The garden show season is in full swing, and I’m off to the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show tomorrow. It reminded me that I hadn’t yet blogged on here any of the Chelsea Flower Show photographs from the end of May. It’s been a very busy June in-between! Blogging is a time-consuming business, and as a one-woman show, I always find it’s the one thing that tends to slip when work is requiring me to be busy elsewhere. So if you’re here and reading, I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to look through! Today I’m going to show a first glimpse of the trade stand I had the privilege of working with – Gaze Burvill at Chelsea are known for their show-stopping presentation, and 2022 was no exception.
But first let me tell you about the Chelsea Pensioner who rested to take in the view from one of the Gaze Burvill May Thrones. I had a chance to chat briefly while I asked to take his photograph. I grew up in Edinburgh and recognised the accent immediately – he was from Musselburgh, had a dad who was in the army and, as a child, they’d moved around a bit. He told me a recent tale of – in their Chelsea Hospital uniforms – meeting schoolchildren, where a small boy asked what the medals were for. He said to the boy that they’re for being naughty – just as a fellow Pensioner walked in with a full row of them, causing the children to fall about laughing! I really love the resulting picture as I think you can just about see the twinkle in his eye!
As I saw the team putting together all of the finishing touches, I knew that the Gaze Burvill stand on Main Avenue would be buzzing with visitors all week. The team included Ann-Marie Powell, who once again had created an amazingly welcoming garden design, with distinct ‘rooms’ to display the handcrafted furniture. Mariana and Hannah of Lamb & Newt made it all come beautifully alive with their modern vintage props, which they describe as ‘mixed-century’. And Leanne Smith of Wildstone Floral brought such an inviting feel with her organic flowing displays of seasonal flowers.
Below: garden designer Ann-Marie Powell takes the opportunity to relax at the Gaze Burvill stand on Chelsea Press Day.
Below: seasonal gathered creations by Leanne Smith of Wildstone Floral.
Prop queens Hannah and Mariana of Lamb & Newt, with Leanne Smith from Wildstone Floral.
On Monday’s Press Day, founder Simon Burvill – in his capacity as chair of Woodland Heritage – welcomed Dame Judi Dench to the Gaze Burvill lounge. They were promoting the charitable fund that ensures good management of British woodland, protecting against decline and preserving a sustainable balance. Dame Judi is well-known for her love of trees, and I so enjoyed hearing her talk about special trees (including a Himalayan Silver Birch) that she has planted in memory of loved ones.
The slice of Herefordshire oak here was presented to Dame Judi, and comes from a tree that was planted in 1925. She was born in York in 1934, a significant life date which has been engraved next to the corresponding age ring of the tree. Master engraver Colin Mantripp demonstrated the Gaze Burvill engraving process, and continued to add important dates from Dame Judi’s life alongside the rings.
You can read more about Gaze Burvill’s Chelsea Flower Show 2022 here, where you’ll also be able to navigate to more information on their products. Thank you to the team for inviting me along, it was a really memorable show!
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