ALL eyes in the horticultural world will be on Chelsea this week as the famous Flower Show kicks off in style.
Look closely and you’ll see flashes of bright red among the pretty gardens – the jackets of proud Chelsea retirees.
Around 300 retired army veterans live at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and the flower show has been held on its grounds since 1913.
Last year, eight pensioners ate lunch every day in Mark Gregory’s walled ‘Pot to Plate’ vegetable garden – at one point interrupted by the Princess of Wales.
In 2005, a garden was created in his honor – a mix of all the things former soldiers missed about England when they were at war. Designed by Julian Dowle, it won best in show.
Now they have a rose named after them – launched this week.
Helena Pettit, Director of Shows, Commercial and Innovation at RHS, said: “It’s wonderful to see the Chelsea Pensioners’ iconic red suits – it’s a sign that the world’s biggest flower show is about to take place.
“They are as much a part of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the trees, plants and gardens themselves, and we are delighted to be able to recognize their huge contribution with a prominent role.”
Phil Harkness, from Harkness Roses, told Sun Gardening: “Every year we see tens of thousands of new and unique roses, most are destined to fail. Sometimes we see the first flower of a new seedling and we are amazed and in awe.
“The Chelsea Pensioner rose was a rare example. With a bushy plant that grows to around 90cm tall, a scent that lingers and a nearly 10cm flower – it’s rich, radiant red.”
Chelsea Pensioner, Patrick 87 said: “When you see the rose fully open, for me, it is the most beautiful thing in the world. It’s great for Royal Hospital Chelsea to have our own rose.”
Ric, area head at Royal Hospital Chelsea, said: “It’s exactly the right color! It’s fantastic and really exciting that we developed the Chelsea Pensioner rose with Harkness Roses.”
For every £29.99 rose sold, Harkness will donate £2.50 to Chelsea pensioners.
They are also offering £5 off and 100g of free rose fertilizer if you order using the code CHELS101. Visit www.roses.co.uk or call 0844 502 0014.
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GIVE IT BACK
MANY of this year’s Chelsea display gardens were only able to happen thanks to Giving Back Project.
A grant-making charity set up in lockdown – gives charities and other UK-based charities the opportunity to apply for a fully funded garden in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – which in turn massively increases awareness of this charity’s work.
This year it will support 15 gardens, including seven show gardens and two sanctuary gardens. All will continue live after the show in permanent locations across the UK.
Muscular Dystrophy in the UKthe leading charity supporting over 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and wasting conditions, is one of the beneficiaries of Project Giving Back.
Designed by RHS ‘Young Designer of the Year’, Ula Maria, the ‘Muscular Dystrophy in the UK – Forest Bathing Garden’ will offer an accessible and immersive forest bathing experience for Muscular Dystrophy patients in the UK, their families, doctors and the wider community.
Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is an ancient Japanese practice of spending time in the forest and absorbing its atmosphere through the senses.
The garden seeks to create a sheltered space for its visitors – to provide comfort and clarity, to reconnect with oneself and nature, or to accommodate conversations with others.
After Chelsea, it will be moved to the public garden of the new Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Oxford.
There will be a permanent place of refuge for patients with Muscular Dystrophy during treatment and new trials, with access to general care
public is also being made available.
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WIN #1
AS if Chelsea weren’t enough to handle Gardeners World Live at the NEC Birmingham is gearing up for June – and nine lucky readers will win a pair of tickets for Sunday 16th June – worth £56 per pair.
There will be lots of Show Gardens, an International Orchid Show, your favorite experts on hand giving great advice, a floral tent, a houseplant center and a garden project at the center.
The Beautiful Borders area – exclusive to Gardeners World Live, will be full of take-home ideas to help you make the most of your outdoor space.
To enter and further details, visit www.thesun.co.uk/GWLIVE or complete this FORM
Or write to Sun Gardeners World Live! Summer Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.
Include your name, age, email or phone number. UK residents aged 18+ only. Ends at 23:59 GMT on 06/01/24.
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WIN #2
If Chelsea’s has inspired you – National Garden gift vouchers can be used to buy thousands of gardening products across the UK – under a scheme run by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), a not-for-profit organisation.
And we’re giving one lucky reader a £250 voucher.
HTA reinvests program proceeds into supporting gardening and good gardening causes. Every time you give or spend one of our vouchers, you are supporting this work.
National Garden gift cards can be spent at participating retailers across the UK. To find your nearest stores, visit store locator
To enter and further details, visit www.thesun.co.uk/HTA or complete this FORM
Or write to the Sun HTA competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.
Include your name, age, email or phone number. UK residents aged 18+ only. Ends at 23:59 GMT on 06/01/24.
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TAKE A MINUTE
As part of Robert Dyas’ Plant and Pause campaign – Cloud Gardener – aka Jason Williams – has created a collection of videos about how to utilize your outdoor space to improve your mental health. Visit http://www.RobertDyas.co.uk/
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THIS WEEK’S TIP!
Instead of buying plant labels – use lollipop sticks and a box cutter – the stick will eventually decompose in the soil.
THIS WEEK’S WORK!
Land the potatoes and begin hardening off the tomato plants to prepare them for placement in beds/buckets and pots.
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YOUGARDEN Offer
YouGarden is offering Juicy Strawberry ‘Colossus’ in Buy Six, Get Six Free for a limited time! Abundant harvests year after year. Sun readers can save £9.99 quoting offer code SUN102 at www.yougarden.com
LEARN!
Q. Why are all my roses covered in green flies, as are most of our new bushes we planted late last year? I tried all kinds of sprays last summer but nothing gets rid of them. I was told to try soapy water, have you heard of that? Carol Weston, via email.
A. Yes, indeed! In fact, since I was a kid, I’ve been in the garden with a spray of soap and water treating roses, black fly, anything the tomatoes were struggling with.
Aphids overwinter on roses as eggs, which is why you continue to see them. Use Ecover if you can, as it’s less toxic than other dishwashing detergents – and then just mix a splash of cold water – fill an old spray bottle and get to work. A very rewarding job. Good luck!!
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
