Show gardens to look out for

• Sneak preview of the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show
• Show gardens to look out for

“Chelsea is just days away now and the site at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, is a hive of activity. I’ve just spoken to Luciano Giubbilei, designer of the Laurent-Perrier garden (stand MA18), and he says that work is in full flow and things are going well. The only downside is that today’s high winds are stripping the blossom from the huge trees that surround the site, covering everything and everyone in white flowers. “It’s snowing; it’s incredible... crazy,” says Luciano, as he tries to find a spot to stand in relative cover while I talk to him by telephone.

“Luciano’s garden is just one of 13 large show gardens at Chelsea this year, and it is high on my list of things to see. The designer has shipped in elegant boxed hornbeams, buxus and yew from Belgium to create dense hedges and leafy walkways; I can’t wait to see how they look.

“I also want to take a good look at the garden created by Ian Dexter for the show’s sponsor, Marshalls. As if creating one show garden was not challenge enough, his design incorporates four, each lying alongside the next to emulate a row of varying street front gardens. I am sure Marshalls’s new permeable paving product will be put to good use in one of them, but apparently it will be covered with Crassula sarcocaulis, which I do want to see.

“There are less familiar names taking a tilt at the Chelsea medals this year but they are worthy contenders; Luciano is one of them and so are Robert Myers, with his garden for Cancer Research UK (stand MA19) and Ulf Nordfjel for The Daily Telegraph (stand MA17). Adam Frost is using classic roses (Gertrude Jekyll ‘Ausbord’ and Winchester Cathedral ‘Auscat’) in his design for QVC (stand MA11), while Leeds City Council has moved onto a Main Avenue spot with its American-style rain garden (stand MA21).

“Previous Main Avenue medal winners have graduated from the smaller Urban and Courtyard Garden runs (Philip Nixon and Marcus Barnett are a classic case in point), so I shall be keeping a close eye out for new names this year. Will it be Jamie Dunstan and his Plants of Special Interest Nursery Garden (stand RHS39), or Drusilla Stewart and William Beresford and their Help for Heroes Sanctuary Garden sponsored by B&Q (stand RHW40)?

“Mark Gregory returns to Chelsea with another design for the Children’s Society (stand MA25); after his fabulous eco-friendly front garden design last year, I shall be fascinated to see what he has created for 2009. And Sarah Eberle has planned a very aptly-named Credit Crunch (stands RHW33, 34 and 35) set of gardens: I can envisage the Overdrawn Artist’s Garden and The Off-Shore Garden, but what, I wonder, could The Banker’s Garden possibly feature?

“Inside the Great Pavilion, top of my list is Bowden Hostas (GPG4) and fabulous florist Simon Lycett (GPA4). I also have a penchant for heucheras so Solva Plants (GPE5) is on my Do Not Miss list, as is The Botanic Nursery (GPD18) as I find aquilegias irresistible.

“There will be so much more to see, and I will bring you the best titbits as soon as we can.”

Arabella St John Parker, Homes & Gardens Houses and Gardens Editor

See the best show gardens from previous years at the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as Tatton and Hampton Court, or check out Woman & Home's fashion and beauty guide inspired by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

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