It’s the season for foxgloves in Chelsea, the season for salvias, alliums and elegant umbellifers.  At London’s Chelsea flower show drifts of flowers in shades of purple, blue and white thread through the show gardens and trade stands, tall flower spikes contrasting with the globes of the ornamental onions and flat heads of cow parsley’s city cousins.

 

It’s the season for irises and columbines too.  Many of the show gardens are planted with careful restraint in gently toning colours…

 

but others go for a bright and eye-catching palette…

 

or high contrast for dramatic effect.

 

Spring and summer meet in the grand central pavilion with stands of roses, clematis, sweet peas, chrysanthemums and exotic plants from around the world.

 

This display of hardy perennials has a glimpse of the tropics in the background.

 

Many specialist nurseries show specimen plants in perfect condition, whether carnivorous pitcher plants…

 

cacti and succulents…

 

or implausibly bright lupins…

 

but there are some quiet moments in between.