Beautiful Blooms: The Chelsea Flower Show - Day 7

Submitted by Curious Traveler on May 25, 2010 - 10:37pm
chelsea

Wow!  Oh my!  Wow!  Oh.  So it went on. The Chelsea Flower today amazed us. This was what our tour was about and it exceeded all expectations.
The sun shone and the flower displays were amazing
People watching was fun.  I have never seen so many men in Panama hats!
and the ladies' hats were fun.

men in red
Behind us are the men in red!!!!!  They are Chelsea Pensioners.  The live at the Chelsea Royal Hospital on whose grounds the Chelsea Flower Show is held.  They are the oldest and most revered British vets.  The last Chelsea Pensioner who had fought in WW! died last year.  Don't ask me why they are called the old Contemptibles perhaps because they are old and stubborn as in you can't teach an old dog new tricks!!!!!
Anyway they have the right to live at Royal Chelsea Hospital for life and they have the freedom to travel the city in their uniform and are held in great respect.

The Chelsea Flower Show has its roots in a flower show first held in Kennsington in 1862. Through the years, the Royal Horticultural Society has moved from venue to venue and always the crowds have grown. Now 157,000 attend the show. More try to attend but the size of the gardens requires that the attendance be limited. The show has been expanded from four days to five with the first two days being open to members only. And we were lucky enough to come in as members. It was truly fabulous! If you can make it next year, I strongly recommend that you try.

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