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RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Season Episode 12 - Highlights, Part 1
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00:27Hello and welcome
00:29to the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show 2026 an event supported by Range Rover here at the showground the
00:38heat has finally arrived it's sweltering and with Chelsea marking the start of the summer season today we're going to
00:45help you get your garden ready for the warmer weather ahead coming up Carol Klein discovers the most fragrant night
00:54scented plants to help you enjoy those long summer evenings we reveal the
00:59winner of the RHS Chelsea plant of the year the exciting new variety that impressed the judges more than any
01:06other you'll certainly want to get that in your garden and I will be meeting the fashion designer Dame Sandra
01:12Rhodes who's taken us on a tour of her London garden up in the sky but first there's nowhere better
01:20to celebrate the great British summertime than by the seaside
01:23which has inspired this the Eden project bring me sunshine garden designed by Harry Holden and Alex McKellis
01:32this building actually I hesitate to call it a building it feels like a structure doesn't it it's a sort
01:37of muscle here it's a spidery structure
01:39um feels like an open space presumably it is a teaching space it is to gather in the centre around
01:47London yeah no definitely it's a it's a there's going to be a community garden space outside the Eden project
01:53and so this structure is definitely to bring young people together yeah there's going to be a lot of teaching
01:59of horticulture because in that area they need to upskill their own community so I think that idea of bringing
02:05everybody together is going to be really great
02:07yeah of course yeah by the seaside you can't help but notice shells there's shells on the paths shells by
02:11the side of the water and I believe shells in the paths and the walls well there is this is
02:17a developed um new product if you like clam creak shell creak but it has used local shells bound with
02:24limestone and another binder and they've used it in the paving areas and on the walls which
02:30actually has got a lot of innovation around it and it's got a low carbon footprint and then of course
02:34the planting and that's what people come to see
02:36I often feel that there's a huge amount of effort going into the sort of the new material and what
02:41have you a lot of people don't notice that they're coming in and they're looking at the planting and you
02:46have a meadow in the front and you have the planting around this space it's quite a big space and
02:50actually this is the first time I've been on this garden
02:53and it looks much better from the inside looking out and when I say better there's just more to see
02:59yeah that's probably a design flaw in terms of the show but not at all in terms of its relocation
03:06which I believe is going as part of that project in Morecambe
03:09yeah this is all going so I think that there'll be a rearrangement obviously they come via Chelsea but I
03:15think again as you say with the planting there's inspiration for those people living by the coast and Tora and
03:20Crombate you know tough plants that need to really deal with the salt
03:24it's summer season now we all say but it ain't summer season in Morecambe in January and February these plants
03:30have to be have to be good
03:32they have to be on point but I have to say the reflection from that water is looking very good
03:37on your face I'm getting a little dappled light
03:39you look lovely too darling
03:41well from the seaside now to some bright and bold summer colours
03:47all week Jamie has been looking at the planting trends to emerge from the show this year and tonight he's
03:54discovering that the theme of many designers seems to be a brighter the better
04:06sometimes when it comes to using colour in a garden too much just is never enough and this garden is
04:14the perfect example of it
04:16from this orange backdrop coming down to these green upcycled filing cabinets and then this most sumptuous colourful joyful planting
04:25from these geums and nasturtiums and geraniums
04:29digitalis Achilles
04:31more is more sometimes
04:34this planting is full it's sumptuous it's uncompromising from these pink Armerias to these red nasturtiums coming up to yellow
04:44Achilles
04:45Cosmos
04:46Hesperis
04:47it sort of throws away the rule book in the best way possible
05:04we couldn't talk about colourful planting without coming to the most colourful corner of the whole show
05:12this is Arit Anderson's Parkinson's garden and I think it's probably my favourite planting at the Hall of Chelsea
05:19and the way Arit's done it is so clever she's used large blocks of colour rather than just using one
05:27or two individual plants take these roses in the middle for example she's used a clump of maybe twelve or
05:34so roses to create this dramatic effect the same with the Arit's here which are adding this flamboyant beautiful flower
05:42two-tone flower into this border even down to this euphorbia it's the most colourful energising planting at its very
05:52best
05:55the other trick Arit's used in this garden to make it feel so uplifting is the use of repetition
06:01so she's used plants like the dianthus like the alliums like the poppies bounced all the way through the planting
06:09that gives us unity and harmony and essentially glues this huge border together
06:16it's a really clever trick and sometimes designers often use grasses to do that or foliage plants to hold the
06:25board together
06:26but Arit's been bald and uncompromising and is using colourful plants to hold the bigger blocks of plants together
06:36this border epitomises Chelsea this year for me and my main take home from this year's show is that we
06:43all need much more colour in our lives and also in our gardens
06:56as the evenings get longer and warmer we get the chance to spend even more time in our gardens
07:02and as Carol's been discovering there are plenty of varieties of plants to enjoy even as the sun begins to
07:09go down
07:16as the sun sets and the moon ascends into the night time sky our gardens take on a whole new
07:25persona
07:25and our senses too change our vision takes in pale colours especially white glowing in the moonlight
07:35and then our sense of smell it becomes much more acute and of all night scented climbers this has to
07:44be the ultimate the zenith
07:47this is jasmine and polyanthem just close your eyes and one sniff of this
07:54and you're in a street in Tangier on a lovely dark evening
08:00this is a tender plant but there's also a jasmine which is completely hardy jasminum officinale
08:09lots of us grow it in our gardens
08:11it'll climb and clamber up fences and walls and it's full of these beautiful white flowers
08:17perhaps not quite as showy as this but wait till all these flowers on this come out
08:23I'd sit here and wait for the moon to come up
08:32on my way to show you the most beautiful white garden I came across this
08:38such a fine example of one of the very best night scented shrubs
08:44it's pitosporum tibera and both its leaves and its flowers smell divine
08:58well tucked away in a corner it's this delightful little white garden
09:03I particularly love this one this is our native foxglove digitalis purpurea alba
09:11it should have an almost ghostly present in the dark and in the background you could have a tall white
09:17shrub
09:18how about this one this is a lovely lilac and even though it's scented during the day that scent would
09:25carry over into the evening
09:26and this is my favourite it's Hesperis matronalis otherwise known as sweet rocket because its flowers are wonderfully perfumed
09:37but it doesn't start pumping out that perfume until dusk descends
09:45almost without exception these night scented plants have one common feature and that is that long coral tube
09:53and why? because they've pollinated by moths
10:00they're just the sort of plants that after a hard day's work you can come out, relax, enjoy the evening
10:09and dream the night away
10:17and one of the gardens highlighting the importance of planting the creatures of the night is this one
10:24the bat conservation trust nocturnal garden designed by Melanie Hick
10:30and of course the dominant feature here other than this lovely bench which I have to say I'm sitting on
10:35is very comfy
10:35is this sculpture
10:36an enormous great wooden bat sculpture and you can get in under what I imagine are the folded wings of
10:42the bat
10:43but the planting is of course designed to attract food for bats rather than a habitat for the bats themselves
10:51of course you need water and that attracts insects low down
10:54you have a hawthorn with flowers and berries
10:58elderflower
11:00you have grasses with pollen because different bats have different feeding habits
11:06and therefore above all else you need diverse planting
11:10lots of fires to attract insects, caterpillars, moths
11:15and the bats will choose their prey that will sustain them best
11:21now Melanie the first question has to be is are you planting here for all British bats?
