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.
In conversation with Jo Whiley and James Alexander-Sinclair
Designer James Alexander-Sinclair drops in on BBC DJ Jo Whiley’s house and helps out with her beautiful borders. We get to have a look at Jo’s gorgeous garden where she spends all of her spare time and pick up some tips from James on making the most of your flower beds. The pair, who have worked together before at RHS Shows, also discuss the joys of RHS Chelsea and what to look forward to in September. And stay tuned to see who wins in a space hopper race.
Discovering my garden: Daniela Relph
Daniela takes us on a tour around her little garden where the pots provide the main focal point. An olive tree is a particular focus, bought for her by friends in memory of her mother and the family have cared for it together over the years.
A taste of Jardin Blanc
Raymond Blanc gives us a tantalising taste of what’s to come at Jardin Blanc in September’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Filmed from his Oxfordshire restaurant, hotel and kitchen gardens – and the inspiration for RHS Chelsea’s official hospitality Jardin Blanc – Raymond explores the explosion of tastes, textures and colours that will be featuring in menus come autumn.
For Raymond, as a chef who is passionate about gardens, September brings exciting prospects – whether that’s from spiced pumpkins, slow-cooked miso aubergines and fermented cabbage, or from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons’ orchard with beautifully ripe apples, pears, plums, Mirabelles and quinces.
Meet the Houseplant Studios at RHS Chelsea
All new for the first September Chelsea event. Get ready for Houseplant Studios. Here four designers of Houseplant Studios take us through what they have planned for RHS Chelsea in September.
See inside the lush houseplant shop Forest, coming to RHS Chelsea for the first time; enjoy biophilic design studio Ro Co’s zen cabin filled to bursting with houseplants; marvel at Conservatory Archives’ transformation of the smallest room in the home, and hear Malvern Garden Design’s plans for an ambitious, eye-catching green room.
Check out our day one highlights here.
And our day two highlights here.
And our day four 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!
Authors
Daniel Griffiths is a veteran journalist who has worked on some of the biggest home and entertainment brands in the world. He is a serial house-renovator and home improvement expert, taking on everything from interior design and DIY to landscape gardening and garden design.
