Chelsea Flower Show 2025 - The Great Pavilion, Vendor Displays & Gardening Celebrities

Next to the last day of the England tour (the final day was at RHS Wisley, which I just covered). I've saved the Chelsea Flower Show for last. We were lucky to have had exceptional weather during the entire three weeks of the trip. In fact, our tour guide, who has been to England over twenty times, said that he had never seen it so warm and dry. Today, however, there was rain, but it wasn't a lot. It reminded me of Pacific Northwest rain - just drizzle and sprinkles.

This is how it looked as we boarded our rides to the show -

By the time we arrived, just a few blocks away, the rain had stopped, and it stayed dry about ninety percent of the day. 

At first, I thought "this isn't too bad". Roaming around the displays on the outside, there didn't seem to be that many people. That quickly changed, however, and by the time I entered the Great Pavilion, it was very crowded. The show gardens (which I will do in my next post) were especially difficult to see with so many people. 

First, some of the vendor displays. Everything from greenhouses, statuary, tools, you name it, it was here.

I did get to see a few of the show gardens without too many people in the way, before I headed inside the Great Pavilion to escape a rain shower. 

Once inside, an assault on the senses awaited. This is where vendors from all over the world showcase their goods, with stunning creative displays. Profusions of specific plants types are massed together in incredible numbers.

One of the first exhibits I saw was one of the rose displays. Have you ever seen so many roses in one place?

This is also where new plants make their introduction. The most talked about rose was the latest David Austin variety, their first striped one. It is called "The King's Rose" -

The Elton John AIDS Foundation rose - I don't recall seeing the rose itself, but I'm sure it was there. There was so much to take in -

Hmmm, 'The Menopause Rose"? - well, apparently there is one -

When it came to massed flowers, I thought the Raymond Evison Clematis exhibit was particularly a standout. This was a huge display and I only captured a small portion of it in this photo -

I am easily starstruck and I knew that celebrities who attended Chelsea got early access on previous days, but I thought there might be a possibility that I would see some of the stars of "Gardener's World". Sure enough, shortly after I entered the Pavilion, I stumbled upon a filming segment totally unexpected. And it was none other than the great Carol Klein, who I adore.

I watched the filming was quite some time but finally gave up hope of them wrapping it up, so I wandered further. 

I think she was looking at me here - haha

Later, Bruce and Jerry said that they got to meet and have their photos taken with her - those rascals! I should have practiced patience.

I saw other filming segments, with people I didn't recognize -

Outside again, I was trying to get a better look at the show gardens (it was near impossible at this point), and I saw cranes and cameras in the distance and sensed something was afoot. Sure enough, it was none other than Monty Don and Arit Anderson filming! 

Despite being surrounded (very closely) by a throng of admirers, they never once looked out at the audience or acknowledged our presence. I suppose they have to be focused on their duties, but I thought they would at least wave at us when they finished filming. (On the other hand, Bruce said that Carol Klein was very friendly and accommodating and even suggested they take the selfie with her.)

Chelsea Show Gardens 2025

(Visited May 21, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver