Flower Power

2011-05-23 17:12:02

23 May 2011 Last updated at 01:52 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print The "mad and addictive" world of Chelsea show gardens By Frances Cronin BBC News 2011 Show gardens: Monaco, Laurent Perrier and The Irish Sky Garden Continue reading the main story Related Stories Award-winning garden goes on show Finishing Chelsea garden in Leeds American inspiration for Chelsea

Imagine spending £250,000 and working for a year under immense pressure, only for your creation to be pulled apart after just one week. That is what is in store for the garden designers at this week's Chelsea Flower Show. So why do they do it?

"It's been a nightmare," admits garden designer Diarmuid Gavin.

He is talking about his Chelsea show garden entry, The Irish Sky Garden, in which people are invited to fly 25 metres above the ground to view his work.

He also admits it has cost between £300,000 and £400,000.

Despite the "nightmare" however, he believes it is worth it.

The Irish Sky Garden is inspired by the film Avatar and is tipped to be a highlight of this year's show

"You're creating an experience and if you hit on something that people like it's just magic. It can be a lifetime's achievement in one garden."

There are 17 show gardens at this year's Chelsea. The average cost is estimated to be £250,000 but can be much more, according to landscape architect Bunny Guinness. "There have been quite a few million pound ones. Everyone is very cagey about it (the cost)."

She has won six gold medals at Chelsea but her show garden this year is her first in eight years.

Bunny, who has also been a judge at Chelsea, explains it is a hard slog from the start: "To go out and get the sponsor (to pay for the garden) is difficult - you have to court them and it's not easy."

"It is tense on site, it's quite tough, hard work, not plain sailing and you're putting yourself up to be criticised."

Continue reading the main story FIND OUT MORE BBC Chelsea Flower Show home BBC Chelsea TV schedule BBC Chelsea FAQ BBC Gardening

So why do it?

"It changes your whole profile. There's nothing else for getting your name known around the world," says Bunny.

"I've had clients come to me from the other side of the world because they've seen a picture of a garden I've done here."

She adds: "It's also fun. Putting together the garden in a short space of time is a real buzz."

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