Chelsea Flower Show

Popular parts of the Chelsea Flower Show include the flower arranging[?] and the show gardens[?].

Awards

There are four grades of award presented, gold, silver-gilt[?], silver and bronze, in each of the categories listed below. Bronze grade exhibits do not actually receive a medal[?].

Awards Categories

• Flora Gardens and floral exhibits
• Hogg Exhibits of fruit
• Knightian Exhibits of vegetables, including herbs
• Lindley Exhibits of special educational or scientific interest
• Grenfell Exhibits of pictures, photographs, floral arrangements and floristry

Special Awards

• Best Show Garden Award
• Best Courtyard Garden Award
• Best Chic Garden Award
• Best City Garden Award
• RHS Sundries Bowl
• RHS Junior Display Trophy
• RHS Floral Arrangement Trophies
• RHS Floristry Trophies
• Show Certificates of merit
• Certificates for Junior displays
• RHS President's Award

History

Originally called The Royal Horticultural Society's Great Spring Show, the history of the Chelsea Flower Show goes back to 1852 when the show was held in the RHS's gardens in Kensington, London.

The show moved to Chelsea and was renamed in 1912 when a popular one off event, The Royal International Horticultural Exhibition, was held in the Royal Hospital[?], organised by Sir Harry Veitch[?]. The Chelsea Flower Show has taken place at the Royal Hospital almost every year since.

The Chelsea Flower Show Today

The Chelsea Flower Show recieves a lot of publicity. It is attendted by 157,000 vistors each year (a number limited by the capacity of the ground) with two of the four days only open to RHS members. The show is covered on television by the BBC. Several members of the British Royal Family attend a preview of the show, as part of the royal patronage[?] of the RHS.

External Links

• Offical Site (http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/)
• The Royal Horticultural Society (http://www.rhs.org.uk/)
• BBC Coverage Site (http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/events/chelsea/)