Hello flower.
Nigel's been at the Chelsea Flower Show for us this morning. He's on the show tonight with a larger meaning behind the trend for grow-your-own in the back yard.
Here are some of his words and snaps from Press Day. Starting with a notice being put up early this morning:
"It's always a little surreal, the exhibitors are panicky, sleepless, expecting judges, wondering if the Queen will stop at their garden, trying to keep camera crews at bay, and posing for pictures.
"Lady Carole Bamford in Summer Solstice, the garden her organics company has come up with. That's a green wheat field she's standing in (they were especially pleased the blue cornflower was out). More about this garden on the programme tonight and its links to the rocketing popularity of grow-your-own.
Andrew Tokely, horticultural manager of one of the big seed companies, with a garden that's entirely fruit and veg. Everything from cabbage and sweet potato to blueberry, thornless blackberry, olives and kohl rabi. Across the way a front-bench Tory with a basket-weave mosquito.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary who said: "Please don't say anything about politicians and blood-sucking." Other faces:
The former Formula One champion Damon Hill, at Chelsea to see a garden in honour of his old friend George Harrison. And at a garden that had something to do with the night sky:
Sir Patrick Moore. Among the celebrities, the people whose grounds these are.
Jack Dempsey, 92, and a Chelsea Pensioner, resident at the Royal Hospital. "This is my home." The RHS are annual guests. So, for a reason I couldn't quite discern, was....
this Womble:
Finally not at Chelsea but ten days ago on a brief trip to London, Sir Roy Strong, talking about why grow-your-own is no fad on PM this evening, and pictured in St James's Park."
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