The RHS Virtual Chelsea 2021 site is officially open and in full swing. Virtual Chelsea 2020’s replaced the famous May Chelsea Flower Show last year due to Covid restrictions. It was such a success the RHS are doing it all again this year, 17 to 21 May. (PLUS the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 will be returning in full in September.)
What’s on at Virtual Chelsea 2021?
Each day sees a new range of features and videos appearing on the Virtual Chelsea site. Here’s our latest round-up of favourites.
Meet the nurseries new to RHS Chelsea in 2021
Grab your chance to see inside some of the nurseries making their RHS Chelsea debuts in September this year. Marvel at the astonishing variety of hostas at Sienna Hosta; swoon at the salvias grown by Middleton Nurseries; be dazzled by the ornamental grasses at Ashcroft’s Perennials; and be impressed by the penstemons from GreenJJam Nurseries.
You'll also get to hear an insight into the work required to go to RHS Chelsea and give a little preview of their specialisms.
Launching Project Giving Back
RHS Director General Sue Biggs and Project Giving Back advisor Mark Fane have revealed details of a generous new grant-making support scheme which will give charities the chance to create a fully-funded garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Established in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the unique and generous project will give charities the opportunity to benefit from having their important messages and campaigns brought to life at the world-famous flower show in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Here Sue and Mark talk us through more details and how charities and designers can apply.
Visit www.givingback.org.uk for more information.
Brighter Blooms' September Chelsea plans
Get a sneak preview of Brighter Blooms’ RHS Chelsea display and enjoy a short how-to guide on growing attractive salads.
This Lancashire nursery is normally associated with stunning zantedeschias, commonly called arum lilies or calla lilies, for which it has won several RHS Chelsea Gold medals. However, the September show falls too late for their usual blooms so Matthew Smith will try something a little different, creating an attractive display out of edible salads designed to inspire gardeners with small spaces.
Here he talks us through their ideas, gives a tour of the nursery and finishes up with a quick how-to guide on creating an attractive bowl of humble salad leaves.
Arthur Parkinson's cottage garden
Up-and-coming young garden writer and designer Arthur Parkinson takes you around his cottage garden and shows how to make eye-catching displays in a pot
Discover what can happen when you plant a 'bulb lasagne' to create a stunning display with long-term interest and check out his lovely patio garden and how to get the best out of sweet peas and pelargoniums.
Check out our day one highlights here.
And our day two highlights here.
And our day three highlights here.
We’ll be updating this story (and others) with more show highlights as they happen. Keep up to speed at Gardens Illustrated.com. And sign up for our Chelsea newsletter to stay abreast of all that’s new at Virtual Chelsea 2021, and the full show in September!
