The sun came out and the flowers nearly wilted. The higlight of the Horticulture calender was, once again, sold out. In honour of another amazing year for the Chelsea Flower show – here are some facts.

1) The 2010 RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the 88th show to be held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital and the ‘RHS Chelsea Flower Show’ is the lasting title of an exhibition with a history of nearly 150 years.

2) A Show Garden at Chelsea can range in size from 10mx10m to 10mx22m.

3) Children under 5 years, babes-in-arms, prams and pushchairs are
not admitted.

4) Urban Spaces are 7mx5m and Courtyard Gardens are 5mx4m.

5) The Great Pavilion is 12000m2, which is the same size as two football pitches – enough room to park 500 London buses.

6) 157,000 visitors visit the show each year. The number has been capped at this since 1988.

7) 98.4% of the materials used at Chelsea 2009, including glass, plastic and paper was recycled

8 ) It takes 800 people, just over three weeks to build the show.

9) It takes up to three weeks to build a show garden, and 10 days to build courtyard and urban gardens, but the gardens all come apart in just five days.

10) Streptocarpus ‘Harlequin Blue’ has been crowned the 2010 RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year following the first ever Plantsman Conference, held on the 24 May, at the 2010 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

11 ) Lots of gardeners wanted time lapse filming but could not afford the £10,000 bill.

Here is a video of Swamibu’s video highlights: Swamibu’s Chelsea highlights.

Details for attending the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Date: 24 –29 May
25-26 May RHS members only
27-29 May RHS members and non-members
Time: 25-28 May 8am-8pm

29 May 8am-5.30pm (sell off starts at 4pm)

Venue: The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, SW3

Ticket hotline: 0844 209 1810 http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea
RHS show information: 020 7649 1883 http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea

Main picture and top by Abi Silverston. All rights reserved.