"Chelsea is in many
ways a miracle," says garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd.
"On an appointed day lorries roll in filled with perfect
plants which, after a few days hard work, are arranged into
a near-perfect garden.
It seems instantaneous but behind the scenes many weeks,
months and often years have gone into producing and then
finding these special plants." This is the story of
plant hunting for the Daily Telegraph Garden at Chelsea
2008.
"Plant hunting is one of my passions," says Arabella.
Indeed, she is off to China almost immediately after Chelsea
to observe plants in their native habitat in Sichuan on
an expedition lead by Martin Rix.
The quest for plants for this year's Daily Telegraph garden
has been just as exciting. All the plants are being supplied
by Crocus, the mail order plant specialist, but the Lennox-Boyd
team have been actively involved in the hunt, taking in
Italy, Germany, Holland and the UK.
The Italian side of the plant hunting was easy. Being a
native Italian and with a house there as well as currently
working on several Italian projects, Arabella knows many
excellent suppliers. First stop was the rose nursery, Rosa
Barni, with whom Arabella has worked for many years.
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