The colour trends for Chelsea 2009 focused on pink, lilac and purple, while the shapes for the year were round and poker. Flower trends for 2009 included allium and iris, and there was a theme of water for the garden exhibits to use as well.

Chelsea gardens were made with a decrease in budget for many, but there was still a very high standard of exhibits. Pink, lilac and purple was a very strong colour theme, and iris and allium were featured in most gardens – modern or country-style, masculine or whimsy, real – or plastic.

Flower Fusion
Poker-shaped flowers break up the softer, rounder shapes of allium and iris. You can achieve this look with your summer indoor flower displays using eremurus, kniphofia or delphinium with round flowers like peonies and allium.

Country Garden
A country garden setting suits deep-coloured iris perfectly. In your local flower retailer, you can buy blue, purple and white iris, and some will stock bearded iris in pastel shades, too.

Pink Allium
There were hundreds of retailers in the main pavilion selling bulbs and plants for the garden – this retailer was very trend-savvy and stocked a range of iris and allium.

Peaceful Pink
This garden showed a very creative way of using impatiens bedding plants, by planting them as a huge bed, with the garden path protruding as raised platforms to the seated area. Once again, pinks and purples were the most popular theme.

Minimalist
Even a modern minimalist design adopted the popular colour-scheme and the ever-popular alliums. This is a great way of showing how the same flower can be used in both a modern and traditional way.

Pond Life
Water features were a huge theme at Chelsea this year. There was even a garden whose water level rose over the footpath to the door intermittently – perfect for banishing unwanted visitors! Here, a pretty pond is framed with the fashionable flowers of Chelsea, allium and iris.

Time Out
Comfortable seats and pretty flowers – allium and iris set the scene for a comfortable garden setting.

Ace of Spades
Macho motorbikes and irresistible iris – these fashionable flowers are even fitting for the most masculine occasion. Need ideas for that special man in your life for Father’s Day next month?

Playful Plasticine
Even a garden made entirely of plasticine was on-trend with its inclusion of iris amongst its plastic haven. This garden is amazingly creative, but remember that plastic flowers and plants are never as good as the real thing in your home.

Demonstrations
Just like the Chelsea gardens, there are trends in indoor plants and cut flowers, too. The Flowers & Plants Association promotes four flower fashion trends a year to the UK consumer, which are created in line with trends in interior design and on the catwalk. Andrea Caldecourt, Chief Executive of the Flowers & Plants Association, gave a presentation on fashion, style and personality and how trends are created at the Gardening Matters marquee on Tuesday 19th May.

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