91Èȱ¬

Normally the 91Èȱ¬ televises the Chelsea sell-off to the sound of 'Flight of the Bumblebee.' Seeing the crowds circling the stands in the Great Pavilion an hour before the bell was rung, I wondered whether the theme tune to 'Jaws' might not be more fitting. This was my first Chelsea sell-off. In some cases things seemed quite civilised: Jekka's herb farm looked relaxed, her herbs had cloakroom tickets neatly stapled to them which were attached to them each time someone reserved a plant. At the other end of the spectrum a crowd of customers waiting at the Winchester Growers/ National Collection of Dahlias stand were loitering in a predatory manner. A somewhat flustered Jon Wheatley called out to the crowd that the dahlias were not to be trampled on and that they could only be sold from the front first. Luckily Britain is a nation of well-behaved people who like to queue so the scrum did not result in casualties.

Modern show gardens may be the order of the day but we are still a traditional bunch when it comes to our back gardens - the most mobbed stands were roses and clematis followed by lavender and orchids. As the pavilion became more crowded, more and more plant material went on the move. Sometimes the plant material came first before you knew who was behind it - a huge Ficus benjamina rammed into a couple of enormous double-flowered clematis. At other times the tall spires of plant material could be observed proceeding from afar like Roman standard bearers. One woman I saw chose to drape her long Clematis 'Vienetta' elegantly over her shoulders, giving her an air of Botticelli's 'Primavera.'

But it wasn't all gaiety. There's an emotional side to ending the show for many of the designers. Adam Frost who designed the QVC garden couldn't stand to see his garden broken up and left an hour before the bell was rung. "I can't bear to see it taken apart and the sell off just upsets me", he says. Conceptual designer Tony Smith was taking a last look at his Quilted Velvet garden. "Things in the pavilion often wilt after a few days, but our gardens get better as the days go by," he says. "It's difficult for me to see it torn up". All gardens are ephemeral, none more so than these. The pictures and recordings may live on, but the feel of walking around in them lives on only in our collective memories.

So, was I tempted at the sell off? I queued up the Grenada stand and was delighted by the bags of spices on offer for £1. Turmeric, nutmeg (still in its shell), cinnamon. The smell of Chelsea will be in my thoughts for some time to come.

There are always so many good ideas to be gleaned at Chelsea, here are some of the things that have most struck me.

This year my timing has been atrocious; Chelsea week has coincided with my plumber having a long awaited window in which to revamp my bathroom. I arrive home at 10 pm and am bombarded with choices between different toilet seats, colour schemes, tiles, towel rails, you name it!

Being that it is impossible for me to visit any bathroom shop I had despaired until I realised that inspiration was all around me.

Where better to choose a colour scheme than in the great pavilion where you are surrounded by every colour nature has to offer. I was looking for the perfect blue and spotted a Baptisia australis on the Hardy's Cottage Garden Plant stand. A lupin-like hardy perennial and I think one that is highly underrated as it is easy to grow. That's the walls sorted, now for the floor tiles...

Walking through the swanky furniture stands I looked down and saw a soft marble mosaic floor tile, just the ticket.

If only I had the space for a large hot tub and giant shower just like the Canary Island Spa garden but I do like the matt black finish, it gives a sophisticated edge and is definitely something to consider.

All I need now is some gorgeous scented oils from the Perfume Garden and I can recover from a long but enjoyable week at Chelsea.

There's always a debate at Chelsea: should the show be an aspirational cat-walk, or is its purpose to show people what they can copy at home?

This week I attended a very interesting debate at The Garden Museum, part of the VISTA lecture series, chaired by critic Tim Richardson and writer Noel Kingsbury. The participants included Swedish designer, Eva Gustavsson and design legend John Brookes.

