Morning:
14°c
Chelsea Flower Show cracks down on garden gnomes
Jonathan Prynn18.05.09
They spoke of little else on the opening day of the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show.
The issue? Is it time for the world's premier horticultural event to lift its 19-year ban on garden gnomes.
The question has opened a schism in the high command of the gardening fraternity after one of the most respected exhibitors smuggled her “lucky” gnome into the central Grand Pavilion and put him on display.
Officially Jekka McVicar, who is on the ruling council of the Royal Horticultural Society, is in flagrant breach of the rules by placing her gnome called Borage amid her gorgeous array of organic medicinal and culinary herbs.
They clearly state that any “brightly coloured creatures” are out of order and will result in disqualification. Mrs McVicar, who has collected 61 RHS gold medals in her distinguished career, said she would comply with the letter, if not the spirit , of the regulations.
She confided to the Evening Standard: “Borage is now resting because he's had a very busy night
watering. He will be out again tonight but not during the day, particularly as I'm being judged by the Fruit, Vegetable and Herb committee. They are very hard-line.”
Sure enough Borage, who “appeared” one day in Mrs McVicar's Bristol office 15 years ago, was taking a well-earned nap under a lavender bush, well out of view of the judges.
But even as Borage slept there were indications that the RHS could be in a mood to reconsider.
President Giles Coode-Adams, passing Mrs McVicar's exhibit this morning, exclaimed heartily: “After all, what's wrong with gnomes?”
Some leading horticultural figures believe that the RHS is guilty of double standards by tolerating, or even encouraging, increasingly avante garde show gardens, while banning harmless but popular accessories seen in gardens throughout the land.
Tim Rumball, editor of Amateur Gardening Magazine, said: “The RHS are renowned for being stuffy old gits, it's all part of the charm of Chelsea.
“It seems ridiculous when you look at the deliberately outrageous garden designs put forward in the name of being cutting-edge.
“Good on Jekka, perhaps she should put a black hood over the gnome and then people can lift it and take a look if they want.”
The figures were banned from Chelsea in 1990, ironically the year when John Major, the son of a failed garden gnome maker, entered Downing Street as Prime Minister.
The decision was taken to stop Chelsea becoming too “tacky” but has caused resentment among gnomophiles ever since.
Maggie Egleton, founder of the Gnomeland website, said: “The powers that be at the RHS think that all gnomes are the cheap, plastic variety. But the proper ones are very well made, expensive products. That's what gets people cross.”
Mrs McVicar, who has never slipped below gold medal standard since owning the Chinese-made Borage, hopes that royal approval could just be the nudge that pushes the RHS into a gnomic rethink.
The Queen is visiting Chelsea this evening and Borage will get the chance to meet her “if she asks”.
Reader views (15)
I think they are very cute and should be able to do what they want. Apparently some garden gnomes protested outside the Chelsea Flower show http://www.heartlondon.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1331583 Hilarious.
- Harry, London
I think there is a place for gnomes - and would love it if Kew Gardens had a 'kitch week' which celebrated things like gnomes. I'm sure kids would love it (particularly going on 'gnome hunts' or 'name a gnome' competitions)
- Karen Kennedy, Kew, UK
be wary, be very wary as Bilderburg has its own gnome faction....
- William, Haywards Heath UK
I am disgusted with the RHS - get with the beat you lot - gnomes are gardeners friends and you can't ban them - it's gnome discrimination.
- Ali Campbell, Carshalton on the Hill
Send 'em all back to Zurich
- Warwick, North Vancouver, Canada.
I gave up Chelsea flower show a few years ago as it was so commercialised too many people and the smell of food venders was so strong that you couldnt smell the flowers few seats to sit on and it has become tacky in general
- Rae Campbell, Bearsden glasgow
So it is OK for travellersto squat all over the UK buthonest caring gnomes are ousted from the Chelsea Flower Show? This is discrimination.
- Hatchet, Newcastle
I think he is absolutely fabulous - I am sure the Gnomes of Dulwich would be proud to call him a relative.
- Chris Darling, Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Canada
Chelsea - what is it really about? Most of the show 'gardens' are little more than hard landscaping with a few specimen plants stuck in strategic places. To add gnomes and other such ornaments would just about complete the 'outside' room scenario. Why can't gardens just be gardens - full of flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables - there are enough varieties to go around for heaven's sake.
- Nora, London, Uk
What will become of the National Elf Service.
- Malc, London,England
Goes to show why the Chelsea flower show is pointless
- Duncan, Kent
You know why Gnomes walk in pairs?, its so that one Gnome sees that the other Gnome gets Gnome, mmmmmm or was that Nuns?.
- David Crocket, Bradford, UK
There will be protests about this from the Gnome Office.
- Kate, London
It's a 'gnome' prejudice at the Chelsea Flower Show! Where are the Liberal-Lefty protesters, there is discrimination a foot?!
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
We of the Anti-Gnome Alliance fully support the RHS action, and hope that all Gnomes will be subjected to further ban for their persistent violation of the laws of aesthetics. Gnomes should go back where they came from, Go Gnome, Gnomes.
- Paul Freeman, London, England
