The 2011 Chelsea Flower ends tomorrow, after tens of thousands of people have flocked to Chelsea to see it this week. The Queen and special celebrities go a day early and are the first to enjoy the many show gardens.

We enjoyed watching the daily coverage on the BBC, watching the  the iconic Alan Titmarsch as moderate. He’s the best-known gardener in the UK and presents the coverage in gentle English fashion on BBC 1 and BBC 2 each day. Click here to view episodes of the most famous garden show in the world

If you love gardening or simply enjoy seeing beautiful gardens, plants, flowers and outside ideas –  this is a must-see event that takes place in May every year.  Most of our London apartment rentals become booked months in advance, because they are a walk or short tube ride direct to Sloane Square. The absolute closest apartment is the beautiful Twain vacation rental apartment, located in Chelsea and only a few minutes walk to The Royal Hospital, where the show takes place.  This gorgeous apartment sleeps up to five in complete comfort.

Here are some of our favorite gardens this year:

The arches or ‘heart strings’ rise out of the ground into a black pool, as the beating of a heart. Above the wall are limes, perfect for their heart shaped foliage and also for their edible qualities as young leaves. It serves as a lesson in medicinal plants, as many are known their healing properties in relation to cardiology such as Salix caprea Willow asan important source of asprin.

Celebrities flocked to the show on the first day…

The Australian Garden celebrated the epic journey made by Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks as they left England to map the Southern hemisphere in 1768

In the main pavilion:  the central display was a striking sculpture and scene from Thailand. Every piece of sculpture was covered in beautiful Thai flowers.

Beautiful garden won a gold medal below

Another year of Chelsea is almost over and this was one of the best ones ever.

 

 

British occasions — from weddings to horse races — mean English women go shopping for hats.  The Royal Wedding in London last week was no exception.  As ever, I was amazed by the bold designs, colors and sheer size of the hats!  Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice took the spotlight, while I took a moment to look back on other creations they have worn.

The color combination of purple and green was charming, but my French mother-in-law commented, ‘Why not a simpler, more classic design to ze dress and hat? Someone should take zem to Avenue Montaigne  in Paris, to visit ze Grand Couturiers. Tell them to stop first in Chanel and then Dior.”

 

A fun hat for Eugenie on this special occasion.

Eugenie has a wonderful sense of humor; butterflies everywhere!

Mother and daughers all chose little feathery numbers for this wedding.  Sweet!

Beatrice at Ascot, starting to enjoy bigger hats…

Amazing contrasts in fashion.  The sleek style of cousin Zara compared to the more colorful looks of Beatrice and Eugenie in London last week.

Camilla wore an over-sized woven hat to the wedding.

Camilla likes large hats too…. in fact all of England seems to like large hats.

A large pale blue hat for Camilla …

I contrast the ‘big hat’ choices with 2 stylish women who were at the wedding in London last week:  Victoria Beckham and the Queen of Spain. Some got the dress and hat just right.

Even though she isn’t smiling, the smaller hat flatters Victoria Beckham and fits her head .

The Queen of Spain was stunning in a chic beige silk suit with flattering hat. What style!

And then there’s Ladies Day at Ascot…  I took a moment to ponder some of the most outrageous  hats that have appeared in London recent years. You’ve got to enjoy them, even if they’re not flattering.

 

 

 

 

 

The next big hat occasion for the Press is Ladies Day at Royal Ascot on June 16.  Count on a post from us with the most outrageous hats for 2012!