This week sees a welcome turn in the weather. From the cold northerly winds and rather overcast skies to something resembling summer.

But has it come a bit late for the show gardens at RHS Chelsea?

Many have worked their magic but all would would have preferred just a bit more of that elusive sunshine to help bring their plants to their splendid 'show' best.

This week that seems to be happening so visitors to RHS Chelsea can expect a real treat as the show gardens reach their full potential.

Formailty and topiary play a big part in this years RHS Chelsea Show particularly on the gardens of Cleve West

Joe Swift

Thomas Hoblyn

and Dr Nigel Dunnett

with the later harking back to the early Islamic gadens that placed high importance on water - a theme not lost on todays audience.

Colours are generally muted with greens, blues and soft hues of purple present in abundance on all gardens - though Chris Beardshaw bucked the trend with a vivid display of Rhododendrons and Azaleas

- and on one of the Fresh gardens a bright metallic shimmering throwback to the prehistoric south Dorset Coastline.

Diarmuid Gavins Pyramid dwarfed everything else at the Royal Hospital and was suitably quirky - particularly as he dressed it with around a hundred Chelsea Pensioners for an amazing photocall! Only Diarmuid!!!

The new Fresh theme threw up some interesting ideas the best of which was the QR Garden - stunning in its apparent simplicity.

The Artisan Gardens always please in the backdrop of Ranelagh Gardens - re- creating small pastiches of life in rural parts around the globe - the inventive use of space in these gardens demonstrates a true skill, where every last plant and stone counts for so much of the whole.

Jo Thompson's Caravan Garden drew the crowds on the smaller Show Gardens - awash with flowers and clever usage of props and landscaping.

Another favourite for me was the World Vision Garden - strikingly bold and calming at the same time.

Favourite plant for me on the show gardens was the Paeonia Claire de Lune on Andy Sturgeons garden - a fabulous single Peony that really caught the eye.

Favourite garden - probably Jo Swift's Homebase Teenage Cancer Trust Garden

Going for Gold!

Have you ever wondered just what it takes to win a Gold Medal at one of the prestigious RHS Shows? Growers and designers embark on this holy grail of the garden world every year and many seem undaunted by the challenges that face them in order to win that medal that tells the world how marvellous they are! A quick reality check however confirms that even seasoned entrants face it seems ever more challenging conditions in which to achieve horticultural perfection. This year has been no exception - in fact in some ways it proves the rule. Early spring sun and warmth in dry conditions set plants off early, only to be thwarted shortly after by cold wet weather and all the gloom that only a 'drought' in the UK could possibly throw at them! So are we going to see any sort of floral display at this years flower shows or will the weather claim the prize?

As the season beigins this week with the Malvern Spring Show and RHS Chelsea Flower Show following on at the end of May and RHS Hampton Court Palace flower show at the beginning of July (you can win tickets for RHS Hampton Court by entering the monthly FREE PRIZE DRAW for our great supporters NFU Mutual.

Despite the weather our designers, growers and gardeners are an extremely resourceful bunch - they have been planning these events for months (sometimes even years!) so although the weather provides a challenge it is one that I am sure they will rise to with great aplomb!