I have not been to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show yet, but I am going this year for the first time. During the Chelsea Flower Show each year, several shop and building fronts have their own gardens and floral displays. The tradition has been going on for 11 years now, and there are prizes for the best displays. This year, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival is the theme of the Chelsea in Bloom floral displays. I have taken photos of most of the displays for this year, and these can be seen below.
Orchids
I started off in Sloane Square, where the middle of the square has been transformed into a brightly-coloured area. The tree trunks had been yarn-bombed and were covered with colourful knitting, and bunting cornered off a section of the square to make room for seating and a pop-up gin bar. Rickshaws were also covered in flowers, and visitors could take a rickshaw ride around the Chelsea in Bloom display or follow a trail on the website on foot.
My first stop was to the Chelsea Flower Show so that I could purchase a guide to prepare me for my visit. The area was packed with people, and special buses have been put on to go to the flower show.
There is also a Rolling Stones exhibition taking place at the moment at Saatchi Gallery, so York Square has become home to a few sculptures of lips.
Link's of London won second place for the people's choice. I love the colourful Union Jack flags, which are made with traditional British flowers, and the colours keep with the carnival theme.
My personal favourite display was the beauty company Liz Earle shop in York Square, which has been turned into a merry-go-round with beautiful pink and purple flowers and merry-go-round horses created from moss. The shop front has been replaced with 'Carivearle' in turquoise and white stripes, which compliment the flowers. It won the People's Choice Award, and it is inspired by the British seaside Isle of Wight, where the Liz Earle company was established.
York Square also became home to a colourful parrot to advertise Chelsea in Bloom. It was especially popular with a group of tourists.
Dubarry of Ireland won bronze with their cart of flowers and boots. I do love the purple-blue colour.
The White Company used a baby elephant to promote its line of child clothing, and the elephant is made using tropical plants. It is a unique and eye-catching piece and won Silver.
Sarah Chapman, a skincare company, features a mask wearing a headdress and beautful arrangements of flowers in unique shapes that draw the viewer in. It won an Innovation award.
Moyses Stevens won silver with a green archway that has been designed to look like a headdress.
Smythson is a stationary company, and they won Gold with their display of purple orchids and (what looks like) orange tiger lillies.
Near by, Hackett won silver with their eye-catching orange and red display.
Rag and Bone (a restaurant on Sloane Square) won Silver with their green fern archway.
Last, but not least, are two window displays that I captured. My favourite piece for colour is the second image below, which is in the shop of Tom Davies Opticians near Sloane Square. This won Gold. I absolutely love the colours. It seems that bright multiple colours are in fashion right now (and have been since earlier this year). I love this combination of colour and think it works perfectly.
Have you been to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show or seen any of the shop fronts in Chelsea in Bloom? What is your favourite?
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