Chelsea 2011 - more from the Great Pavilion

The fabulous rock garden presented by the Alpine Garden Society, whose team was led by Ray Drew. It well deserved its Gold Medal, with a superb range of immaculate plants presented on impeccable rockwork. But the 'rocks' are artificial, being made of painted plastic, though this is undetectable until you feel them. A sufficiency of sizes and shapes of 'stones' are available to be able to create a natural-looking 'outcrop'.

 

Alan Street's 25th (I think) Gold Medal-winning stand for Avon Bulbs.

 

Blom's tulips were as good as ever - and staged exactly the same as ever...

The sumptuous display of lavenders from Downderry Nursery was awarded a Silver-Gilt, but it was outstanding.

Part of the huge Gold Medal display by Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, beautifully presented in great diversity.
The Verbascum is the tried and tested 'Gainsborough'

Raymond Evison must be considered the all-time greatest breeder of Clematis, as demonstrated by this remarkable display of large-flowred cultivars surrounding a tunnel made of C. viticella cultivars.

Meconopsis and Primula japonica on Kevock Garden Plants' stand - a treasure trove of delights from Stella and David Rankin, first -time Chelsea exhibitors, but  noted plant collectors and growers.

Winchester Growers' dahlias from the National Collection was a mass of colour with some really lovely cultivars on display; the smallish-flowered white 'Etheral' (centre left) caught my eye for the second year in succession.