That's what the People's Award is all about
Post categories: Sally Nex
| 17:54 UK time, Thursday, 22 May 2008
Today the gates were opened to the general public, and ice cream sales soared - it's been a lovely sunny day and every patch of green seemed to be occupied by exhausted people taking a break from all the excitement.
It's fascinating how ordinary people's opinions of the gardens differ from the conclusions drawn by the RHS judges. Tom Stuart-Smith's elegant garden for Laurent-Perrier, winner of a gold medal and best in show according to the judges, was getting some mixed reactions: everything from admiring gasps of "ooh - isn't that lovely" to a frown and "a bit sombre, isn't it? Not really my thing". The crowds around Trevor Tooth's garden for Lloyds TSB were being very positive - "wow, just look at that!" was one comment on the colourful mixed planting - yet the judges thought it worthy of only a bronze. Trevor, who is understandably disappointed, told me they'd marked him down on a slightly sparse willow and some tattered banana leaves. On such fine points are the fates of designers decided.
Still - that's what the People's Award is all about. You can express your own opinion - for or against the judges' decisions - by putting in a vote for your favourites.
Comment number 1.
At 22nd May 2008, sensiblewalterb wrote:I am 80 years old and have been watching the Chelsea FLOWER show for many years. I started gardening in my early teens and have been doing it ever since. My wife and I still maintain a 1 acre garden without any outside help.
I used to look forward to seeing the FLOWERS at the show, now all we see are these fancy show gardens, which have no relationship to ordinary gardens.
Why don't you show more down to earth flowers and gardens?
Walter Binns.
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd May 2008, fernfan wrote:I nominata Andy Sturgeon's garden as my favourite. He is a master designer who , for me, can do no wrong!
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Comment number 3.
At 22nd May 2008, alanrosie wrote:How refreshing to see such an abundance of colour in the Garden for George. Most of the show gardens seem to have lost sight of the wonderful range of vibrantly coloured flowers available in their obsession with form and architectural styling.
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Comment number 4.
At 22nd May 2008, tim_the_bee wrote:I was disappointed to see the show promoting tree ferns from Tasmania.
The tree ferns are taken from endangered temperate rainforest. Technically this is legal. However, it is not right. The reason that the forests in Tasmania are not protected by the Australian government is because the logging loby is so powerful.
The tree ferns are removed before the loggers go in. By buying tree ferns gardeners are making the clearing of the forest more lucrative for the logging companies.
In terms of environmental impact, gardeners might as well be buying hardwood garden furniture from the Amazon.
Gardeners' World rightly promotes peat-free compost in order to save Irish peat bog habitats. Come on Auntie don't sanction the destruction of an equally important ecosystem.
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Comment number 5.
At 23rd May 2008, boyracerfred wrote:I hope the People's choice today reflects what most of us want - colourful but peaceful beautiful gardens. Too many Show gardens are obsessive about a design point , and miss the purpose. Many seem perfect for a memorial garden, or in a large hotel foyer. My vote would see the garden inspired by George Harrison, or the Bupa garden.
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd May 2008, ironrikkitikki wrote:Cleve West's Bupa garden is everything that a garden should be, colourful,fragrant, relaxing tactile and above all, what most "designers" seem to ignore, within the range of most gardeners capability and pocket! Of course not all of us will be able to add that wonderful ball, but I'm sure that most of us will find a focal sustitute without losing too much from the wonderful layout that Cleve has created. He and Bupa must be highly delighted with the finished garden and well earned GOLD. Certainly the best real garden we've seen in years! Well done Cleve and thank you.
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