11:29that's correct we are
11:31is it? so what does that involve?
11:32so there's 18 species of UK bats
11:34right
11:34and many of them are in more dire straits than others
11:38but what we're showing here is that you can plant diverse planting to support all UK bat species
11:43right so everything is catered for here
11:46are there any particular sort of oddities that certain species need or like to have?
11:51they certainly do have their peculiarities
11:53such as?
11:54well I think that the main thing is to consider providing a buffet that caters to most of them
12:00you could have a very specialist ecological garden
12:03but this is really an easy to grow garden ideal for the Chelsea visitor to take home
12:08in a word or two what are the key things for the average gardener to do to encourage bats into
12:14the garden?
12:15the key thing to do is plant diversity, plant a range of flower shapes
12:19we have a very simple rose in Francis E. Leicester
12:22yeah
12:22cosmos and foxgloves
12:24so you can already imagine how those different shapes might fuel different species of moths
12:28now I know the back wall of the bat garden that's hard to say has something special about it what
12:35is it?
12:35so all of those timbers that you see there have been cut to the exact length to make the bat
12:40boxes that are also on display on the bat wall
12:42right
12:43so I have ten bat boxes ready to go
12:45these will all go to Klidak community gardens for the community to make them into their own bat boxes
12:51well congratulations on the people's choice
12:54thank you
12:54as you say you made a garden for people to love and they do
12:57thank you
12:58I bet bats love it too
12:59thank you
12:59thanks a lot
13:04all this week Adam's been going back to basics exploring the design ideas at Chelsea this year that can inspire
13:11you to upgrade your garden
13:13today he's looking at how garden architecture can transform your space
13:30structures in gardens can become fundamental parts of that space they provide form function instant height even framework for planting
13:42but in reality before you build anything you need to work out exactly what you want from it
13:58do you want somewhere to play work cook even sit and just be
14:05once you work that out it's very much how do you want it to feel modern or traditional
14:12and then it's all about where do you put it
14:16well that's driven by you
14:18ultimately how the sun moves through your space
14:20what I love about this garden and what's so brave
14:25is the structure sits in the middle of the garden
14:28it gives you somewhere to sit privately and enjoy
14:31it still gives you connections to other parts of the garden
14:35but this shape in the middle drives the design of the rest of the garden
14:39if this just sat in the middle of the garden and wasn't wrapped with planting
14:42it would feel plonked
14:43here the shapes radiate out
14:46but then from the outside looking in
14:49it's soft it's planty
14:51and that is what makes it feel good
15:05next if you want a bit of magic in your garden
15:08it's got to be the finer detail that you look at
15:12what's great about this is it sits down in the landscape
15:15you imagine this at ground level you can view it from the house
15:19it would sit really high in the garden and maybe overpower
15:22by putting it down
15:24you feel good when you come down the steps
15:27you feel comfortable
15:28and now look at the materials
15:30the finer detail
15:32that sort of leaded finish gets picked up in the co-pins
15:35the detail in the reels, the containers
15:38and then you look again
15:39and you realise that shape above my head is worked into the taxes
15:44it's all that finer detail that makes this very special
16:02one of the last things is when we add structures to the garden
16:07we can look upon them as being static
16:10and they really don't have to be
16:12look at this above my head
16:13it's not uniform
16:15and it drives its way through the space
16:17you know so it's the ultimate climbing frame for plants
16:20but also it frames views
16:22it creates arches
16:23but interestingly the colour up there is then repeated
16:27on the ground below
16:28so it has this ability to tie the whole garden together
16:33so if you think about it
16:36built structures in our garden can help them be so much more
16:55the pavilion is always great to come in
16:58and meet people with fascinating stories
17:00but I'm about to meet two inspirational people
17:04who have got a really unusual business
17:07the Cayley Brothers
17:12are always good to see you two
17:15but I have to say I always giggle
17:17when I say the Cayley Brothers to anybody
17:19because you are in fact
17:21sisters
17:23which is great
17:24but you know just remind me
17:25the Cayley Brother name
17:26why did you choose that name for your business?
17:29the original Cayley Brothers were our grandad sorry
17:32and his brother
17:33back in the 1950s they had their own grocers
17:35and they were really passionate about bringing fresh produce
17:38to the local villages
17:39and it seemed to make sense to take on the Cayley Brothers
17:43and bring it into the 21st century
17:45why did you choose to go for mushrooms as your business?
