“Places Of Change garden” at Chelsea Flower Show 2010

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

As I have already said in my visit report of the Chelsea Flower Show 2010 the “Places Of Change garden” was, in all honesty, the only show garden that really and truly spoke to me but then this is hardly surprising as recycling and reuse, and the woodland worker theme also, are all part of me and my background.

The great news is that the “Places Of Change garden” has been awarded a Silver Medal though I must say that, in my opinion, it should have had a gold one.

The garden had a number of themes, one of which was growing your own food, which incorporated raised beds, a greenhouse made from plastic drinks bottles in a wooden frame – a great idea and easy to recreate in any setting.

Another theme was that of a bodger's camp, complete with an open-sided log shelter with a turf roof, with two shaving horses, tent pegs, and other wares and tools.

The garden attached was full of what would be called weeds today but which all were ones used as flowers in cottage gardens and for food, such as Common Sorrel or Garden Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), often simply called sorrel and also known as Spinach Dock or Narrow-leaved Dock.

We have come so far from our roots – pardon the pun – that it is frightening at times and we must, and I am serious, return to those and reclaim the knowledge of wild edibles as much as of healing and cooking herbs that grow in the wild.

Without that knowledge we may be in deep you-know-what as and when the oil finally runs out and we need to look for food and healing once again much closer to home in the realms of Nature.

The same is also true to the crafts represented in the bodger's camp garden for which “Scruffy” was responsible, and I must say that a handmade clothespin work much better and last so much longer than one of those machine made ones with the spring, regardless as to whether they are made of wood or plastic.

The “Places Of Change garden” was a real tonic and I sure hope that many people will be taking inspiration home from that garden in particular.

My congratulations to all of those that made that garden com to fruition and “well done”, and that not only because of the silver medal. The “Places Of Change garden” simply is a great idea of many things, and all of them ideas that can be replicated in one's own garden and on one's own allotment.

© 2010

Chelsea Flower Show 2010 – Visit Report

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

This was my first ever visit to the Chelsea Flower Show, held annually in the ground of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the Chelsea Pensioners.

My visit coincided, purposely, with the Press Day for the event as there is no way that I would want to traipse through that show with the general public there as the attendance is normally high and this year all tickets were sold out already before the Press Day.

When looking at the even through my eyes, that of someone more interested in the green and GYO level the only show garden that really spoke to me was the “Places Of Change garden”.

The most interesting features in the “Places Of Change garden” are and were the allotment setting, the woodworker shelter and the herbal section.

The First is rather obvious as the interest is in “Grow Your Own” (GYO) with the greenhouse made with plastic water/soda bottles. Real effective and a great recycling project. I can envisage one of them – at least one of them – in my garden.

The interest in the second is for the very fact that, sooner or later, we will have to return to such crafts and skills that are represented there for many of our things. In addition to that the cottage garden with wild flowers and wild edibles, so often regarded as “weeds” (but what is a weed but a plant in the wrong place), that benefit us and wildlife, that went with the woodland shelter.

The edible and medicinal herb section also is a valid pointer to things we need to reconsider.

Also cute and interesting was the use of the old white goods and such as a planting wall, and for garden sculptures.

Bio-diversity was the great theme and this was good to see, and represented in many of the expensive show gardens which, let's face it, no one really could ever recreate at home, for reasons of lack of finance for starters.

On the other hand, the “Places Of Change garden” can be used as inspiration for may a garden and allotment and I hope it will. Recreating something like that at least will not require a number of mortgages.

While many of the high-bracket show gardens had great bio-diversity features included and can serve – also – as inspiration for planting with Nature in mind, the “Places Of Change garden” had it “all under one roof”, so to speak, though it may not do much for those that want a great organized garden with manicured this and that.

The 2010 Chelsea Flower Show was also used as a launching pad for a number of new products, amongst which is the wool compost by Dalefoot from the Lake District and some by Fiskars, such as the PowerLite range of hand tools and the PowerGear cutting tools.

Obviously, Dalefoot and Fiskars were not the only ones presenting new products and ranges and they shall thus stand only as an example here.

New plants also were shown amongst which were some of the most beautiful Clematises that I have seen.

Chelsea is well worth a visit. However, if you have not got a ticket for this year's show then, alas, there is no way that you stand a chance of visiting, as all tickets are sold out. Next year then. Or hurry and get tickets for Hampton Court Flower Show.

© 2010