RHS Chelsea Flower Show - lovely show

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show IS the world's greatest flower show - of that there can be no doubt.

I've just got back and I thoroughly enjoyed this year's show. I've been going to Chelsea to work since 1989, when I first went to work on the Gardening Which? stand, then 11 years working for Practical Gardening, Garden Answers and Garden News, then 10 years as the RHS Online Editor. This year, I was there as a freelance writer which was weird. After all the years of running around like a loon, trying to cover every aspect of the show for RHS Online, this year was so relaxed. I even managed to get to some of the champagne receptions and launches.

I do feel very privileged to be able to see Chelsea as a member of the press, before it's open to RHS members and the public and with the freedom of being able to go everywhere - quickly, without having to play sardines with tens of thousands of 'punters' and queuing up to crane my neck for a glimpse of a garden.

I have to admit that I thought the last two years Chelsea had lost its way, but this year it's back with a vengeance. The show gardens were generally up in quality and values. It's a shame there are so few smaller gardens - I always loved the town and chic gardens of previous years. I thought the artisan gardens didn't really work this year.

Obviously, we all disagree with the judges. I didn't think The Daily Telegraph garden was best in show. I was aghast that Bunny Guinness and the M&G Garden didn't get Gold (or even best in show). I was bowled over by Diarmuid Gavin's Fáilte Ireland garden - you know that Diarmuid is always going to be good value for money - his gardens may not be great, but you know he is going to do something to wind up the RHS, which is always great. But this year, he has wound up the RHS and produced a staggeringly beautiful garden.

But it's not only the great and the good who produce gardens at Chelsea with £250K of money to build something overwhelming. This year, schoolchildren across the country have grown plants for the Miracle-Grow'ers Learning Journey gardens. Yes, schoolchildren - as young as 7 & 8 years old. Having grown plants for an RHS show garden (many years ago now when I managed a garden centre - but the thought of it still haunts me!), I know how hard and complicated it is to get plants up to show standard, so well done to all the schools and children that took part. And yes, they won RHS Silver-Gilt Medals - which are only bettered by Gold.

View the online coverage of Chelsea on the RHS website

Elvis Costello once said:
"Oh no, it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea"

Well, that's his loss...

All systems go at RHS Online

Speaking of the day job (see last blog) it's all systems go on RHS Online - the RHS website. We've been working on some new areas of the site and updating others.

There's Passion for Plants, which ties in with the BBC TV programme A Passion for Plants shown on Friday evenings; Garden Explorers, which is a new membership category for families; Campaign for School Gardening, which is aimed at schools, teachers and pupils to encourage them to go gardening; a new Britain in Bloom section; plus the tickets pages for all RHS flower shows in 2008, including Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace.

We're also looking at new sections for launch towards the end of December - Gardening in a Changing Climate and Wildlife Gardening/The garden as an ecosystem - all topical and relevant stuff for gardeners.

Our Grow your own VEG campaign this year has been very successful and we're looking at a refresh for 2008.

One important function of RHS Online is saving other RHS departments time and money. So I've been creating downloadable versions of past exam papers for the Qualifications Department. This will save them the aggro of having to print them out and post them in the snail mail.

And not forgetting the fabulous new Glasshouse (that's posh for greenhouse!) at RHS Garden Wisley.

All very exciting, interesting and enjoyable stuff - but now there's just no time to think!