| New plants launches are one of the highlights of Chelsea and this year TV gardening star Alan Titchmarsh will take the wraps off the 'Golden Oldie' rose, raising funds for the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society through its sales. The charity helps families of retired gardeners and is celebrating its 160th birthday this year.
This Hybrid Tea rose, bred by Fryer's Nurseries, has large, apricot-yellow flowers, and a neat habit. |
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| A troupe of Irish dancers will mark the first public appearance of 'Irish Eyes', this year's Rose of the Year. The medium-sized bush rose has been bred by Dickson Nurseries and has flowers that appear to change colour.
In bud its blooms are yellow with a red flush, and they open to a sparkling orange with fine scarlet veins running through the petals. It's a love-it or hate-it colour! Blooms appear prolifically over a long period and it's ideal in beds, borders and or large containers. |
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| David Austin's English Roses are always popular, combining old fashioned form and fragrance, with all-summer flowering. The disease-resistant 'James Galway' is a gorgeous pink, darker in the centre, with quartered flowers and a fruity fragrance; it could be the pick of this year's six newcomers. |
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| Johnny Walkers's daffodils are one of the most amazing traditions of Chelsea. Kept in cold store then unveiled at the Show and staged in the traditional way, one variety to each bowl, Johnny says that 'Jack the Lad' is the best new double he's seen for years, with a short stout stem so the flowers hold up well in the wind.
Three Counties Nurseries have made a great success of diversifying from garden pinks into aquilegias as they did once before when they abandoned dahlias for pinks. This year they have three exclusive new patio aquilegias, The Butterfly Series, the latest thing from America. They're really dainty and great for small tubs or window boxes. |
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| Even exhibitors who've been coming to Chelsea for years give us a surprises every now and again and Broadleigh Gardens are launching a range of the rarely seen Mariposa Lilies - Calochortus to the botanists. These gorgeous Californian bulbs have the most spectacular colours and markings, are easy to grow in pots and last well as cut flowers.
But for most of us, much as we admire and covet those gorgeous rarities from the California desert, we need something a little easier to manage. And two new patio plants fit the bill. |
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| For London in Bloom, a wonderfully scented petunia called 'Fragrant Cloud' brings back the best of petunias that so many modern varieties lack. Most basket petunias are prolific, this is too but it doesn't trail down in a curtain like so many - it makes a more elegant, rounded basket with its white flowers tinged with faintest lilac. And that long-lost scent is just captivating. |
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| And the best viola for tubs I've seen in years comes from KinderGarden Plants. 'Magnifico' is a spectacular little plant, I grew it on test last year - and I loved it. I've grown another batch this spring and I still love it. Its white flowers are picoteed in purple and it just keeps producing more. Look out for it in garden centres now. |
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