Benedict FlowerPatch Host of 2014 Chelsea Flower Show (Confessions of an uninterested American)

Benedict Flowerpatch. created by @jenocracy (twitter)

Who ever said “Flowers were boring” was absolutely right? Right.

But dearest reader I should warn you that I am American.

I am a hot dog eating, cowboy loving, bleeding heart liberal at heart.

Being that I am American I know I don’t understand two very British key themes; the obsession of Eurovision, why you must have tea with every meal, and the overt fondness of buds and shubbery.

Ok, that’s three things, but America doesn’t follow the metric system. (U.S.A!)

Admittedly, being an American this is the first time I am hearing about the Chelsea Flower Show and much like all of you I was rather surprised when it was announced that Benedict Cumberbatch and his mother Wanda Ventham would be hosting the 2014 coverage. So naturally I did some research and suddenly this flower show was a lot more interesting than I thought…

The Chelsea Flower Show is the Met Gala (Oscars, BAFTAS) of the sophisticated garden world.

It’s the who’s who of flowers, plants and trees and the Black Tie affair of naughty rosebuds and taughty tulips.

Wanda Ventham (circa 1970). created by @jenocracy (twitter)

But why all the fuss? Why all the glory? At the root (pun most certainly intended) of it all what exactly is The Chelsea Flower Show and why does it have an attendance

of 157,000 + annually?

Well the Chelsea Flower Show was started back on a sunny day in the 1800s by a Prince Charles Sherrington Grassroot VII…

Alright, that’s a lie.

The Facts are this: the Chelsea Flower Show started in the 1800s on the grounds of The Royal Hospital Chelsea

(bringing life to the hospital, I see). And it’s primary highlights include high brow, white collared garden designs, name brand flower makers (Pushing Daises by Marc Jacobs, perhaps?) and Floral Centerpieces (ahem, Centre) that would impress the Queen herself and give arboretums wet dreams.

Round up:

Essentially this show is for the Gardeners, Farmers, Hippies and Flower Power mamas (and dandelion daddies) at heart.

I was surprised to find out with the overall, expansive attendance of the show and the high profile talent expected to be there

that ticket prices would be very high for such an event.

But I guess the handlers of the show remembered that it was just plants and charge at a fairly decent price.

Though I still remain unsure why plant life has gathered as much publicity as a James Franco nude on instagram after reading about the show

and even catching the best highlights of the show in previous years I realized plants can be fun!

So forget the yawning, and glazed eyes when the main hosts of the show, Monty Don and Joe Swift, introduce 2,000 more species of Lilly’s that you never knew existed and get crazy about nature. Who knew plants could be so cool!

(stay tuned here for more coverage and Benedict goodness after the show has aired)

Catch The Chelsea Flower Show on the BBC May 19-24, 2014 ( British Translation: 19-24, May, 2014)

Here are some cool pictures made by (@enerjax on twitter) to get you amped for mother and son hosting time.