I met Alan!

One of the things that I really wanted whilst at Chelsea was to meet Alan Titchmarsh, as an avid gardener and garden TV watcher, I like the rest of the gardening world love Alan, and I got to meet him. Not only did I get to meet him but he signed my book, had his photo taken with me and allowed the film crew of The University of Derby to film me giggling as he shook my hand. 

I was really over the moon with the fact that he spent time talking to me and how friendly and approachable he was, Thanks Alan.

I also met David Bellamy who visited my stand and had a chat, he was really lovely and liked my work.

There has been such a buzz today with all the exhibitors swapping stories of who they had seen or met around the show ground, my friend Rachel saw Ringo sitting with his feet in one of the water exhibits!

Chelsea Flower Show Press and VIP Day

Just done my live interview with BBC Radio Derby and felt really nervous, but it went very well. Had lots of texts this morning from listeners with well wishes.

Also had a visit from the editor of Derbyshire Life who took my photo with me in my fancy dress next to my sculptures. The sun is just shinning over the trees casting dappled light across the surface of the willow.

Jamie Oliver is in the show ground, as well as loads of photographers and people in very fancy outfits.

Chelsea day 3/4

The plot is complete ready for Chelsea Flower Show Press day on Monday.

Yesterday was supposed to be a relaxing day of finishing touches, but I felt the most tired last night of all the nights put together. The last of the plants went in yesterday, everything was given a thorough watering to try and prevent wilting as the temperature here in the show ground over the last few days has been scorching.

I think I have been very lucky with my plot in Ranlelagh Gardens, there are many mature tress that keep the worst of the heat away from my plants and from my head. I have seen so many people that have turned a deep red/brown colour over the week from working in the sun.

Today I am blogging in my shed, it is Sunday and the last chance to finish things and it is still a very busy place, with diggers and forklifts going past, all around you can hear the clang of spades and tools all bus trying to complete. I feel so relieved that I am finished and happy with my space. Later I am going to have a little walk around to check out some of the other exhibits.

Whilst I had lunch I spotted Joe Swift having his photo taken, it is my first celebrate sighting, I can’t wait to see Alan Titchmarsh or Diarmuid Gavin, if I can chance to meet them I will be doing a “I’m not worthy” in the style of Waynes World!

Watch this space and I will be blogging every day from my little shed.

Chelsea day 2

Day 2 is over and the garden is nearly completed and looks great.

Today has been a glorious day with sunny weather all day, it really makes you feel happy to work outside with the sun on your back. As we had accomplished such a lot yesterday we could take the pace of work down a notch, and take it easy. The sculptures and raised beds all had a good coating of linseed oil which made the colours of the willow really pop. The shed had another lick of paint to cover any scuff marks and areas that were a little patchy. 

The electrians arrived too today and installed a plug into the shed so I can now make a cuppa, update my blog and check emails from the comfort of my little shed office.

After lunch all the plants were carefully transferred from their crates into the raised beds and the transformation was amazing, getting the greenery and the little splashes of color has emphasised the sculptures so much. I am really pleased with the planting list that my gardener Oli has put together, it combines meadow plants with traditional country cottage planting, mixing plants such as Ragged Robin with Foxgloves. The colour of the flowers are a mix of purple and pink tones which highlight the reddish tones in the bark of the willow.

There was, I am sad to say, one down point to the day. As the ethos behind my plot is sustainability it was decided early on that the floor of the plot would be left natural and utilise the grass that already exists. But then one of the exhibitors pointed out that I would be marked down for not using my own floor covering. What a flap that sent me into! Do I quickly order some turf? buy some wood-chips? buy gravel? What do I do?

After a lot of talking with my Dad and my helper Lorraine it was decided to do what makes me happy, so I phoned the organisors for some advice. The girls from the RHS were very understanding and helpful and helped me to reach a decision which allowed me to be happy with my stand, and put me at ease. I have decided that I want people to see my work in as natural a setting as possible and if that means being marked down by the judges for not using a floor covering then I will have to accept that. After all I have to be happy with what I am showing to the public, and if I don’t feel confident in what I am doing then how can I confidently talk to people about my work.

All in all today has been a great day, the plot looks good, I feel tired, sore and grubby but most of all I am happy.