When posed with the same question it was interesting that John Brookes was firmly in the camp of those who think flower shows should be there to guide people through the design and planting process. In fact, when asked what sort of show garden he would build today if he were taking part, he said he would construct a garden with a very large plan attached to the side of it so that people could see exactly how it was put together. (It's not just what you put in a garden he says, - the spaces between what you put in are just as important)

This was Eva's first time at Chelsea and her observation was how 'male' the designers and indeed the gardens themselves were. Did you like the winning 'best in show' Daily Telegraph Garden by Ulf Nordfjell? It wasn't my personal favourite (though I would say that when I saw it at night, it was sensational), but Eva pointed out that perhaps it was a garden that appealed less to women because we tend to garden in a different style and have different concerns. I think there may be something in what she says.

For me, the answer is that you need a bit of both approaches at Chelsea. The big show gardens add a sense of drama and wonder to the show, (and in a difficult economic climate, escapism is all the more important...). But, as a gardener whose fingernails are permanently muddy, I'm rather glad that there are always ideas that I can recreate at home.

* The Vista podcast of this debate will appear shortly on the web-site of Gardens Illustrated magazine.

Everyone's got something to say about Chelsea. Dipping into the floral blogosphere this week gives a good perspective on how this year's show will be remembered...

has some behind the-behind-the-scenes observations of his tour with HRH on Monday

Photographer picks his favourites for The Guardian.

has launched a special Chelsea celebrity bingo competition

Meanwhile a relaxed, show-garden-free has been looking in from the sidelines.

Camilla Phelps

After a sleepless night, I arrived early at the show ground where the girls were waiting with the medal result - there was no escape. It was a massive relief to hear the news of my Gold. The pressures off now I can relax and enjoy the rest of the show.

I've got a guilty secret one of the things I really look forward to at Chelsea is visiting the floristry tent. When I confess this to my gardening friends they look mystified. 'Floristry?' they sneer 'Oh I never look in there'

Why is this? It seems that the world of horticulture is as rife with snobbery as the 'foodie' culture that has evolved over the last few years. For some reason floristry has been rather looked down on and ridiculed by 'real' gardeners. Admittedly it's an ephemeral art but I think that gardeners, especially garden designers, can learn a lot from the way florists use their materials.

I particularly admire their appreciation of form and scale. They create drama and interest, harmony and elegance by really utilising the shapes and textures of flowers, leaves and stems. I like the 'less is more' attitude in a lot of floral art - the arrangements allow you to fully appreciate the beauty of individual blooms or markings on a leaf. Twisted stems, sculptured bark and sinuous grasses are carefully sourced and selected to enhance the design but nothing is included that isn't absolutely necessary.

When it comes to colour combinations the floristry tent is a great place for inspiration. I know that florists are not constrained in the same way that gardeners are, by climate, soil etc but if they looked at their planting plans with the same unprejudiced artist's eye that florists do they might create something original and special.

This year the RHS is awarding several new floristry awards. The RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year was awarded to Neil Whittaker and Young Chelsea Florist of the year which will be announced on Thursday. Hopefully this will help to raise the profile of this underrated art form. So if you want to find me you know where I'll be. My secret's out.

Gilly Brennan - Horticultural Researcher

I'm really pleased with my garden it's turned out even better than I'd hoped. There are lots of special features that I'm hoping the visitors will enjoy. I'll be on the garden all week to tell them all about it. The 91Èȱ¬ crew caught up with me on Sunday morning just after I'd finished, and I gave them a guided tour. I hope you like it.

It's press day at the show and the designers have put final touches to their gardens, and are awaiting the verdict of the judges. I've picked out some exhibitors and designers that I think are going to do rather well.

It's onwards and upwards with my vertical planting but I really do need to crack on and get a roof on my 'house' - trouble is, there's a tree in the way. Still - it wouldn't be Chelsea if there weren't any problems.

For some people, the show gardens are the stars at Chelsea. For others it's the plants they come to swoon at!

I've been trawling the internet to find any Chelsea blogs, they've each got opinions and comment from different designers and many report from the showground where it's all been happening for weeks. I want to find out who is desperate because a delivery is not on schedule or who is calm (smug) with everything going to plan. If you can read between the lines you'll even discover any Chelsea controversy brewing...