17:49so mushrooms
17:50there's something truly unique about mushrooms
17:52and unfortunately within supermarkets
17:54you can't get anything beyond the button mushroom
17:56so we've learnt how to grow
17:58all of these amazing mushrooms
17:59that all have their own unique textures
18:01flavours
18:02characters
18:03personalities
18:04you have to love them
18:05because mushrooms won't grow if you don't love them
18:07there's an incredible array of different varieties
18:10and we've done a real focus on native UK species
18:14the amazing coral tooth
18:16so the cousin of the very popular lion's mane
18:18an incredible texture and flavour
18:20but a crispness
18:21so if you don't like the texture of maybe a button mushroom
18:23then it's certainly one to try
18:25each mushroom has its own personality
18:29and we love discovering
18:30teaching ourselves how to grow it
18:32and then getting other people to grow them themselves
18:34and then they can see the wonder
18:36they double in size every 24 hours
18:38and no one species looks the same
18:41and so you can never tire of growing these beautiful things
18:44and then you get to eat them
18:46yes
18:52really you've done so well
18:54I can see the gold medal glinting at me
18:57so what is the secret of your success?
19:00we found what we wanted to do
19:02and we just work tirelessly
19:04in something that we love doing
19:06so it's really a vocation
19:08we actually get on very well
19:10we both have different strengths
19:12we know each other's weaknesses
19:14and she's my favourite person
19:16we've got our best friends as well as sisters
19:18and I think we couldn't do it without each other
19:21working as women in horticulture
19:24have you found any challenges and benefits
19:26of being able to do that?
19:28starting up the business really lent itself
19:30to us having young families
19:32so you know I work early mornings
19:35that suits me
19:35Lorraine works late at night
19:37and we do it around the school day
19:39so you know we're not working after school
19:41when we're doing most of the childcare
19:43so it allows that flexibility
19:45but with that we also find that
19:47we're then working 24 hours a day sometimes
19:50so you know it has benefits and challenges
19:53it is and I think we've been supported by a lot of women
19:56within horticulture as well
19:57and that's really been refreshing
20:00it's been nice to come into an industry
20:02having both worked in quite demanding
20:04and competitive industries
20:06there's no kind of cards being held to the chest
20:08it's people leading people along
20:10opening doors for us
20:12lifting us up
20:14and giving us the confidence
20:16to do what we do
20:17and be proud of what we do
20:19I think those are the two key words
20:20being confident
20:21and being proud
20:23and you both should be
20:24Thank you
20:25Thank you
20:33Our summers are set to become drier and warmer
20:35there's no question about that
20:36so when planting trees
20:38we have to ensure that they'll be able to cope
20:40with these changing conditions
20:42one nursery exhibiting here is at the forefront
20:45of demonstrating the versatile and resilient trees
20:49that we should be considering planting now
20:51for the future
20:54I've always been into horticulture
20:56it's been my dream job from day one
20:58but I really refined my interest for trees
21:01while I was studying at Kew
21:03and linking that with my love of production of plants
21:06meant that I could only really work at a tree nursery
21:10The trees are important for the landscape
21:11because of all the ecosystem services that they provide
21:15things like wind dissipation, flood mitigation, carbon sequestration
21:18habitat creation
21:20all of those sorts of things
21:21but at the same time
21:23they're important for the human element as well
21:26because of things like social health and mental wellbeing
21:28a lot of studies have been brought in
21:30that horticulture can be healing
21:33and it can be good for the mind
21:38Tree selection is really important
21:39My three guidelines would be
21:41select the right species
21:42in the right place
21:44and for the right reason
21:45There's many aspects that you need to consider
21:48such as ultimate size and space
21:50but more importantly
21:51how the tree is going to adapt to climate shifts
21:55So there's a lot of research been done
21:57and there's some studies that are suggesting
22:00London's going to have the climate of Barcelona by 2050
22:03possibly Azerbaijan by 2100
22:06and a lot of our British native trees
22:08are simply not going to be resilient
22:10to those climates in that era
22:12So that's when we need to start looking at
22:14perhaps some exotics
22:15that are going to fill the space
22:17where the natives are leaving
22:19but also provide the same ecosystem
22:21and biodiversity benefits
22:23non-natives are referred to as exotics
22:26and there's somewhere between
22:273,600 and 4,000 varieties in cultivation
22:31compared to our native tree species range
22:35which is somewhere between 30 and 35 species
22:38so to have that diversity in the treescape
22:41will enable them to be resilient
22:47I joined the Royal Botanic Gardens Q in 2013
22:50fresh out of school
22:51and it was a steep learning curve
22:53and today we're working together
22:55looking at scientific research
22:57and how that can be put to best use
23:00in the commercial trade
23:02It traps that moisture on the fine hair
23:04which cools the leaf down
23:06My name's Kevin Martin
23:07I'm head of the tree collections
23:09at Royal Botanic Gardens Q
23:10so I'm really trying to understand
23:13what the landscape's going to look like
23:14in a hundred years' time
23:15So with the research that I do
23:17specialising in urban trees
23:19it's critically important
23:20that we get the commercial nurseries on board
23:22because I can do research
23:23and I can find some of the most fantastic trees
23:26that are going to be more resilient
23:28to our future climate
23:31When we think about selecting trees
23:33we have to really stop
23:35and think deeply now
23:37we can't just select trees
23:38on horticultural merit
23:39what the tree looks like
23:40so its bark
23:41the colour of its leaves
23:42what we need to start thinking deeply about
23:45is the function
23:46we're looking at cooling
23:48we're looking at shade
23:49we're looking at rain interception
23:51they're the questions we need to ask ourselves now
23:54not just what that tree looks like
23:56Chelsea's going to be so important
23:58because when we think about trees
24:00and when we think about selecting trees
24:02we need a cultural change
24:04and that's the biggest thing
24:06and where else are you going to be able to start that conversation
24:09about cultural change
24:10than at Chelsea
24:13So Kevin, these are the possible selected trees
24:16for our Chelsea stand here
24:18start with this Circus canadensis forest pansy
24:22with a beautiful purple leaf
24:23it's got some flowers on
24:24Great, they're a really standout tree
24:27very well suited
24:28especially for those urban dry environments
24:31and that's what we need to try to explain
24:34just because they're resilient trees
24:36doesn't necessarily mean they're boring
24:41So next we have Taxodium distichum
24:44which is famous for thriving in swampy wet conditions
24:47If we're having an area that's prone to flooding
24:49for instance
24:51these are the trees we need to start looking at
24:53and they're just really good ornamental trees
24:56but they have a purpose now
25:01One of the last trees to talk about
25:03is Sorbus olungensis olympic flame
25:05which has lots of benefits
25:08in terms of climate resilience
25:09and benefits towards other species
25:11It's got that spring flower
25:13it's really important for our pollinators
25:15and then we've got that food source for the birds
25:17when the berries come out
25:18and again look at that for a stunning architectural tree
25:21but yet it's still providing other services
25:23and that's what makes trees like this so stunning
25:26to have in our gardens
25:29The trees we plant today
25:32they're going to see a different world
25:34in a hundred years time
25:36The climate's going to be very different
25:37the growing conditions are going to be very different
25:39so that's really the scale that we're working in
25:42and it's critically important we get that message out there now
25:44because by planting trees
25:46we can then help with climate mitigation
25:50and trees are going to be one of the main backbones
25:53of this mitigation as we go forward for the next few decades
25:57So Kevin it's been really hard overall
25:59selecting trees for Chelsea which not only look special
26:02and you know pleasing for people to see
26:05but also have some of these traits we've been talking about
26:08so overall I hope I've done a good job
26:12but the proof will be in the pudding when it comes to judging
26:14It will do, yeah it will be all down to the judges
26:24Well Elliot here you are
26:26for your first time inside the Great Pavilion
26:28how was it actually getting on the site and making this stand?
