Industry names out in force at Chelsea

The likes of B&Q, Homebase, Hillier, Westland, Bulldog, Scotts and Bosch all had a presence at the famous flower show this year, with plenty of medals to be had.

Homebase created its own show garden for the first time at Chelsea this year, having partnered with Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust in 2010. The Tom Hoblyn creation, Cornish Memories' was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal this morning.

Meanwhile, B&Q bagged a Gold medal for its show garden. Featuring a nine-metre high tower, it was the tallest ever garden at the Chelsea Flower show and was designed by Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins to promote the idea of planting and producing your own food wherever you can.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow even stopped by to help launch the garden. Ms Paltrow, who has just written a new cookbook was said to love the fact that almost the entire garden is edible.

Bosch, Hozelock and Spear & Jackson were among a host of leading industry names with stands at the show, while Burgon & Ball used the opportunity to introduce its new Sophie Conran gardening range.

Hillier won its 66th consecutive Gold medal this year for its exhibit 'Feel Good About Gardening' in partnership with Scotts Miracle-Gro. The garden, at the heart of the Great Pavilion, was again designed by md Andy McIndoe and put together by a team of colleagues from Hillier, including plant buyer Pippa Bensley.

Westland Horticulture supplied the growing media for Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants' display and was on stand in the Great Pavillion this year. The garden won a Gold medal and also snapped up the coveted title of RHS Chelsea 2011 Plant of the Year for its 'Wild Swan' anemone.

Bulldog Tools also bagged a Gold medal for its blacksmith-themed garden, as did David Austin, who was also on display in the Great Pavilion with a formal rose garden. Meanwhile, Scotts Miracle-Gro was awarded a Silver Gilt-Flora for its Miracle-Growers garden in association with The Sun newspaper.

Other Gold-medal show gardens included Diarmud Gavin's creation Fáilte Ireland, The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Laurent-Perrier and The Daily Telegraph, which was also named Best Show Garden at Chelsea 2011.

Source : DIY Week.net
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