Spare a thought for Britain’s specialist plant nurseries and garden designers who will spend this weekend agonizing over their displays for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Driven by a love of plants, they also know that a Gold Medal or Best In Show will enhance their professional reputation. So a lot is at stake: the boundary between success and failure can be difficult to tread when you’re working with a finite supply of live plant material and trying to second guess the judges.
At this point, the needs of the workers often take second place to those of the plants. Muck, sweat, aching muscles and building tension are likely to be afflicting at least some of the humans. In contrast, the plants need to be as near to pristine as possible, so are cosseted and preened; many of the most delicate wrapped in paper, bubble wrap or protective gauze.
For the humans, a camaraderie around the event more than makes up for the physical and mental cost. Chelsea is one of the best team building exercises: hard, creative, rewarding work. And if the result goes the right way next Tuesday morning when the certificates are awarded, the humans will be jubilant.
But just look at these plants – wouldn’t you say they look jubilant too, win or lose?
A shapely flower always seems to rejoice to have its chance in the sun. Their inhuman joy plays a big part in what draws me to them.
The unashamed excess of these Disas took me by surprise at one of last year’s plant shows. I can’t ever remember seeing them before, yet how I can have missed their bold, bright sunset colours?
Shared for this week’s photo challenge: Jubilant with my good luck wishes for everyone involved in making the Chelsea Flower Show special.
Jubilant
adjective: showing great joy, satisfaction, or triumph; rejoicing; exultant.
Susan Rushton 
Fantastic and a brilliant arangement of the colours too!
You’re right – they are clustered with just enough freedom to make it appear natural, not too regimented.
Disas are beautiful and so fiendishly difficult to grow. What a wonderful sight though.
There must be even more loving care on display here than I imagined!
What a fascinating display, and very jubilant indeed! those colors and patterns are amazing and they’re a real testament to both breeder and grower.
I think the grower may be Dave Parkinson Plants from Yorkshire.
Such glorious colors!
janet
Thanks, Janet
For someone who cannot live without the sight of flowers, this is a lovely find. Thank you for sharing!
I’m glad you like them – flowers do have a way of lifting our spirits and these ones are very cheerful looking.
Brilliant colors! Thank you…I love your worldview through your camera.
The world does seem a nicer place for having flowers in it!
Very beautiful, colorful photos of these flowers. Thank you for sharing!
I’m glad you like them!
Wow, those are amazing flowers! Great shots.
I was amazed that the camera captured the colours so well – they were almost dazzling to the eye.
Just love these- fantastic colour!