Returning to its normal spring time slot since the start of the pandemic, the 2022 installation of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show was a feast for the senses. Held from May 24 to 28th, green-fingered enthusiasts flocked to experience the show's 39 gardens, 80 nurseries, a plethora of floral installations and other exhibits brimming with a sea of flowers and other botanicals.
Organized by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) since 1913, the Chelsea Flower Show is often regarded as the floral equivalent of London Fashion Week. The prestigious event, which takes place annually at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in west London, is arguably the most famous horticulture show in the United Kingdom. So famous, in fact, that apart from over 160,000 locals and tourists, the show's attendees regularly include high-profile celebrities and other VIP visitors—including members of the British Royal Family.
Better yet, the floral festivities are not limited to the physical grounds of the show; many participating retailers in the city—like Cartier, Jo Malone and Neill Strain Floral Couture—often take part in Chelsea Flower Show celebrations by decking-out their storefronts with breathtaking floral displays, with many arranged to resemble quintessentially British emblems (think silhouettes of the Queen, the Big Ben and Beefeater Teddy Bears, to name a few).
Beyond new plant breeds, visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show viewed the latest and greatest trends in landscape and garden design—all spearheaded by critically-acclaimed designers, plant specialists and nurseries. The show's various gardens were built from scratch in around 19 days and dismantled in five. And after a 25-hour judging session led by 14 judges and two moderators, medals were awarded to the best exhibitors across various garden categories.
The show also displayed a series of installations—featuring bespoke portraits, a photography exhibit and countless British flowers—paying tribute to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Since 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has been a patron of the RHS and has visited the Chelsea Flower Show over 50 times in her 70-year reign.
Another show highlight, the Great Pavilion, is home to over 100 nursery and florist exhibits constructed of tens and thousands of plants, shrubs and trees; some larger stands have as many as 8,000. Dubbed "the jewel in the Chelsea Flower Show crown," the immense marquee is 12,000 square meters in size—that's almost three acres!—and typically requires over 2,000 hours to construct. It also took 50 judges and four moderators three hours to judge the exhibits in the Great Pavilion this year.
