A wash out Chelsea Flower Show? Don't worry...

Book Flights, Hotel, Car Rentals and Travel Insurance

Royal Horticultural Chelsea Flower show is a wash out!

Four days ago, my intention of going to the Chelsea Flower Show this year has been reduced to next year's show due to the inclement London spring weather of blustery wind, rain, more rain and dampness. The irony, the south-east of England has been affected by the hosepipe ban due to dry winter months in the last two years where the Royal Horticultural Show has drilled a 1,000 ft bore hole to extract ground water, which will be pumped into two vast underground tanks so that everything in the garden will be lovely without having to resort to the precious main water supply. The funny thing I've heard is that a lot of the showcase have water features therefore a truly wet Show.

Disappointment of not making this year's Chelsea Flower Show was short-lived as my friend suggested the Hampton Court Palace Show for one week in July for the world’s largest annual flower show. This event features more than 700 exhibitors and illustrates the best in horticulture during high summer.

Around 50 gardens showcase established garden designers and new talent, and an array of looks from traditional to contemporary. Visitors can buy plants - new varieties and old favourites - mine would be lilies, daisies and roses from more than 100 of the UK’s top nurseries and growers, and the finest gardening gifts and accessories from hundreds of stalls.

Floral art, fruit and vegetables, plant heritage and floristry are also on show, alongside the unique water gardens and the world’s largest annual gathering of roses in full bloom, making the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show an unmissable day out.

Therefore, crossing the divide of north and south by bus from Battersea to Chelsea and on foot back to Battersea exposing ourselves to wind and rain, occasionally sheltering on the bus stops and commercial premises on the way as part of my recuperation and spring health regime was not a waste after all, for in this long walk, owing to my slow pace of steps another Flower Show bloomed.

If you enjoy these blogs check out my website at International Traveller

Alan Aldana