26:33So logistically it was really hard
26:35obviously we're moving large trees
26:37and having everything planned out in an order
26:40that we were going to execute everything
26:41was extremely important
26:42but I think thankfully we got through it
26:44and made a really good job of it
26:45And clearly you've done a really good job of it
26:48because you've got a silver gilt medal
26:49which is wonderful
26:51how do you feel about that?
26:52Yeah that was an incredible achievement
26:54but really it's not me
26:56it's the whole company
26:56we've got such a brilliant team
26:58and there's just been a wave of excitement
27:00that's gone through the company
27:01in the build up
27:03and actually to the medal stage as well
27:05it's been tremendous
27:06Now I believe the king paid you a visit
27:10what did that feel like?
27:12That was an absolute highlight
27:14so we gifted him quite a rare treat
27:17and to be able to gift that to him
27:19was just an absolute privilege
27:20Now I was really interested to see
27:23the diversity of trees that you hold on in the nursery
27:27and the fact that we're all going to have to adapt
27:31to our surroundings changing
27:34with climate changing
27:36so are there things that you feel
27:39are going to be seen much less in our gardens?
27:43So the climate shifting
27:45there's obvious evidence of this
27:46with climatic modelling
27:48and I think we're just going to have to be careful
27:51that we don't continually choose trees and plants
27:54based on merely their aesthetics alone
27:56we need to be thinking about
27:58whether they're going to be able to cope
27:59with the future climates
28:00because when you plant a tree
28:02you're not just planting for you
28:03it's a legacy
28:04that you'll be planting a tree
28:06that will be in a situation for many generations
28:08because I was very interested in fact
28:11that we've got a relatively small palette
28:14of native trees in the UK
28:17so there are far, far more to choose from
28:21if we start looking at things that are non-native
28:23Absolutely, I mean there's 30 to 35 native species
28:27depending on who you ask
28:29and a lot of these are under pressure
28:31pressure from pests, pressure from climate
28:34pressure from many other factors
28:36climate extremes actually is a major one
28:39and I think the research that we've been doing
28:42a lot of the scientific institutions have been doing
28:44are suggesting that actually a more diverse treescape
28:47is going to be one that's more resilient
28:49So do you think our gardens and our landscape
28:52is going to start looking very different?
28:54I think for a period of time it will remain the same
28:57but then you'll see certain species gradually declining
29:00and we need to be very open minded
29:02about what we replace those with for the future
29:05we can't replace like for like
29:06because there's an obvious reason
29:08why something might have failed
29:09we don't want to make the same mistakes
29:11time and time again
29:11so having that open mindset
29:13and basically planting something
29:16that is going to be fit for future climates
29:18is going to be incredibly important
29:19Well it's actually quite an exciting time ahead
29:22all of these wonderful trees to choose from
29:24I look forward to that
29:26Thank you very much Henry
29:27Thank you Rachel, thank you
29:32Still to come tonight on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show of 2026
29:36an event supported by Range Rover
29:38we reveal which new variety has been named
29:42RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
29:45and fashion designer Zandra Rose
29:47takes us on a tour of her cherished and eclectic balcony garden
29:51We've heard how climate change is influencing the trees we choose
29:56but it's also providing opportunities to grow a wider variety of plants in our gardens
30:02Earlier I explored how Chelsea is displaying some of them
30:13Climate change is inevitably affecting every corner of our lives
30:18but arguably in our gardens we're seeing that happen season by season
30:23and Chelsea inevitably is reflecting that
30:27and this garden is exemplifying that through its choice of plants
30:32many of which we're familiar with
30:35perhaps only when we go on holiday
30:36and here they are growing in a garden in the middle of London
30:40now that is extraordinary
30:45What's changing is both our choice of plants that will not just survive but thrive
30:51but also the way they're behaving
30:53and lots of us are growing figs in our garden
30:56and I have been the last 40 years
30:58but it's the fruiting that has changed
31:01Back in the 1980s if you saw a fig in a London garden with ripe fruit on it
31:07that was exceptional
31:09Now in my own garden we get hundreds of figs in August
31:14and sometimes July
31:16and then the way that plants flower is changing
31:19This is Melianthus major, it's beautiful
31:22and I grew it in London and it would last for about 3 years
31:24and the frost would get it
31:25and it would flower maybe once every 4 years
31:28Now they're flowering regularly and reliably every year
31:32and they can stay outside and they won't be killed by cold
31:36However, some plants are still pretty extraordinary
31:44Now this is extraordinary
31:46The last time I saw one of these growing outside
31:50was in Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens in Cape Town
31:55It's a cycad
31:56These are the plants that were growing when the dinosaurs roamed
31:59They evolved to stop being eaten by dinosaurs
32:02They're really prickly and awkward
32:05and these can cope with cold as long as it's dry
32:09and as long as there's very good drainage
32:11So if you are thinking of planting them and giving it a go
32:15then just remember good drainage is going to be a key
32:18not just to them thriving but also sometimes surviving
