Chelsea getting closer

The greatest event on the gardening calendar is getting ever closer and the excitement is mounting. What will be this year's main themes, colours, ideas? Personally I love colour so the gardens with buzz and excitement are the ones for me. Andrew Duff, Garden School Director at the Inchbald School of Design, thinks that this year we will see "rich, moody green backdrops brightened by almost sweet-shop coloured flowers". If he is correct then it is going to be my kind of Chelsea.

There are always lots of 'associated' events running alongside the Chelsea Flower Show and once again Clifton Nurseries will host a Chelsea Garden Party on Thursday 27th May from 6.30pm to 9pm. This is our chance to meet Clifton's award winning team from previous Chelsea Flower Shows, giving a review of this year's show plus the opportunity to discuss this year's entries. Enj0y delicious simple summer food and drink which is included in the ticket price of £25.00 or £20 for Friends of Clifton. Book tickets on 020 7432 1866 or contact guy.pullen@clifton.co.uk

Peter Jones (Sloane Square Branch of John Lewis) will be offering an exclusive Floral Trio Afternoon Tea available from the 25th to the 29th May. They are reworking the popular afternoon tea to create a unique floral treat for you using traditional English garden flowers.

This weekend the National Trust's Acorn Bank, in Cumbria, are hosting a Full Bloom Festival to celebrate all that is spring, blossom time and our wonderful orchards. Open on Sunday 9th May from 11am to 4.30pm there will be various organisatiolns on hand to celebrate the blossoming of the first anniversary of the National Trust's Traditional Orchard Project.

National Tomato Week starts on Monday 17th May and B&Q are continuing their commitment to Get Britain Gardening. They have joined forces with the National Trust for a second year to offer 50,000 peat-free tomato plants to visitors this summer. The plants will be available at the top 100 properties around the country from mid-May.

Keep logging into www.recklessgardener.com for all your Chelsea news.