Chelsea, to go or not to go...
- Liesa Bellairs
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
Last week, as a Royal Horticultural Society Member, I received notification that tickets for RHS Chelsea 2026 are already on sale now! Whilst I am still basking in my memories of my visit in May this year, I thought I should share my experience with you all.
Its not a cheap day out by any means but if this is on your bucket list, like it was mine, I highly recommend you “push the boat out”. My Daughter and I arrived as soon after 8 am as we could muster after navigating public transport etc. Just walking through the gates gave me absolute goosebumps and of course the obligatory selfie was taken there and then. We decided to leave the Great Pavillion for last and rather we took our route via all the different show gardens. One of the first notable exhibits was “The Newt”, who had a glorious stand selling their specialty ciders and created a very impressive succulent Garden inspired by the dry and arid landscapes in the Western Cape of South Africa… I immediately felt that little niggle of patriotism in my chest. It was a stark reminder of the diversity in climate and landscape that South Africa embraces. For those of you that may not know, The Newt in Somerset is a sister farm to Babylonstoren in the Cape!
The Show Gardens were all immaculately planted and in peak condition. As a flower grower, I automatically felt a kinship to all the hard work this must have taken. They were so varied and contained 100’s of recognisable plants but I was also introduced to some breathtaking ‘new takes’ on old favourites. Three plants that were repeated through several gardens certainly got my attention; A lupin, in a quintessential burgundy wine colour, an Astrantia in many colours and, last but not least, Laurens Grape Poppies towering over everything else.
The Balcony and Container Gardens were simply ingenious and how these tranquil and intricately imagined little gardens were imagined and executed was quite awe-inspiring. The Container gardens measured 4x3m and the Balcony Gardens around 5x2m. My daughter, who shares my passion for flowers lives in a typically small London space so this was a must-see for her too.
Then there was SHOPPING…. Everything from top tools, high end homeware, bathroom sensations and all with a ‘flowery green theme’. I had a couple of items on my list and successfully walked away with treasures from Niwaki and Burgon and Ball and a whole lot of irresistible treasures NOT on my list(or in my budget)!! It was so refreshing to see such quality, taste and beautiful goodies with not an ounce of plastic cheapness in sight.
The Great Pavillion was getting full by the time we reached it, but amongst others, the South African Stand was a standout as was the Rose Display, including the newly bred “Kings Rose”. There were so many to appreciate and what struck me is that every single bloom on every single plant was in a near-perfect stage of beauty, creatively displayed so that one could appreciate the heart of every single flower. Leon Kluge, who designed South Africa’s stand was not in attendance sadly but he deserves kudos for achieving a Gold Medal for South Africa yet again. Here is a teeny glimpse of what we saw.
As I conclude here, I am panicking about the many plants and flowers I haven’t mentioned - there are, simply too many to document without losing all sense of order! Let me rather encourage you to consider a trip to this breathtaking spectacle yourself. A membership to the RHS is also well worth considering for the myriad of resources it offers, as well as discounted tickets to many flower shows and free entry to a number of partnership gardens around the UK. Save the date for 2026: 19 – 23 May.
With Love
Liesa
0832331046
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