https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/ en Copyright 2011 Fri, 23 May 2008 16:12:02 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.33-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The week has gone by so quickly it's unreal. I feel now as if I'm ready to get into the show. It always takes a couple of days for everyone manning the stand to get into the swing of things. The cool weather has really helped us and I think that the exhibit looks as good now as it did on day one. There's been a fantastic reaction from the public and the compliments have been lovely. It's been great seeing the same people again at Chelsea, familiar faces that I have met on my garden tours, talks and from the garden, it's a big meeting place. I'll be incredibly sad to leave so won't hang about today. I'm already thinking about next year's show...I'll be back one way or another! Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/ill_be_back_one_way_or_another.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/ill_be_back_one_way_or_another.html Andy McIndoe Fri, 23 May 2008 16:12:02 +0000 I feel relieved and very pleased today, especially for the team that worked on the exhibit. It's been great phoning them up to let them know, there's a real buzz around today. It's lovely to see the regular visitors head over to us to find out how we've done and congratulate us on our 63rd gold medal. ]]> Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/our_63rd_gold_medal.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/our_63rd_gold_medal.html Tue, 20 May 2008 15:08:04 +0000 Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens' are just wonderful compact mounds of flowers. If only people would prune them straight after flowering, cutting back to just behind the seedheads, this is what they would look like in gardens. The Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' look better than ever. The dark green divided leaves are such a great background for the sparkling white flowers. It really is one of the best plants we have ever launched at Chelsea. That must be 19 years ago as it made its debut at the first Chelsea I was involved in staging. The most exciting moment of yesterday was when our magnificent glass sail was lifted into place. At three metres high it is a terrific weight and took a lot of muscle and manpower to handle it gently and accurately. In sapphire blue, with abstract silver fish it makes a bold focal point rising out of the bronze, silver and gold planting surrounding the medals. Well that's it now - the staging team depart today. That's always a sad moment when the team breaks up. This lot deserve a medal - hope it's the right colour! ]]> Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/this_lot_deserve_a_medal.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/this_lot_deserve_a_medal.html Andy McIndoe Sun, 18 May 2008 10:20:24 +0000 Progress seems to have been rather slow today: a few hold ups and three lorries to unload. We still have some construction work to do and I am also very keen to clear debris as we go, and remove anything from site that we are not going to use. My main focus today has been getting the rest of the trees, and some of the large shrubs in place. As the central theme is 'Coastal', the placing of the plants is a little more complicated. I have tried to keep seaside through the middle, and woodland on the outside. Life is never simple: the Pavilion is much lower on the outside of the exhibit and we have some very tall birches which touch the roof if they are in the wrong place - this is always exactly where you want to place them! We also have a lot of very good, large acers. I just hope we have enough space for these as I am trying to keep the birch stems well exposed. I also want to keep the centre of the exhibit very open and light to preserve the feeling it has now, I think this already has a very coastal atmosphere about it. The small eucalyptus look just as good at Chelsea as they did in the glasshouse. The foliage is intense silver blue and shows up surprisingly well in low light. We have quite a few cordylines, palms, olives and loquats. All seem to fit the bill, even the oleanders with our changing climate and ability to grow more tender subjects. As I was leaving the showground a national paper called for comment on topiary. A well-known authority has pointed out that topiary is the big buzz fashion at Chelsea 2008. Have I seen more topiary this year and do I agree? Although I have not had a chance to look around the show I expect there will be lots of topiary - there always is. For me sustainable planting is the order of the day. I want "good doers" in my own garden - plants with a long season of interest that withstand whatever nature throws at them. Plants that resist pests and diseases and that do not need summer watering. This can seem like a tall order, but believe me there are plenty. Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/life_is_never_simple.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/life_is_never_simple.html Andy McIndoe Thu, 15 May 2008 15:07:41 +0000 A lot happened on site yesterday. The team made good progress over the weekend despite being held up by the arrival of the big trees on Saturday morning. All are in place but not without a struggle. Those huge Hippophae rhamnoides standards were obviously very heavy. I was warned that one had been damaged on loading but they are so tall I can't see the scars so I am quite sure the public will not. The multi-stemmed Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzvillei are superb, especially their bark. I know these will be a talking point. The path looks great and feels wide and spacious - the effect I was looking for. The glass is not yet in the central channel; perhaps today. The beach huts are erected and deck constructed. This area already has a lot of charm and I think it will be a favourite with the public. I took Rachel de Thame onto the exhibit yesterday afternoon and the sight of the brightly painted timber made her smile. I want this part of the garden to have cheery seaside nostalgia, to conjure up images of sunny days and childhood holidays. The big event of the day was the raising of the mast and hoisting of the sails. I think this feature looks fantastic and it has immediately become part of the structure of the exhibit. It looks as if the monument means it to be there and the two towering structures become one. All I can say, better than expected. The team have done a great job - minimum amount of discussion, plenty of action! Today sees the arrival of the rest of the trees. The exhibit will start to get more cluttered and I have to remind myself that the priority is now to stay organised. Get rid of what you do not want and will not use. Items that are kept, just in case they are needed simply get in the way. By Wednesday life will become more manic: enjoy the calm before the storm! Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/enjoying_the_calm.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/enjoying_the_calm.html Andy McIndoe Tue, 13 May 2008 13:42:59 +0000 One of the main topics of conversation of the day has been the question of the height of the monument. I am so used to working alongside this great big chunk of granite I always assume that it is bigger than anything else: it always seems to tower well above whatever we create. However the lads have measured the distance between the names on the stone, and thereby estimated its height. It looks as if my mast will reach nearly to the top: scary. I expect this means another sleepless night worrying as to whether it will fit or not? What if it doesn't? What am I going to do with an 11 metre mast and silver sails? Do not answer that one - please! ]]> Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/after_day_one.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/after_day_one.html Andy McIndoe Mon, 12 May 2008 10:38:25 +0000 What a change in the weather! Today, as temperatures soared, the plants got really thirsty, and the foliage canopy in the glasshouse changed from fresh, sparking, peridot and rose to early summer emerald and burgundy. I seem to have spent most of the weekend on aspects of Chelsea. On Monday Ricky called to express his concerns about the grasses. Normally that wouldn't worry me but as I have written, and talked extensively about these waves off bronze, silver and gold grasses it is more of a problem. Certainly the gold carex have a distinct tinge of brown and some are dying off. A closer inspection reveals a distinct lack of roots; the cold spring weather has hindered their establishment and they simply won't make it. We discuss various substitutes and settle on Phormium 'Yellow Wave'. A totally different effect: wider leaves higher and wavier; simply rougher seas I fear. I also decide to use a drift of Astelia 'Westland'; maybe with the bronze carex or blue festucas. This will make the planting stronger and better prepared for a warmer Chelsea - that is if the weather lasts. Yesterday was a tree day - for our exhibit and what seems like most others in the show. The trees have really moved in the past couple of days and those that looked as if they had no chance of making it are now on the short list. The nursery and garden centres are suddenly busy so that presents another problem: pressure on transport. The lorries start to roll into the show on Friday and typically every garden centre customer will also be screaming for stock. Today we start getting the materials and kit together for loading tomorrow to start construction: cement mixer, wheelbarrows, shovels, tools and a host of building materials. At one time we took everything from here. Now I get as much as possible delivered directly into the into the show site. Some of the items I've never even seen: beach huts and sails for example. The company making the sail and mast structure emailed a picture this morning - suddenly I'm excited... Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/the_sun_has_got_his_hat_on.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/the_sun_has_got_his_hat_on.html Andy McIndoe Thu, 08 May 2008 14:07:02 +0000 One thing that is certain about the run up to Chelsea is that the weather is never right. This year is no exception. The warmer weather in February meant an early start for shrubs like Ceanothus, meaning a long stint in cold store to slow them down. This is never our favourite option. The cold weather that followed during March and April has had a hard hitting effect on plants and the garden industry. Sales have been slow, and so have trees and shrubs growing outdoors. Our exhibit always uses a large proportion of plants from the nursery beds, and at this stage these look doubtful as far as Chelsea is concerned. However, this week's warm sunshine could change everything. Rick (Ricky Dorlay is responsible for the preparation of all the plant material for the show) and I comfort each other with this thought. Neither of us believe that the new red floribunda roses we have publicised so much will ever make it for the show. 'Star of Britain' named in honour of the British Sailing team might be out in time for the Olympics, but this year's Chelsea - forget it! I am always taken by surprise by how quickly the time goes in the final run up to Chelsea. Regardless of when Easter falls, as soon as it's over the show approaches all too quickly. Suddenly those decisions that have been postponed until 'nearer the show' have to be made. Increasing interest from the press and media needs attention and the question on everyone's lips seems to be "are you all ready for Chelsea?" The answer, of course, is no! I haven't even drawn up a final working plan and I still have construction details to resolve - It's all very well having an idea but you still have to decide how to build it. The members of the staging crew and the manning team are confirmed - hotel accommodation is booked and passes and uniform organised. I have just bought the beer and wine to keep the troops happy - it's all a matter of getting your priorities right after all! Andy McIndoe - Hilliers https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/keeping_the_troops_happy.html https://bbcbreakingnews.pages.dev/blogs/flowershows/2008/05/keeping_the_troops_happy.html Andy McIndoe Tue, 06 May 2008 16:45:02 +0000