32:28Now if the cycads were strange and wonderful things to be growing in British gardens
32:36I think this garden takes it even further
32:39and all the plants here are Australian
32:42and it includes plants that to be honest I am completely unfamiliar with
32:47and certainly have never seen growing in British gardens
32:50Take this incredible plant
32:52It's called the grass tree
32:54As exotic as anything you might grow in a garden
32:57I actually have seen them growing in the outback
32:59They will take temperatures down to freezing and a little bit below
33:03because it gets cold in the outback
33:05Entirely dependent though on really good drainage
33:09It cannot sit in water at all
33:11And then you have plants like the kangaroo pork
33:15Extraordinary looking thing
33:17And that not only needs good drainage
33:18It needs really poor soil
33:20The way to kill that is with kindness
33:22No nutrition, no goodness in the soil
33:25And it should survive
33:26Poor soil and really good drainage
33:29is a recurring theme in these Australian plants
33:33Take the banksia
33:34These have evolved to cope with extreme conditions
33:38And the tea tree, the hedge
33:41is already growing and thriving in Cornwall
33:43Now okay, Cornwall is the warmest, mildest part of Britain
33:47But that will spread
33:48And you cannot but conclude
33:51That our gardens are going to have to change and adapt
33:56And that means changing the plants that we grow
33:59And also critically, how we grow them
34:06It's been another busy week here at Chelsea for the RHS
34:11And joining me now to reflect on how it's gone
34:14Is Director General Claire Matteson
34:18Claire, what a week
34:19What a week
34:20What a week
34:20I mean it's such a big operation here
34:23How has it been for you?
34:24Honestly, it's probably been one of our best ever
34:28Incredible gardens, wonderful great pavilion
34:32Plants galore, sun shining today
34:36Sold out show before we even opened our doors
34:38And people seem to be loving it
34:40That's so brilliant to know
34:41And I guess with all of the gardens
34:43And all of the exhibits
34:44They're all for such good causes as well
34:46Such good causes
34:47And this of course is our biggest fundraiser of the year
34:49So every penny that we raise here
34:52Goes on to support work throughout the rest of the 51 weeks of the year
34:56You know, and that's around education, getting children into gardening
34:59Community gardens, science work
35:03Apprentices and training into horticulture
35:05Work that we do with the hospitals up and down the country as well
35:08So a big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and has come
35:11Well, of course, and a big thank you to the returned gnomes
35:15The returned gnomes
35:16You let them back in, Claire
35:17The gnomes, yeah, my biggest and most difficult decision is
35:20Director General lifting the ban on gnomes
35:23And who wouldn't perhaps want a gnome painted by
35:26Joanna Lumley, Sir Brian May
35:29But I've got actually a little exciting announcement
35:32All right, all good, good
35:33David Beckham has painted two gnomes
35:36Wow
35:37Hot off the press
35:38Personally painted by him for the queue and up for auction as well
35:42Number seven, his preferred number
35:45So all up for auction and call up for auction
35:47With that money directly
35:48Yeah, so every penny from the auction goes to our campaign for school gardening
35:51And that gets more and more children into gardening up and down the country
35:55The gardens and the legacy of the show lives on, doesn't it, really?
35:59You're quite passionate about that
36:00Oh, I mean, it's so important that we don't just put all of this into landfill, throw it away
36:05So every garden will live on
36:07And we've got some lovely examples
36:08The Little Trussells Garden
36:09It's all about food banks
36:11And that's going to a food bank in Northern Ireland
36:13Eden Garden
36:14The new big regeneration of Morecambe through the Eden project
36:18That's going to Morecambe
36:19Our own Curious Garden
36:21That's going to a further education college in Farnborough
36:24Where actually it will be used as part of the teaching in the college
36:27So every single garden
36:29This is kind of first stop
36:30And then they've got their forever home
36:32Via Chelsea
36:33And talking of the Eden project
36:34I mean, they won the RHS Environmental Award, didn't they?
36:38They did
36:38And that's become more and more important
36:40And what you see here is all the innovation
36:42And then that innovation hopefully will spread throughout the year
36:45And actually the
36:46I don't know if you've seen the asthma and lung garden up there
36:48Fascinating
36:49There's a big platform which looks just like concrete
36:52But it's actually made of something
36:54Biochar and clay
36:56Apparently is zero carbon
36:58And even is zero negative carbon
37:00And of course concrete is the biggest emitter
37:03And problem of carbon for the industry
37:06So, you know, innovations like that
37:08Let's hope this kind of spreads across the country
37:11Which I'm sure it will
37:12I mean, you know, the gardens have great messages
37:14But so does the pavilion
37:16I mean, the growers in there
37:17The work they do
37:18I think it shows how incredible this country is at horticulture
37:23All of those specialist plant, specialist nurseries, plant heritage
37:27Which also then looks after this kind of heritage of our cultivated landscape in this country
37:33It is stunning in there this year
37:36I spent a good hour or so walking around and also talking to these real specialists
37:41Who you can ask them any question and they know the up deep detail as
37:45Will this grow in my garden?
37:47Will this grow in my house?
37:48So, it's a real treat
37:49They are an amazing, amazing crew of people
37:52So, the rest of the year, how does the calendar look for the RHS?
