Chelsea. That one word says it all in the world of landscape design. It's where reputations are made, trends are set, and style reigns supreme. It is the most prestigious garden show in the world, held every May, where designers, horticulturists and purveyors of garden accoutrements gather to show off their best.
Now, there's a book that will take you through the very best of Chelsea from its inception 100 years ago to today. Author Brent Elliott is the librarian and archivist to the Royal Horticultural Society, sponsor of the show, and his new book, Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show: A Centenary Celebration
Elliott takes the reader through the chronology of Chelsea ... but there are wonderful "takeouts" throughout the volume -- on subjects ranging from The Craze for Rock Gardens to Significant Plants, Building the Show Gardens, The Rise of Vertical Gardening, and much more.
Of particular interest are the reflections called "My Chelsea" by photographers, designers, horticulturists, journalists, show managers, and others, including plantswoman Beth Chatto and garden designers Ulf Nordfjell of Sweden and Tom Stuart-Smith of Britain. Designers will likely focus on the final chapters, which focus on "emerging designers" from the 1980s onward. Some of the most well-known designers are featured -- Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Christopher Bradley-Hole, Robin Williams -- as well as some of the most recent design stars -- Piet Oudolf, Andy Sturgeon, Dan Pearson, Clare Agnew, Kate Gould.
Stunning illustrations throughout, too ... a book you'll want to peruse over and over.
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