May has long been thought of as the month of flowers, and that’s truer in London than anywhere else, thanks to the annual appearance of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Many people think of flowers as a frivolous luxury to be bought on special occasions or cultivated in the garden for those with too much time on their hands — but there’s far more to the show than the cosmetic side of gardening. Horticulture plays a huge part in our lives, but we often take it for granted.
Food, health, the environment and many other integral parts of our lives are inseparable from the world of plants, but there’s no denying that their impact on our senses is of great importance, too. The unmistakable scent of freshly mown grass, or recently cut flowers are pleasures that have been with us as long as we’ve been on the earth.
Opening on the 25 May, the show’s role is to celebrate flowers in all their scented, beautiful glory, at a time when many species are at their peak. Highlights for 2010 will include the RHS biodiversity display, which teaches viewers how to work better with wildlife in their own gardens, and the Eden Project Show, which will be the biggest ever display at Chelsea.
Tickets to the show have now sold out, but if you’re keen to have a floral excursion soon, the Hampton Court Palace RHS Tatton Park flower shows are taking place in July.
Image: Wolfiewolf
