You can still get your flowers at any of the many events that take place around London in celebration of the Chelsea Flower Show. Here are my top picks. Chelsea FringeNow in its eleventh year, Chelsea Fringe is an international event that promotes gardening in all its bizarre and wonderful forms. It is not connected to the official RHS show and is the antithesis of the glamour and expense associated with the show gardens. Discover Bankside’s Crossbones Gardens. The garden was once a post-mediaeval burial ground. It is now a sacred space for contemplation and reflection. Although it is usually only open for three lunchtimes per week, it is now open extended hours. On Friday 27th May, the garden will be open for tours at 12:45 and 13.30. Crossbones Gardens: Once a post-medieval cemetery, it is now a part of the community for quiet contemplation / Jo De BanzieIn Highgate, you can reconnect with nature at the Wild Collective Exhibition at Omved. This new space will allow you to grow plants and restore nature to an abandoned wasteland. It will host installations and events throughout the week. You can experience Shakespeare in the Wild in Bloomsbury. This immersive indoor forest features a medlar gin gardens Q&A and a workshop on rosemary with Gerit Quealy. Booking essential.chelseafringe.comSketch’s dreamlike meadow for Mayfair in bloomIf dining out is more your thing, Sketch (the one with the loo pods), has transformed their restaurant into a meadow of dreams on the theme of ‘Peace’ for the week. Installations include giant daisy chains as well as a swing. Booking essential.sketch.comSketch: installations include giant daisy chairs and a swing / Mark CocksedgeChelsea and Belgravia in BloomIf you are making your way down to the showground, don’t miss the street-side celebration of gardens and flowers. There are over 100 shopfront installations in Chelsea, between Sloane Square and King’s Road. Follow the online map for a complete list. Similarly between Elizabeth Street and Pimlico Road, Belgravia has pulled out all the stops.chelseainbloom.co.ukA craft fair at Chelsea Barracks this week / Beautiful & UsefulChelsea Barracks’ Spring FairFor the first time, the excitement and atmosphere of the Chelsea Flower show extends across Chelsea Bridge Road into the Chelsea Barracks from the May 25-27. A market celebrating independent craft makers like Wax Atelier candles or Plant Belles plant stands will be held. Jo Thompson, a garden designer, has also curated a series of seminars called “Best of British” featuring Jekka McVicar, The Land Gardeners, and Hugo Bugg, an award-winning design duo. Tickets to the seminars are ?10 and can be booked online.chelseabarracks.com
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