WHAT a difference 20 months make. For the first time in its 108-year history, the Chelsea Flower Show will be a September event, signing off the season, as it were, instead of ushering in the freshness of May.
After the necessary cancellations of spring 2020 and again in 2021, the RHS made the brave and interesting decision to host its most prestigious show next week, still in the Royal Hospital grounds. This means there will be a few adjustments—and several new exhibitors. For some familiar nurseries and growers, the late season could not work with their ranges of plants; others have bowed out after a long and distinguished innings—notably, Hillier Nurseries has called time on its appearances, having exhibited for half a century.
But change is good and an autumn show is inevitably interesting. As it turns out, the four-month delay this year has been helpful, after one of the chilliest spring seasons on record. Despite its sunshine, the crucial month of April was the coldest for a century and many plants remained hunkered down, unable to unfurl new leaves and buds in a spring that for months continued to feel very much like winter. Notwithstanding modern glasshouse technology, a May show would have been somewhat lean this year.
This story is from the September 15, 2021 edition of Country Life UK.
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This story is from the September 15, 2021 edition of Country Life UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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