Chelsea Flower Show 2016

[Maggi Young]

News and some photos from Pam Hayward, via JohnW, about the Rhododendron and Camellia Group  from Chelsea....


" ......You will be thrilled to hear that the Group has won a Silver-Gilt Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show! This is an amazing achievement and reflects all the hard work put in by Sally Hayward and David Millais to plan the exhibit, and the combined efforts of Sally, David & Andy and Jenny Fly to build the stand and lay out the plants so carefully. We are also indebted to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh who have entrusted us with some of their most precious vireyas for the duration of the show.

Her Majesty the Queen visited the exhibit yesterday afternoon and was presented with a bouquet of rhododendrons which she can be seen with on the cover of today's Daily Telegraph and Daily Express. What better endorsement for a 'rhododendron revival' could we ask for!

Thanks to all who have played a part in this, not forgetting the Top 100 participants! The Rhododendron yakushimanum image kindly supplied to us by Jennifer Lu is attracting a great deal of attention and having the 'real thing' forming part of the scene is truly inspired. The Queen instantly recognised our favourite rhododendron and spent some time talking to Sally about it.

The BBC are filming at the stand later today.....

In addition our three associated stands: Burncoose Nurseries, Hillier's and Millais Nurseries all won Gold medals, so congratulations to them too! "


Excellent news all round, eh?

(A few images are attached which have been reduced to fit!)

[Maggi Young]

Nice post on social media from the AGS - the pic of of three "weel-kent faces " - Ray Drew, Gemma Hayes and Tim Lever

Alpine Garden Society  — at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

"Gemma Hayes called her part in the build and creation of our Gold Medal-winning display as a 'steep learning curve'. Based at Bodnant, she says she is used to big borders but here it was more like 'painting a picture but with plants'. She got involved because her partner is none other than Tim Lever of Aberconwy Nursery.

There was quiet pride as Ray Drew co-creator of the Alpine Garden Society's Out of the Woods garden exhibit at RHS Chelsea with Kit Grey-Wilson yesterday described the display as one of the society's best yet - and today a Gold Medal - he was right!"



 He certainly was right!

[Maggi Young]

Here's a pic from Twitter  of Nesta Joliffe and John Amand at Chelsea - celebrating another gold medal


and those familiar with previous TV coverage of Chelsea will know that Big John A  always has the Champagne Chevaliers at hand  for celebs to try their hand at "sabrage" - where a champagne bottle is opened  by slicing the top off with a sabre - it doesn't always work - as this p[erfectly timed shot proves!

The following was Tweeted with this super shot  by photographer Heather Edwards ‏@Upwiththelark 

"@TheSun Cerys Matthews making a mess at RHS Chelsea Flower Show #RHSChelsea @JacquesAmandInt"

[Maggi Young]

John Massey and Ashwood's exhibit at RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been awarded with the RHS Diamond Jubilee Award 2016 for best exhibit in the Grand Pavilion as well as a Gold Medal. What a great day!
Well Done Team Ashwood!!!


"John with Carol Klein giving thanks to the whole team  at Chelsea & everyone back at Ashwood Nurseries!!! "


 John Massey with Carol Klein


The Diamond Jubilee Award and Gold Medal sitting proudly side by side!

[Ian Y]

Brilliant.

[David Nicholson]

Well done for all the 'gleaning' Maggi. By the way why can't I meet Cerys Matthews, one of the sexiest voices imaginable.

[Maggi Young]

She may sound good  David - but would you REALLY want a woman who demolishes a good bottle of fizz so comprehensively?  Goodness knows what she does when she bites the cap off a bottle of beer ....

[David Nicholson]

I could put up with that  

 A voice from the kitchen is just saying something like "If I were Cerys matthews would you paint the bathroom ceiling............ please"
Yeh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ian mcdonald]

A good range of colourful plants well displayed but I can,t help thinking "what are alpine plants?" I think we have had that one before.

[Maggi Young]

A photo of Jacques Amand's  gold medal stand at Chelsea -  lead by Nesta Joliffe as usual ... pinched the photo from social media - its by Jacquie Fowler

[Maggi Young]

Some people  photos from Chelsea by Julia Corden...

Billy Carruthers of Binny Plants - Billy likes a fancy shirt, as you can see....


John Massey and Carol Klein at the Ashwood stand which won gold and best exhibit in the Grand Pavilion at Chelsea. Rachel de Thame has been filming on the stand too, so some good coverage should be seen on TV.



David, SRGC President, chatting  by the gold medal Kevock Stand of Stella and David Rankin

[David Nicholson]

The lady in cream, second from the left from David Rankin looks a lot like Rannveig Wallis.

[Maggi Young]

Yes, I thought that too, David - but I wasn't sure. I think it must be Rannveig.

[Darren]

The TV spot on John Massey was a superb highlight of last night's Chelsea coverage. He has achieved two of my ambitions - he can grow Hepatica and he got a cuddle from Rachel de Thame!

The Ashwood achievement is really well deserved and he's such a great chap as well.

[Maggi Young]

 From the  Favbook post of  AGVL -  Amici del Giardino Lucio Viatori -

"Congratulations to one of the founders of AGLV, Matteo La Civita, for the silver gilt medal won at Chelsea Flower Show in London yesterday as the designer of Flora Toscana display in the Great Pavilion. First time at Chelsea, almost gold and interview with Monty Don tomorrow!"

 And Matt is  an SRGC member/forumist too, of course!



http://www.aglv.org/
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Via Forte del Bosco 28
34170 Gorizia
Italia