Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show

Book excerpt: Chelsea Flower Show is an annual, world famous and well-loved horticultural and social event. In May 2013 Chelsea celebrates its hundredth birthday. This book will be the essential centenary souvenir, and an enduring look at what makes Chelsea special. A learned but accessible text will explore how the show has evolved, how it is has formed part of the social calendar and how it has reflected and shaped tastes in garden design and planting over the years. Outstanding personalities will be highlighted as well as outstanding gardens. Sprinkled through the book, short pieces by significant nurserymen and nurserywomen, designers, organisers, visitors and patrons will describe what Chelsea means to them. The book will be arranged chronologically, with chapters on the early shows, shows between the wars and decade by decade to the present day. Illustrations will largely be drawn from the extensive Royal Horticultural Society archive and will include photographs in colour and black and white, plans, posters and other ephemera. Many will be published here for the first time.