It is of course entirely appropriate on historical grounds that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea represent the capital in Britain In Bloom. The Royal Borough is rich in horticultural association: on the Embankment we can still see the remains of Sir Thomas More’s Orchard – now known as Roper’s Garden while nearby there is the Chelsea Physic Garden, laid out for the Apothecaries in 1673, and which includes what is believed to be the earliest example of a rock garden (1773). In 1681 Looker, Cook, Field and London opened their commercial nursery over the several hundred acres on which the V&A and Natural History Museum now sit. From here Longleat in Wiltshire was first landscaped and later on George London teamed up with Henry Wise to design and supply all the plants for most of the other major gardens in the England from this nursery. Who thought that celebrity gardeners was a thing only of the late 20th Century?
Popularising gardening still further, another important local resident and figure in the history of gardening was JC Loudon who roped in his wife to assist with the production in 1826 of what they entitled: “An Encyclopaedia of Gardening: comprising the theory and practice of horticulture, floriculture, arboriculture and landscape planning including all the latest improvements; a general history of gardening in all countries; and a statistical view of its present state, with suggestions for its future progress, in the British Isles.” It’s a great read! Their now built-over garden in Bayswater contained 2,000 different species. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
In 1840, Benjamin Baud’s West of London and Westminster, now Brompton, Cemetery was opened and further south in about 1881, the Royal Exotic Nursery at Chelsea owned by James Veitch & Sons assisted with the redevelopment of the nearby St.Lukes’ Churchyard. The Veitch family were famous plant hunters and nurserymen and were responsible for introducing many new plants for our gardens. Perhaps ironically, work started this summer on restoring St.Lukes’ Gardens and many of the original species of plants are set to be re-introduced.
And of course today, despite the media controversy and speculation, the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea plays host each year to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Flower Show which features many new plants and displays from around the world.
Introducing new plants and varieties is currently promulgated as one of the best ways to deal with climate change – however a word of caution! Readers of the May edition of the Royal Horticultural Society magazine will see a spectacular photograph of a log cabin and surrounding trees that have been completely covered by a voracious vine, Kudzu Vine, which was introduced into the United States from Japan in 1876. Not everything exotic is necessarily advantageous!
The same magazine also has some wonderful ideas for summer tubs and window boxes and if you haven’t already thought about your own contribution to this year’s In Bloom campaign, I would urge you to consider their advice to mimic in miniature a famous public garden or space. Examples include Sissinghurst’s White Garden, Westonbirt’s glorious autumnal display, Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage (which would suit a drier prospect) or even my favourite, Roberto Burle Marx’s sumptuous Brazilian landscapes (without the tropical rain showers!). A few pots, a few plants and a little imagination can go an awfully long way!
September marks the climax of the In Bloom process – I wonder how well the Royal Borough will have fared in each of the competitions?
