22-at-11.14.24-768x654.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Angus Ross furniture </figcaption></figure>



Warning: even if you&#8217;re not into gardening, you will feel compelled to buy all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff at RHS Chelsea. Browsing the stands as well as the gardens is all part of the fun, so best take a shopping bag. 



Things I now need in my home and garden include lush ferns from Alchemy Ferns, curved Angus Ross handmade oak furniture, a water feature by David Harber, a Victorian-style greenhouse from Griffin Glasshouses and massive outdoor bean bags by OutdoorBeanbags.com. I could go on. And on. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF </h2>



I was hosted by show sponsors <a href="https://thenewtinsomerset.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Newt in Somerset</a>, who filled their hospitality tent with produce from the farm, including a brunch of fresh strawberries, yogurt and honey while a laidback jazz band played. Nice. 



The Newt was also running a popular Cyder Stand, open to the public, but there were dozens of other options this year including a posh Champagne &amp; Seafood restaurant (tip, this is good place for afternoon tea too), or Spring Garden, an exclusive restaurant with bespoke menus created by chef Skye Gyngell. 



Just as tasty (and far cheaper) are the offerings at the pop up cafés, a spicy bean burger or garden salad from The Plant Cafe at the Potting Sheds followed by an ice cream from a vintage van is just the energy boost you need to walk another 10,000 steps (WEAR TRAINERS). 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-top-tip">TOP TIP</h2>



Can&#8217;t get your hands on tickets? Enjoy <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/insider-guide-to-chelsea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelsea in Bloom</a> instead. Dozens of restaurants and shops put on free floral displays which are simply stunning, so join the trail and have a blooming good time.

Botanicals & booze: Muddy hits the Chelsea Flower Show!

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