37:55Well, you know, we actually, we never stop
37:57Because we've got two new, brand new shows coming up as well
38:00So, we've got one at Sandringham
38:02One at Badminton
38:03Both in July
38:05Beautiful, beautiful locations
38:08Beautiful backdrops
38:09You know, real, once again, celebrating heritage in this country
38:11So, lots more to go
38:14Plus, of course, all of this ripple effect
38:17From Chelsea to gardeners across the country
38:20And children across the country
38:21Well, I wish you well
38:23Thank you
38:23And best of luck with the new shows
38:24Thank you
38:25And just keep the energy up, Claire
38:26We will
38:26You've got to keep that energy going
38:28Thank you
38:28Thank you so much
38:31My guest tonight is a renowned British fashion designer
38:35Known for her pioneering use of bold, artistic prints and vibrant colour
38:40Away from the world of fashion
38:43Dame Zandra Rhodes finds sanctuary in her rooftop garden
38:47High above the city of London
38:49And we recently joined her at home
38:57A garden is a way of opening your spirit up to the earth
39:02You know, you can go in there
39:04Even if it's pouring with rain
39:05My camellias look wonderful
39:08Seeing their leaves with all the rain on them
39:11I'm Zandra Rhodes, a fashion and textile designer
39:14And I've been doing that for at least 55 years
39:19I'm within walking distance of the Shard in fabulous Bermondsey
39:27This is the northern part of my terrace
39:31This is the northern part of my terrace
39:32Where I have hostas, arum lilies and camellias
39:37It's my camellia terrace
39:39The hostas, which this year are doing very well
39:44I've probably had these at least ten years
39:47And I divide them about every two years
39:50And give away plants
39:52And the arum lilies
39:54My mother got married with arum lilies
39:57And they've always been something that I love drawing
40:03I have 11 camellia trees here in various stages
40:08The oldest one was given to me by Karl Lagerfeld 50 years ago
40:14And is still blooming
40:16It's lovely white camellias this spring
40:18They're just a wonderful tree
40:20Not too bad to keep as long as you try and make sure
40:23If you can give them rainwater
40:26They just flower every spring
40:28And just brighten up the whole terrace
40:32This statue is a Mexican shack mall
40:35And it was from a party that was held at Aspinall's
40:41Some 50 odd years ago
40:43I mean it's only really made of polystyrene
40:48And I can pick it up with one hand
40:49But I'd miss it if it wasn't there
40:57This is Hydrangea Walk
40:59Which is right down the front of my penthouse
41:02With the wall painted Frida Kahlo blue
41:05Which then shows once the height of summer comes
41:09Fabulous white hydrangeas
41:12Some are petiolaris
41:14And they're gorgeous
41:15And on this side I have my mint in a separate container
41:20Because it's a rhizome
41:22I have sage, thyme
41:25And another one that I've cleverly forgotten the name of
41:29And then in the middle of my white hydrangeas
41:32Are my three tomato plants
41:34Which will just grow and give me little tomatoes
41:37In the spring
41:43This is a wonderful fiberglass shield
41:46That was actually part of the magic flute opera
41:50That I did in San Diego
41:51And when Sarastro the King comes on
41:55They were actually giant lion shields that came forward
41:59So they didn't look like men in baby grows
42:01So he sits there and feels lovely
42:05And here is, this is Australian bottle brush
42:08And the first of my peonies down here
42:18We're on the south side of my penthouse
42:21And this was originally a pot plant in 1972
42:28Probably things grow in here because touch wood
42:32We don't really get frost here
42:35Only once every two years would we get snow
42:39But every pot gets wrapped in bubble wrap
42:42So I have plastic rocks here on my terrace
42:46And underneath them in the summer is all the bubble wrap
42:50That comes out in the winter to go around the pots
42:55I talk to the plants
42:56If one isn't doing well
42:57I say, come on, pull your socks up
42:59What's wrong with you?
43:01Are you happy there?
43:03Well, this is obviously the rose corner
43:07And I'm training it to go even higher
43:11This is a euphorbia that has grown outwards
43:15And not just through the ceiling
43:16It belonged to my great friend Andrew Logan
43:20And I had to have the road stopped
43:22And have it craned up
43:24Together with two or three of the camellias
43:26When I first moved in
43:28But it's very happy
43:30And it lives there all the year round
43:37When I go to the Chelsea Flower Show
43:39I make a headline to the ones that I already grow
43:43To see how much better they do
43:45Or if there's one that I could possibly just squeeze in
43:49Like a different kind of hosta
43:53I'm very happy to be in my space in London
43:56And I don't really need to go to a whole lot of places
44:00But my rainbow penthouse is enough
44:02But it is nice to look out at a wonderful terrace
44:06And appreciate all the plants doing their own thing
44:13Well, Zandra is here with me now
44:15I have to say, it's lovely to see you
44:17And I was thinking when we first met
44:20Which was in the early 1980s
44:22I was going to say, a long while ago
44:23It was
44:24And you were a huge star
44:26And I was practically a student
44:29And you're still a huge star
44:31Oh, thank you
44:33And your garden, I love it
44:36Oh, I mean, I
44:37It's a joy that I look at every morning when I'm at home
44:41Yeah
44:42And there's wonderful walls
44:44And the walls which
44:45Well, of course
44:46The Fashion Textile Museum which I founded
44:49Yes
44:50Is in fact bright orange and pink
44:52And it was a Mexican architect, Ria Greta, that designed it
44:55So, it
44:57The walls are beautiful to look at
44:59And a backdrop for the plants, I guess
45:01And a backdrop to the plants, exactly
45:03I mean, we've missed your camellias
45:05And we're a bit early for the hydrangeas
45:08Paul, yes
45:08The blue wall
45:10When the white, they're all white hydrangeas
45:12Yeah
45:12And when they come out
45:13It's just a splendid blue and white dream
45:16Have you always got
45:17Did you as a child
45:18Did you have a garden at home?
45:20Oh, yes
45:21We had a garden
45:22It wasn't really that well kept
45:24But my father grew irises
45:26We were paid to get rid of the snails
45:28Right
45:29You know, he'd give us a penny a snail or something
45:32And he grew dahlias as well
45:34He always had little things on to catch the earwigs
45:38I mean, do you think that's influenced your design?
45:41Because obviously we all know you
45:42The sort of incredible use of colour and vivacity
45:45Where does that come from, do you think?
45:47I suppose a lot of it is looking at nature
45:49Yeah
45:50I mean, I love drawing flowers
45:52Yeah
45:52So it's always wonderful when flowers appear
45:55And you think, I'd better draw that while it's there
45:58And do you like the hands-on stuff?
46:00Do you like actual gardening?
