19 inspirational, touching and funny Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Last week's Chelsea Flower Show produced all sorts of weird and wonderful display – we sent photographer Charlie Hopkinson along to record his favourite sights.

Chelsea Flower Show pictures

It’s always the same at these exhibitions: there are always a few wooden actors around…


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Not the result of a lengthy queue, but rather a Royal Navy serviceman at the CWGC Centenary Garden


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Topiary temptation for anyone hoping to capture a different view of the displays


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

The wooden animals on display were extraordinary…


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

…such as the horses…

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Chelsea Flower Show pictures

…and the clashing stags showing that sticks and stones really can break bones…


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

If you go down to the Chelsea Flower Show today, you’re sure of a big surprise…


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Nigel Slater caught up with Country Life’s gardens editor, Kathryn Bradley-Hole


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Oriental influences were in evidence as always


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

It was hard to believe that some of the gardens were merely temporary creations…


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

“I couldn’t BELIEVE it when I saw someone else wearing the same dress as me!”


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

The prettiest tuk-tuk we’ve ever seen…


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Anyone for ice cream?


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

James Alexander-Sinclair poses in front of the Zoe Ball Listening Garden that he designed


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Some of the gardens brought the indoors outdoors


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

The Breast Cancer Now Garden, designed by Rith Willmott


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

Oranges were not the only fruit. But there were plenty of them in evidence.


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

The overall winner of best show garden was James Basson’s M&G Garden, an evocation of a disused quarry in Malta


Chelsea Flower Show pictures

The Morgan Stanley Garden by Chris Beardshaw