Chelsea stalwarts Hilliers and their leader Andy McIndoe talk about the start of the build in the Great Pavilion, all sounds remarkably together so far. A lot to think about as you'd expect but the experienced team sound well on-track. Follow the here where Andy keeps you up to date with the build.

Perhaps it's just me being nosey or my secret hankering to one day build my own show garden (well, a girl can dream!) but I've enjoyed following Adam Frost, designer of The QVC Garden through his , I love finding out what it's really like to design and build a show garden at Chelsea and how amazing that first beer feels after completion!

Sorry to have to mention the financial state of things but it's an interesting thought. Has the credit crunch hit gardening? And in particular the Chelsea Flower Show? This is a topic tackled by , it'll be interesting to see the impact it has on the show, perhaps we'll be bagging bargains or picking up some money-saving hints for the garden, it all helps.

For other places to check out on-line Chelsea chat, have a look at the , with comment from Show Manager Bob Sweet you'll be privy to the inside RHS news from the top, it also features guest bloggers in the form of designers Tony Smith, designer of The Quilted Velvet Garden, Luciano Giubbilei from the Laurent Perrier Garden and others .

I like the , but then I would, loyalty to my Cornish home and all that but it's got a lovely mix of the logistical, horticultural and funny sides of creating a garden, have a read.

Keep your eyes peeled; it's a great way to get an insight into the greatest flower show on earth before the gates open, I'm addicted already!

I've been racking my brains, trying to decide what's different about the showground this year. Is it the layout of Main Avenue, or the presence of small gardens on the main catwalk? No, neither of those. The lack of the usual Chelsea chaos I have known for the last 21 years? No, not just that... After some 10 days of intense construction on site it's finally dawned on me... I'm missing the big band sound!

"What is he babbling about?", I can hear you say. Just across the way we used to have the Chelsea Barracks, a parade ground where the guards' band used to do daily practices. The haunting sound used to carry all over the showground, only interrupted by the landing of the occasional army helicopter. I didn't know the names of the tunes, but they were instantly recognisable to anyone who has watched a royal event on TV. I was often drawn through the tall railings and into Ranelagh Gardens, where I could escape the noise, dust and pressure, even if only for a few precious moments while I had my coffee break.

Now it's all gone; the buildings are just a mountain of crushed concrete waiting for more trendy apartments. Maybe in a few years the inhabitants of those very apartments will be adding to the other planning pressures the RHS find themselves under, but for the moment I just miss that uplifting music.

My crew are doing well and working steadily. The work is really tough, especially in the heat and dust, and my main role is to make sure the guys are safe and look after themselves. I relax and reflect by walking to the supermarket for gallons of water, suncream and the boys' favourites - custard creams! We are in the final slog and detail is everything. We've been lucky with the weather so far and for the show visitor or viewer that means they get better gardens. This is because the build is more relaxed and plants go in early so they have time to turn to the sun and adjust. The forecast is for rain this week; good for the plants but not so good for us. Time to dig out the waterproofs! This job isn't for the faint-hearted. Can you imagine not finishing on time? It's enough to make you dig deep and drive to the finishing line.

I had the chance to wander round the Chelsea showground on my own for a couple of hours last week. Standing in awe, as a crane gently winched a huge tree into one garden, my eye was caught by a tray of tiny Iris sibirica with protective paper napkins carefully tied to their heads like turbans. Whatever the size, God is in the detail...

There was much talk at lunch, because the Eden Project had brought all their plants to the site way before anyone else, raising concerns that their greenery could soon become clogged-up with building dust. Not a bit of it. Trolley upon trolley of glorious vegetables and flowers was waiting to go in. Most of these have been grown by prisoners and in homeless hostels around the country. The final effect may turn out to be a little less manicured than what we are used to on Main Avenue, but the public is going to love the mixture of flowers and 'grow your own'. I'm sure that somewhere on their clipboards, RHS show judges must have a box marked 'Heart and Soul'. This garden scores high marks on both counts.

