Chelsea in Bloom – Beautiful floral designs adorning Chelsea retailers

Last week, Chelsea in Bloom took place in the streets around Sloane Square in London.

Now in its seventh year, it’s a competition whereby local retailers adorn their shops during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show week.

For 2012, the theme was the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and there were some amazing entries vying to win Best Floral Display.

The RHS judging team bestowed this top award to Liz Earle for their British tea party design above and in the two images below.

Reflecting the use of botanicals in their product range, plants including herbs were arranged into Union Jack flag designs on the two tables.

And inspired by the arches and crowns that spanned The Mall for the Queen’s coronation in 1953, a pair of arches linked the tables and supported a beautiful floral crown.

Derek Isaac from SuperNature Flowers supplied the flowers and plants for this award-winning design.

The Runner-Up Award went to Ted Baker‘s display below of Jubilee-inspired corgis made from moss and flowers.

The White Company received the Highly Commended Award.

Inspired by a vintage edition of the royal couturier Norman Hartnell’s autobiography ‘Silver and Gold’, they re-created the Queen’s coronation dress and jewels using flowers such as carnations, chrysanthemums, eryngiums and roses.

I absolutely loved the dress…and have also included a close-up below.

Hackett received the Cadogan’s Award for Creative Recognition for their display which was a real passer-by stopper. It was designed and made entirely of flowers by Prop Studios.

Below is a selection of some more of the wonderful floral window displays…

DoDo‘s fabulous design was created by florist Simon Lycett and featured their charms depicted in foliage, plus stunning patriot red, white and blue flowers.

Manicomio‘s regal display, complete with tree-lined aisle below, was created by Mark Welford and Stephen Wicks of Bloomsbury Flowers.

Pretty white flowers created by florist McQueens decorated Mary Quant‘s entry for Chelsea in Bloom.

And I loved the intricate floral umbrellas displayed in Hoss Intropia‘s window.

Below are two images of a very innovative design created by Rebecca Louise Law for Jo Malone London, featuring a gardening glove and trowel.

The beautiful white and green floral display below was created for Tiffany & Co.

A design that also really caught my eye was Smythson‘s stunning creation using roses, hydrangeas, begonias and carnations.

All the designs were gorgeous, but if I had to choose my favourite, it would be the one below by Brora, with flowers supplied by Cut Flowers.

I just loved the pastel pinks and blues, plus white blooms…and the lovely black and white image of the Queen.

So, I hope you’ve enjoyed a selection of the wonderful floral window displays which were part of Chelsea in Bloom last week.

If you are in the area next year towards the end of May when the RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place, do make time to go on one of the free conducted walking tours which start from Sloane Square…as I did and would highly recommend.

(Images : Rona Wheeldon for Flowerona)