Bunny Guinness
Well-known gardening author and journalist Bunny Guinness has designed seven Chelsea show gardens and is now a judge. She talks exclusively to RHS Online about judging in 2010 and this year's coveted eight Gold medals.
RHS What are the standards like this year?
BG Very high. Lots of golds, and it is lovely that they all have a very different feel. Sometimes people think that Chelsea gardens are a little bit samey, lots of big bang, big mega bucks gardens. This year we’ve got a much wider spectrum, some very good smaller gardens, which people can take lots of ideas from.
RHS Any surprises?
BG You always get the odd surprises. As an exhibitor, when you do a garden you are obviously pitching for gold - you’ve got your heart set on it. When you see the actual marks it's a surprise, but usually there’s a pretty good reason for it. You’ve put all that work in for a year so if it doesn’t culminate in a gold, it is a bit soul destroying.
RHS How many gardens have you done at Chelsea?
BG I’ve done seven gardens at Chelsea, they’ve given me lots of grey hairs. It's a great challenge, you feel really privileged. Working with the sponsor and the team is difficult - you have highs and lows through the year. When it all comes together, it's one of the best feelings in the world.
RHS How did you become a judge?
I was quite surprised to be asked. It’s a fascinating process - you don’t have the pain of doing a show garden, but you get to see them in depth. You debate what is good and not good, there is a rationale for the decisions, and it is interesting to see how so many people see different things.
RHS How do you look at the gardens?
BG The assessors might say a certain detail is worth looking at or that the planting’s not very good so often we’re looking at specific things. Because we are a diverse bunch with different ages, experience, expertise we are all bringing different things to the table, and it’s nice to get advice from someone who really knows their onions.
RHS What are your comments as a designer?
BG I particularly like the Children’s Society Garden, very edgy, I know my children would love it. It had also a strong design with lovely touches, the plunge pool, the firepit, the building with curtains, and it was accessible, you could build that or something themed like that without spending mega bucks. Similarly the L’Occcitane Garden - that little bit of Provence was wonderful.
RHS What are your comments as a judge?
BG The difficult one from a judging point of view was the Places of Change Garden, done with 75 people who weren’t horticulturally trained. Their planting wasn’t show garden planting because it was designed for spaces that could be anywhere. That is the opposite end to Chelsea planting and it was such a shame that we couldn’t give it a socking good medal because it brought so much to the show.
RHS Best in Show?
BG There were many Gold medal gardens. The best in show was the Daily Telegraph Garden by Andy Sturgeon – the space beautifully handled, it had a very good feel to it. There were so many satisfied exhibitors and the public will be really pleased to see them.
RHS Difference from last year?
BG Last year there were fewer gardens due to the recession so we thought this year could be even worse in terms of numbers. In fact we are up to 15 show gardens. I think the show has actually benefited because of the recession, with a much wider cross section, a more interesting palette of styles of planting, and a lot more for visitors to take home.