Chelsea Flower Show Blog

Series producer Sarah Eglin talks about tonight's programme. The big shock for me this week was having the show to ourselves over the weekend and through Monday running around in our day-glo jackets and then on Tuesday I popped out of an edit suite to meet up with a film crew at one of the show gardens and I couldn't believe the sea of people! I was pleased that the Four Seasons Garden won a gold medal, it's one of my favourites, I felt that I could really use it. On tonight's show you'll meet Jack Dunckley who is one of the UK's youngest garden designers, next year he'll be designing a garden here so he's been looking for inspiration and ideas this week. We were filming with him yesterday in torrential rain and he was a real trouper. We're really interested to hear what you think of the show and what you'd like to see more of, so if you've got any suggestions leave me a comment.

Walking into the rose marquee this year you can't fail to be impressed. There's the beautiful fragrances vying for your attention and the stunning blooms, from old English, cabbagey favourites right through to the more delicate single flowers, there are roses everywhere! And even if they're not top of your shopping list I challenge you to walk around and not spot a stunner that you'll mentally place somewhere in your garden... I caught up with a very busy Marilyn Stevens who is the project manager for Roses UK and ultimately in charge of the Festival of Roses. "The marquee this year has a new look, it's Romanesque and every single one of the exhibitors has entered into the spirit of the theme. It's been lovely to develop a theme in the marquee and it's a real departure for us, I think it's been a real success. We have nine new roses on display and everyday we hold talks and demonstrations with rose experts. The rose of the year Rosa 'Lucky!' is on display and it more than lives up to the hype, it's a very unusual lilac-pink, really healthy and has a lovely fragrance. We have a display of 300 of them and it looks stunning!" The rose of the year this year not only looks beautiful but it sounds like a reliable, no-trouble plant, it's a floribunda so will be just as at home in a mixed border or bedding display and it boasts disease resistance too, what more are you looking for? If a hybrid tea rose is more your style have a look at R. 'Isn't She Lovely' another new launch at the show this year, creamy, pointed buds open into that classic rose shape that last and last. Something for the patio? Don't feel left out, R. 'Lavender Ice' will do just fine in a border or container, it's lilac blooms are clustered together and are weather resistant, just as well with the summer we're having! The rose marquee looks gorgeous this year and having a theme obviously suits it. It keeps the displays fresh and inspiring which is no mean feat when working with such a traditional group of plants. I wonder what next year's theme will be...

The enthusiasm and friendliness of the show-going public always amazes me. Due to transport problems I ended up getting on a train that was packed to the scuppers with flower show visitors. Normally packed trains aren't my cup of tea but this was a refreshing change. Everyone was friendly and chatting together, sharing their tips and talking about the plants that they were going to buy and how they were going to get them home. If only all journeys to work were as much fun. Continuing the transport theme, today I've been admiring the Inspiring spaces container displays alongside the Long Water, which this year include a small car filled with plants. The exhibit entitled 'British Racing Green' features a small car filled with plants is this the 'green transport' of the future? Somehow I don't think it will catch on, but it's clever nevertheless. There are plenty of ideas in this small area that you can use at home, and the striking colour combinations give you plenty to think about. I particularly like the warm tones of the Best in show exhibit, 'Lazy Days of Summer' from Pound farms, featuring dark leaved pelargoniums, coleus and Ipomea lobata. Brilliant for brightening up a dull spot. 'Home and Dry' from Creative Containers was another one that I liked, although that's probably because of the giant agave in the centre which I'm coveting for my own garden. Again it features ideas for people with gardens in drier areas of the country. Slightly ironic really given how much rain we've had this week.