Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
18th September 2021
Show Stopper
Chelsea Flower Show is taking place next week for the first time in the Show’s 108-year history. The show, usually held in May, has been postponed as a result of COVID and it will be interesting to see how the exhibitors and designers have managed with autumnal conditions. The show is also being held over 6 days instead of the usual 5 this year to allow visitors to be more ‘spread out’. Next week 140,000 visitors will be attending the show during 21st to the 26th September. This is compared to 168,500 visitors over 5 days of previous years.
I have been lucky enough to go to the show on the VIP day every year (apart from last year) for the last 8 years, interviewing a variety of celebrities for Radio Wales. This year will be the first Chelsea Flower Show I am missing. And I will definitely miss it – I’ll miss chatting with my regular ‘victims’, like Rob Brydon, Dermot O’Leary and Bill Bailey. In 2019, Bill actually called to me across the Main Avenue and asked if he was going to be able to share his thoughts with the lovely Welsh people that year. Of course he did.
Rob Brydon and I usually chat over a coffee – I usually pay. And Dermot O’Leary just makes me feel like the most special person in the world whenever he sees me. I was on a TV show with him years ago sharing gardening tips including growing veg in containers and making compost. He has never forgotten that I told him he could empty the contents of his Hoover onto the compost heap. I’m not sure it’s my finest piece of advice but nice to be remembered for it anyway.
Apparently the ‘must see’ Chelsea Flower Show highlights this year include The RHS Queen’s Green Canopy Garden, the House Plant Studios, the new categories Balcony Gardens and Container Gardens and the rare autumn produce in the Italianate piazza. There are a couple of videos on You Tube, documenting the build up to this year’s show if you want to whet your appetite.
Despite the numerous COVID measures and safety precautions that will be in place, having had the virus knock the stuffing out of me, and having been diagnosed with long COVID, I am reluctant to re-launch myself into big crowds just yet. So I am going to watch this year’s show with Yogi from the comfort, and safety, of our sofa and will look forward to coffee and chats with my favourite famous friends next year.
Tapping into Genius
Some of the things I love about Chelsea Flower Show are the new products and fab’luss statuary on display. I long to have the magnificent driftwood horse or the hanging chair in my own garden one day. However, one of the best garden features I have seen for a while is the Floating Tap, which a friend has set up in her courtyard. She wanted a water feature but not all the hassle, cost and construction that went with it. After a lot of research she found the wonderfully named ‘The Impossible Floating Tap Company’. I fell in love with it straight away – and could not for the life of me work out how it worked! It’s so clever. I’m not going to spoil it for you – see if you can work it out. It is basically free standing – you don’t need a water supply but will need electricity to run it.
The family run business has grown organically into one of the leading boutique water feature manufacturers in the UK and with just over half a decade experience they still create each feature to order by hand in their small workshop to ensure each and every one is made to the upmost build quality and detail. They also work alongside leading businesses to create bespoke visual displays for exhibitions and events across the world and are happy to work closely with clients to realise their own ideas. More details from www.thefloatingtap.co.uk – and yes, you can talk to a real person – you know how much I like that! You can chat through ideas, different colours and finishes with plumber, founder and all-round-clever-and-can-do chap Mike, or his son Sam.
My friend was so pleased with the feature in her courtyard, she has another one set up indoors in her summerhouse/outdoor office – it’s a great talking point, and would be suitable for a conservatory too. They are just so quirky and clever – and I found it lovely and meditative to watch. It’s just brilliant – and just the sort of thing that I would have normally seen and coveted at Chelsea Flower Show.
He’s Hilarious, He’s My Bother
It was my first day at college last Tuesday, and Monday evening I had a text from my brother saying, “Good luck for tomorrow. Don’t forget to write your name in your coat and don’t let the big kids steal your dinner money!”
Back to School
So I’ve had my ‘first day at school’ as I embark on becoming a Personal Trainer. I am not the best with transition – it takes me a while to adjust to new things. Tuesday was no exception. To be honest walking into a huge classroom with 20 other students, fluorescent lighting and about 30 computers is the sort of environment I’ve been avoiding all these years. And of course I hated school the first time round! But the kindness and calibre of the lecturers is outstanding and the other students were really friendly and helpful.
It was really humbling to hear people’s reasons for being on the course – many having the most incredible weight loss success stories – and everyone wanting to inspire others to improve their health, fitness and wellbeing. It’ll take me a while for it to feel comfortable I’m sure, and I need to address the studying and gardening balance, but I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the work and learning new skills.
And yes, I am the oldest person on the course … but I’m treating that as a positive. As the proverb goes, “Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and exuberance.”
Just a quick note to wish you well with your schooling Lynne. You will be a great personal trainer.