At the other end of Main Avenue, is designer Tom Hoblyn, who says he likes to show the relationship between gardens and the natural world. I spied him from a distance, putting the finishing touches to the wavy slabs of giant redwood tree that feature at the back of his garden. The boggy part at the front is yet to be filled and will include a selection of carnivorous plants. Normally, these plants are shown in a museum-like state of perfection on stalls inside the pavilion, but many carnivorous plants, like the sarracenias (pitcher plants) Tom is going to use, are actually hardy. Hopefully, his example will make us all think about trying some in our own gardens.

It's my third visit to the Chelsea Flower Show grounds. The site is now looking its familiar self, albeit in an empty way - the shops in the avenue that are usually stuffed with goodies to buy, are already built, but empty. Everyone seems to be busy craning in trees and building walls as their gardens begin to take shape.

I was chatting about Chelsea with friends last weekend and someone asked me this very question. It got me thinking about the show gardens. What are the designers hoping to achieve? Are they just showing off their skills? Are they trying to teach us something with their gardens or are they just entertainment?

I like to think of show gardens as being the Paris catwalks of the garden world - they're not something we would ever be able to afford or live up to, but those exquisitely executed creations stimulate our imaginations. They make us look at our own familiar beds and borders with new eyes, they shake us out of our comfortable complacency and springtime trips to the local garden centre.

For me, there's always something to take home - like a gorgeous new planting combination - I was so excited by roses with grasses when I first saw it, or a clever way to prune a tired shrub into an elegant, sculptural beauty. For those of us who need to know these things, show gardens give us a preview of what's going to be in fashion. There's a collective subconscious that decrees that this season we shall all want native plants, preferably edible and grown vertically, forget bananas - exotics are so passe. I heard that decking was planned in one of the gardens - is it making a comeback already? Of course there are several gardens with a message - and I'm looking forward to learning about rain gardens and seeing them in action, but I'm also hoping for a bit of pure entertainment as well.

Gilly Brennan, horticultural researcher

"I swore I'd never do it again!" It's an odd battle cry, but it's the one you most hear from garden designers at Chelsea, including Laurie Chetwood, the architect whose first show garden included a funky, water-gathering device with photovoltaic panels. He's back in 2009 with designer Patrick Collins and a garden inspired by a perfume recipe made for Elizabeth I*. He laughs when I compare it to childbirth: somehow you forget the pain from last time, and go on to have another...

Just as he will never know what that experience is like, I can only imagine the hell it must be to plan and build a Chelsea garden. Yes, there are moments of euphoria, but the fact that you can go from elation to desolation in the time it takes most people to open a packet of seeds means that only the mentally stable should apply.

I've had a little hint of what things might be like because I am currently writing a series for Gardeners' World Magazine. My garden is due to be photographed in high summer, but already the feeling of vulnerability and exposure is unpleasant. Added to which I have to grow three times as many plants just in case there are any failures. And for anyone who has to put on a show, second-guessing the weather is a lonely pastime.

Some designers have organised, experienced contractors and nurseries behind them who will always manage to pull a horticultural rabbit out of the hat if an emergency occurs; that's why designers jostle to be accepted by the favourites. For those designing smaller gardens with limited budgets and less back-up, the pressure is even greater to produce perfection.

Big garden or small garden, one thing is for sure: no one will be resting easy in their beds.

(* The recipe is in a book published in the 1920s The Mystery and Lure of Perfume by CJS Thompson).

This is my second site visit to the Chelsea Flower Show 'to be'. Some of the contractors have already broken ground and I'm wondering if I'll get a glimpse of any of the 'early bird' designers at the show...

My first trip down to the Chelsea site yesterday and suddenly the whole thing seems very real!

This is my first year working on the show and I can't believe what a massive operation it is. I was taken aback by the bustling atmosphere at the showground; it was a cross between a building site and a wonderland, with the contractors in good spirits, digging and building the show gardens, and the designers observing with a tentative look in their eyes.

Here in the office I have been working franticly with the web team to get the Chelsea 2009 website ready in time to bring you unique footage of the build-up.

There are just over two weeks to go and everything seems to be going to plan, even the sun is shining! Surely it can't be this easy...

Tom Billington, assistant producer