May 20, 1913: When Chelsea Became the Capital of Flower Power
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
May 20, 1913
On this day, dear garden enthusiasts, we find ourselves transported to a moment of horticultural history that would blossom into one of the most prestigious flower shows in the world.
For this was the day that the Chelsea Flower Show, like a well-tended perennial, was transplanted to more fertile ground.
The year is 1913, and the grounds of Chelsea General Hospital are abuzz with excitement as they play host to the very first Chelsea Flower Show.
Can you picture it?
The crisp spring air filled with the intoxicating scent of newly unfurled blooms, the gentle rustle of ladies' dresses as they promenade past exquisite floral displays, and the excited murmur of conversations about the latest horticultural marvels.
Originally christened the Royal Horticultural Society's Great Spring Show, this botanical extravaganza first unfurled its petals in 1862, nestled within the RHS garden in Kensington.
It was the astute Sir Harry Veitch, a nurseryman of great renown, who secured the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea for a grand horticultural exhibition in 1912
The success of this venture proved the catalyst for the Great Spring Show's relocation to Chelsea the following year, where it has taken root and flourished ever since, save for brief interludes during the world wars.
Oh, what a spectacle it was!
The Gardeners' Chronicle proclaimed on May 29 that the show 'exceeded all expectations', with exhibits so numerous and of such magnificent quality that they fairly took one's breath away. A colossal tent, spanning two acres, housed 84 'large groups of flowers, plants and shrubs' and 95 exhibition tables.
Can you imagine the riot of color and fragrance that must have greeted visitors?
Outside, the popular passion for rock gardening found expression in elaborate displays.
The first Gold Medal for a garden was awarded to J Wood of Boston Spa, for a rocky scene that transported visitors to the very heart of the Yorkshire Fells.
But let us not forget, dear readers, that even the grandest of gardens may have humble beginnings.
Did you know that the Society's first exhibit, way back in 1805, was naught but a simple potato, proudly displayed by a Mr. Minier?
From such modest roots, what glorious blooms have sprung!
The path to horticultural glory was not always smooth, of course. In 1829, a deluge of biblical proportions left visitors "ankle-deep in water oozing from the gravel."
One can almost hear the shrieks and laments over ruined shoes!
But such tribulations only serve to make us appreciate the finer days all the more, do they not?
As we tend to our own gardens, let us reflect on the legacy that began on those grounds in 1913.
The countless gardens that have been inspired, the friendships forged over a shared love of plants, the innovations in cultivation and design that have sprung forth like seedlings in fertile soil - all owe a debt to that first Chelsea Flower Show.
And what of the future?
The show continues to evolve, embracing sustainability, championing mental health and wellbeing, and showcasing native plants that benefit our precious wildlife.
From rewilded landscapes to houseplant havens, Chelsea remains at the forefront of horticultural trends.
Perhaps, as you prune your roses or sow your seeds, you might channel the spirit of those first Chelsea exhibitors.
Who knows?
The next great horticultural trend could be blooming right in your own backyard!
And so, my dear gardening companions, let us raise our watering cans in a toast to the Chelsea Flower Show.
May it continue to inspire and delight for centuries to come, just as it did on this very day in 1913.
After all, in the words of the inimitable Gertrude Jekyll, "The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies."