46:02Oh, I enjoy gardening, yes
46:03Yeah
46:04Yes, I'm okay at potting up
46:06At the moment my poor camellias aren't doing as well as they should
46:09So we're going to take them out
46:11Right
46:11And cut their roots down a bit and re-pot them in fresh soil
46:15That's a good idea
46:17So, is Chelsea something you've come to regularly?
46:20I mean, is this the first time? Tell me about it
46:23No, no, no
46:24I don't come enough
46:25But I try and come here each year when it's on
46:28And then check out the ones that grow on my terrace first
46:31And see if I can get, you know, how do they get such splendid hostas
46:35With no holes for the slugs and things like that
46:38There's a fantastic hosta this bay
46:39You'll see hostas everywhere
46:40So you come in and you're basically checking up on your own garden
46:46I check up on what I've got
46:48Right
46:48And what would do well on my terrace, yes
46:50Yeah
46:50What problems have you got at the moment?
46:53Erm, like I...
46:55Well, my hostas at the moment are looking okay
46:57Good
46:57I watered them with some...
46:58I mean, I put eggshells at the bottom of the...
47:01And I water them with garlic water
47:03And check them all out
47:05So...
47:06Okay, but you're going to repot them
47:07But I've been looking here at the...
47:08Maybe think of some wildflowers that would look good just in a pot
47:12Because, you know, you could make them all these lovely weeds just look fabulous
47:16I think so
47:17Absolutely
47:18And what are you noticing in the gardens when you look around?
47:21What sort of...
47:22Creatively?
47:23Creatively, I love the fact that everything is all hodgepodge together
47:28I mean, really it's a work of art what they've done
47:30But see the foxgloves and the ferns and then you're looking and thinking
47:34And an iris here and there
47:36They're just gorgeous
47:37So I'm going to look for like mad grasses that would look alright in a pot
47:42I think...
47:42I absolutely think you could find that
47:44We must get you mad grasses in a pot
47:47I'm all for that
47:48It sounds like a good idea
47:51And I suppose over the years
47:54You've seen gardens change
47:55You've seen...
47:56I mean, obviously you've seen fashions change
47:58How much influence do you think fashion and gardens have?
48:02How much interaction do you think they have?
48:04There's nothing more inspirational than seeing these wonderful gardens
48:09With irises popping up here and there
48:11So you could do quite mad frocks all...
48:14Yeah
48:14With all mad greenery that could look quite extraordinary
48:18Well, with great...
48:20I mean, you are not unknown to be extraordinary
48:23Obviously not mad
48:25You know, the heaven for fens
48:27But you've always been exuberant
48:30You've always liked the sort of...
48:32The exuberance of a garden bursting out
48:35Well, it's nothing...
48:36Nothing that you feel better when something's exuberant
48:39And you see the roses coming out
48:41And you think, oh, I could grow some jasmine amongst that
48:44And try and get it
48:45I mean, the inspiration in this particular year
48:48At this garden
48:49Is the fact that everything's made
48:52Makes you appreciate what a wild garden looks like
48:55Like, it would look lovely with foxgloves and cow parsley
48:59And they're all a shady garden
49:01So they could fill in in between my pots
49:04I think that's the way to go
49:06I think this is a whole new development for your garden
49:09I think so too
49:10Well, listen, it's lovely to see you again
49:13And it's lovely to talk to you here at Chelsea
49:16So thank you so much
49:18Thank you for inviting me
49:19And even getting into the garden itself is fantastic
49:23Thanks a lot
49:24Thanks a lot
49:29One of the most prestigious awards for growers
49:32Is the title of RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
49:36Out of the hundreds of new plants launched every year
49:39Only a small selection are shortlisted
49:42Now it's time to find out the top three as well as the winner
49:51Winning plants of the year is such a huge accolade
49:54That breeders come from all over the world
49:56With their best specimens to compete
49:59And judges are looking for plants that have novelty
50:03Performance and appeal to gardeners
50:05I can't wait to see them
50:13And coming in at number three is this
50:16This is Hydrangea Velvet Night Red Lace
50:19And you can see why it's called that
50:21Now this really is unusual for a hydrangea
50:24And it's bold colour scheme
50:26Is very much on trend
50:28It will go in modern gardens
50:30Which is perhaps why it's been so successful
50:32In its introduction and very popular
50:34Now it acts like most hydrangeas
50:37So it needs plenty of moisture
50:39That means watering it in dry periods
50:41And giving it a good mulch of organic matter
50:43Just to retain moisture in the soil
50:45But this one can cope with a little bit of shade
50:48Only partial
50:49Because the light will activate this lovely purple colour
50:53But midday sun will scorch the plant
50:56So at the edge of the shade cast by a tree
50:59Somewhere like that would be perfect for this
51:02And it would really make a very bold statement
51:04In any garden I think
51:11At number two we have another hydrangea
51:14This is Paniculata Groundbreaker Ruby
51:18And it is a really versatile plant
51:20From a modern garden to your quintessential quirky cottage garden
51:25The unique thing about this is it's the first Paniculata hydrangea
51:29That's truly a ground cover
51:30It doesn't get any taller than 40 centimetres
51:33And about 70 centimetres in width
51:36The other lovely thing about this plant
51:38Is that now as the flowers have opened
51:40They're this very muted white almost green colour
51:43But as the summer continues and then the autumn goes on
51:46They'll turn to pink and then ruby
51:47And this will stay ruby right through the winter
51:50So you have colour right through the year
51:53You can see why this is such a popular plant
52:02And the winner is
52:04Hosta Redminia
52:09Chris Potts, you have brought this award winning plant
52:13To the Chelsea Bow Show
52:14Tell me all about it
52:16Yeah it's really special isn't it?
52:18Who would have ever thought we'd be stood here looking at a red Hosta
52:20Also a Hosta
52:22That prefers a bit of sunshine
52:24We're really proud of being part of this
52:27And how did this come about?
