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Chelsea Flower Show 2006

 

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Highlights of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2005

Timelapse video clips of the 2005 show

The first ever Chelsea Pensioners' garden, a world record breaking 60th consecutive RHS Gold Medal for Hillier Nurseries and a spectacle of the finest horticultural specimens on earth were just some of the highlights of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2005.

 

Gloria Hunniford with the Caron Keating rose that was bred for Cancer Research UK and launched at the Chelsea Flower Show 2005. Image: Troika PhotosLord Lichfield on Marcus Barnett & Philip Nixon's chic garden. Image: Troika PhotosKatherine Jenkins. Image: Troika Photos

 
The annual event, hailed as ‘the greatest flower show on earth’, once again filled the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea with the sights and scents of thousands of glorious flowers, showcased the very best in garden design and dazzled and delighted visitors from across the country and around the world.

HRH The Earl of Wessex. Image: Troika PhotosHRH The Countess of Wessex. Image: Troika PhotosOver the space of a week the Chelsea Flower Show saw a visit from the Earl of Wessex and the Countess of Wessex joke with a former soldier in the Ecover Chelsea Pensioners Garden, which won Best in Show and the BBC People’s Choice Award, Hillier Nurseries set a new Guinness World Record for winning its 60th consecutive Gold Medal at the show and Alan Titchmarsh unveiled a rose named after him.

 

British Sea Power playing in Diarmuid Gavin's garden. Image: Jacky HobbsKim Wilde in her courtyard garden. Image: Troika PhotosThere were moving moments too, including a former Japanese prisoner of war releasing 60 white doves in the Imperial War Museum Garden to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. There were also times of elation when pop princess turned gardener Kim Wilde and her design partner Richard Lucus won Best Courtyard Garden. Visits to the show by former Beatle Ringo Starr and Rod Stewart and rock band British Sea Power playing in Diarmuid Gavin’s garden confirmed that gardening is the new rock ‘n’ roll.

 

Within Lifelong Learning visitors were treated to the first appearance of the Wollemi Pine - the re-discovered 'Jurassic' tree from the age of the dinosaurs. The Phoenix, a 7m (23ft) high, 200 year old oak tree, which had bark gleaming with copper, towered over a wide range of horticultural sundries and also made its debut at the world famous show.

A visitor to the Floral Pavilion enjoys the scent of a rose. Image: Troika PhotosVisitors outside the Great Pavilion. Image: Troika PhotosModels on the Fleming's Nurseries Float show garden. Image: Jacky Hobbs

 

The favourite experience for most, and undeniably the jewel in the crown, was the Great Pavilion where more than 100 displays, perfect in every detail, featured thousands of plants at their very best and provided visitors with the finest examples of horticultural excellence in the world.

To view our full show coverage of 2005 click here