John’s Top Picks From Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Hot on the heels from our visit to Chelsea 2025 – as hard as it is to choose - here are my top picks from the show.
The Japanese Tea Garden by Kazuyuki Ishihara
- The garden’s attention to detail is breathtaking: where every plant, boulder and moss arrangement has its place, including a rippling stream that runs through it.
- The garden is constructed around a cleansing journey which the visitor takes as they make their way to the destination of the tea hut.
- Raked gravel formations, which are an integral part of Japanese gardens, encourage observers to clear their minds. As is often the case with Kazuyuki, the garden won a gold award from the judges and also best in show.
Catherine’s Rose by Harkness Rose
- Catherine’s Rose named after the Princess of Wales in the Pavilion, for its deep pink tones and wonderful scent, really stopped you in your tracks.
- With multiple heads per stem, this rose makes quite a statement and can be purchased from the growers Harkness Rose.
Moon in Bloom by Kathryn Cronin
- We loved Moon in Bloom – the beautifully delicate and detailed crescent floral display by the talented florist Kathryn Cronin (fierceblooms.com).
- This willow crescent moon is decorated with roses, clematis, peonies, foxgloves and shimmering Lunaria annua and ‘seeks to inspire sustainability and evoke the ethereal beauty of the lunar cycle’.
- The floral arrangements this year were a sight to see and very much on an equal footing with the fresh floral arrangements in the Pavilion.
Twisted Tree Fire Pit Sphere
- The Twisted Tree Fire Pit Sphere in a rust finish is on my personal wish list for this summer.
- Suppled by The Fire Pit Company (thefirepitcompany.co.uk) similar spheres can be purchased in different sizes and also with a black finish.
- Not just a fire pit, but a spherical sculpture, it will add form and interest to your garden and sit perfectly in a planting border.
Layered Timber Bench Seat
- We admired the layered timber bench seat in the Pathway Garden for its simplicity and uniqueness.
- Created by the designers Allon Hoskin and Robert Beaudin, it is perfectly in scale with the pergola above it and reminds us of the importance of just sitting and observing the nature around us.
- The design places the emphasis on sustainability, as most of the materials for this garden have relied on upcycling.
A Place to Be…
- We enjoyed the gentle pink and purple planting scheme in the A Place to Be… garden for children with cancer.
- By keeping to similar tones for the plants, the designers, Tom Clark and Ros Coutts-Harwood have created a harmonious and relaxing space to enjoy.
- This garden will provide a sanctuary for families coping with childhood cancer when it is relocated after the show to a dedicated holiday centre in North Yorkshire.
…And a Few More Details That Took My Eye…
We hope you enjoyed this little slice of inspiration from Chelsea 2025! From planning a new border to a complete garden remodel, we pride ourselves on transforming ideas into beautiful reality, with minimum disruption. If you’re based in or around the Reading and Newbury area, we’d love to meet and discuss your project in detail – book your free no-obligation garden consultation today.