52:29So a breeder in Denmark
52:31And it came out with this colour
52:33And then stabilised at this colour
52:34And it has such a lovely colouration
52:36It's a very deep red stems
52:38Yeah
52:39With red veining on the leaves
52:40But also this kind of painterly variegation as well
52:42It's just
52:43I think it's a really breathtaking plant
52:45And so
52:46If you put this plant into shade
52:49It's going to have that more mottled look
52:52And it's like a
52:53A beach rooty green
52:54But if you put this into full sunshine
52:56It's really going to colour up
52:58And be really really red
52:59There's appeal in spades
53:01But tell me about the performance of it
53:02We always say to people
53:03Put hostas in pots
53:04Rather than in the ground
53:05And also with this one specifically
53:08You can then move this to wherever you need it to be light level wise
53:12So if it needs a bit more sunshine
53:13You can move it red
53:14That's so well deserved
53:16Enormous congratulations
53:17Thank you
53:18Thank you
53:20Thank you
53:21Well here are all three finalists
53:23Seeing them together
53:24So just to recap
53:25We've got hosta red ninja
53:27There
53:28Okay
53:29And then we have here hydrangea groundbreaker ruby
53:35Okay
53:36Which
53:36And then number three
53:38We have hydrangea
53:39And let's get this right
53:40Velvet night red lace
53:43And just to recap
53:44I mean obviously the hosta has got its red stems
53:48And like a chard or a beetroot
53:50This hydrangea is almost a ground cover but turns red as it fades to red
53:55You see it
53:56Yeah
53:56And this is as it is
53:58And you can see what I feel about it
54:00Well I mean do you
54:01How do you feel about this?
54:02I mean I have to be honest
54:03Because I don't really grow a lot of hostas
54:05Because of where I've got loads of slugs
54:07But I do think that people quite like the colour
54:10You know when people are trying to look for colour in a little bit of shady area
54:14You will have that red stem
54:17Yeah
54:17It's
54:18Yeah
54:19I can't say I love it
54:21But who knows
54:22This I quite like this hydrangea
54:24And it's
54:25I like hydrangeas anyway
54:26And I think for small spaces and for ground cover
54:29I think that could be really interesting
54:31Well again this is the thing about plants is it
54:33It's a matter of taste
54:34I think it's a case
54:35This could be useful in that sort of lower mid lane
54:37Yeah
54:38Definitely
54:40Yeah
54:40I mean this one is a bit dark for me
54:42I've got to be honest
54:43The winner is hosta red nina
54:47Well there you go
54:48That is the RHS plant of the year
54:50Well well done
54:51Well done to them
54:52And well done to them
54:54Right
54:54Let's answer some questions
54:56OK
54:56OK
54:57Shall I offer one to you
54:59Yep
55:00Give me
55:00What annuals are best this summer for maximum colour
55:04I'm planting in pots
55:05And this is from Chris on Instagram
55:07OK for colour
55:09So you can look at
55:11Zinnius
55:12Cosmos
55:14Really nice to get some nasturtiums
55:16We're talking about annuals here aren't we
55:17Yeah exactly
55:18Yeah so annuals
55:19Yeah they're going to be fast growing
55:20I think what you're going for
55:22Tithonia's
55:22What you could do
55:23It's what you're going for is tender annuals
55:26At this time
55:27And you won't go far wrong
55:28Great
55:29Right
55:29OK
55:30So question for you
55:31Yeah
55:32I have a lemon plant
55:33OK
55:34It had lots of lemons
55:35And new shoots on it
55:37But now everything has died out
55:39How can I revive it?
55:41Well if everything's died back now
55:43The chances are it's been frosted
55:44It's been outside and got cold
55:46Is what you would expect that to happen
55:48And that certainly happened to me
55:50But if you cut back to live growth
55:54Cut off nothing dead is ever going to regrow
55:56It will reshoot
55:58OK
55:59But the key to lemons
56:00And this is a mistake everybody makes
56:02Is they keep them indoors too warm too dry
56:05They like to be cool in winter
56:08And just humid you know
56:10And dry at the base
56:12And then in summer just water them once a week
56:15No more
56:15I have to say
56:16I was feeling pretty guilty when you said that
56:18Yeah
56:18Because the first lemon I had
56:20He lived with me inside
56:22OK
56:23All right
56:23So another question for you
56:25OK
56:26Many of the gardens at Chelsea have water features
56:29Big and small
56:30How do designers stop the water from going green?
56:33And that's the viewer on WhatsApp
56:34Well I think in a week at Chelsea
56:36The chances are they won't
56:37Because it's to do too much oxygen in the water
56:40Too much fertility
56:41So if you have plants around
56:44Whether it be compost on it
56:45It drains the rain
56:46Washes it in
56:47And that's what really feeds the algae
56:49So if you can have stones all around
56:51And keep the fertility row
56:53Then the chances are
56:55That will go
56:55You've got a good chance to do it
56:56Well thank you so much
56:57To all of you
56:58For sending in your questions this week
57:00Right
57:01We're coming near the end
57:03But I need to ask you
57:04What was the best moment of the week for you?
57:06What was your highlight?
57:08Well
57:08It was really brilliant to get the people's choice
57:12I mean being at Chelsea with the show garden has been amazing
57:14But the people's choice just gave such a voice to the garden
57:18It just meant that everybody had been watching
57:20And I really appreciate all of the votes that we had
57:23Well it was fantastic
57:24And it was a wonderful garden
57:25Thank you
57:25And your good self?
57:28It was
57:28I think it was the Barbara Hepworth sculpture
57:30To be able to go and touch it and be close to it
57:32I'm a huge fan of Barbara Hepworth
57:34So that was an absolute joy
57:36I'm sure
57:37That's it for tonight
57:38And this week
57:39We've had such a brilliant time
57:42Well thank you all for watching
57:44Rachel and I are on BBC 2 at 8 o'clock tomorrow
57:48And we will be joined by a special guest comedian and actor Ben Miller
57:52As well as looking back at some of the highlights of another packed week here at Chelsea
57:58And Sophie and Adam will have some of their best moments from the show on Sunday
58:03At a quarter past six on BBC One
58:06So goodnight
58:35So goodnight
58:38Thank you
58:38Thank you
58:39Yeah
58:39Thank you
58:39Yeah
58:46Thank you
58:49Thank you
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