Among the Cornish participants at the 100th Chelsea Flower Show next month will be long standing exhibitor Burncoose Nurseries.
The Redruth based team has come up with a display that is designed to illustrate how a garden exhibit would have been seen in the early days of RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
It focuses on planting styles, fountains and features, plants that appeal to wildlife pollinators and the latest species, introductions and hybrids.
With more than 40 years' experience at RHS shows and a family history and heritage in horticulture, spanning hundreds of years, including funding plant hunting expeditions, the owner of Burncoose Nurseries, Charles Williams knows better than most why the RHS shows were so important to the development of the UK's passion for plants.
He said: "It was very important to us to mark the centenary of RHS Chelsea with a garden that showcases all of the elements that were important to people of the day.
"100 years ago people would have visited grand garden shows to learn about the latest trends, species and planting styles, as well as wanting to be wowed by beautiful displays.
"Our traditional plantsman's garden has been carefully planned to illustrate planting techniques and plant varieties which would have been popular and exciting to visitors 100 years ago – we hope it has the effect same today."
The traditional plantsman's garden has been designed by Burncoose's in house design team, Louisa Lazarowicz and Geraldine Hammond and will include exotic plant species such as a Puya, as well as more traditional Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Enhianthus.
Burncoose has a strong track record of success at Chelsea, having won 21 of the coveted Gold medals and 10 Silver Gilt medals during the past 25 years.
Mr Williams, added: "Our garden this year is the result of 12 months hard work, made even harder by the terrible weather we have encountered.
"Usually we have to try to hold plants back from flowering before the show, yet this year we have seen many plants severely damaged by late frost and cruel east winds.
"Each year it is a challenge to bring the very best specimens to the show, this is something that hasn't changed for 100 years, and nor do I think it will change in the next 100 years.
"As a plantsman and passionate horticulturalist myself, I think it is fair to say that this is why we do it, the challenge and the satisfaction of creating a spectacular garden and winning a RHS medal are hard to beat."
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