The last week has seen London bedecked in blooms. Last weeks sunshine, the promise of show gardens aplenty, a grand pavilion packed with sweet scented flowers along side a peek at Monty and Joe sent garden lovers in their droves scuttling from Sloane Square station to the Royal Hospital where the revered Chelsea Flower Show is held. Floaty floral dresses, linen suits, and a panama hat are de riguer for those holding a prized ticket.
For the rest of us, the floral installations in Belgravia and Chelsea which accompany the Chelsea Flower Show have become almost as much of a feature of this week in May as the RHS show itself. This alternative floral art show is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy Chelsea flower show week for free.
Bedecked in my own floral dress, I enjoyed an early morning wander in the sunshine around the floral creativity on displayin the royal borough. Chelsea in Bloom took as its theme for this year, ‘Flowers on Film’, taking inspiration from the characters and storylines that have graced the big screen. Whilst the theme for Belgravia in bloom was ‘Into the Wild’ depicting creatures of all shapes and sizes.
The creativity and artistry of the florists who create these floral spectacles is a thing to behold. This year the creations seemed bigger and bolder than ever, combining real and artificial flowers with immense artistic talent. I adored Wind in the Willows displayed at The Ivy, Kings Road and also Mary Poppins in Duke of York Square. However it is those installations created from simpler and softer pallets of real flowers which really caught my eye.
These are some of my favourites from 2023.
Chelsea in Bloom – Flowers on Film
Belgravia in Bloom – Into the Wild
You may also enjoy Chelsea in Bloom 2022
