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Photos: Impressive Floral Displays Unveiled at the U.K.’s Most Prestigious Garden Show

Flower sculptures and elaborate themed gardens are on display at London’s annual Chelsea Flower Show

The BrandAlley Renaissance Garden. © Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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A visitor smells a flower at the Chelsea Flower Show. © Amer Ghazzal/Demotix/Corbis
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An exhibit called "The Bunker," installed by Birmingham City Council. © Amer Ghazzal/Demotix/Corbis
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An exhibitor at the Chelsea Flower Show. © Amer Ghazzal/Demotix/Corbis
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A visitor goes by a colorful display of Lupinus flowers. © Amer Ghazzal/Demotix/Corbis
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© Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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A corgi made out of dry flower buds by Polly Fields on display at the Chelsea Flower Show. © Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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The Thailand display at the Chelsea Flower Show. © Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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The Thailand display a the Chelsea Flower Show. © Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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Planting blue Salvias around the sculpture "Peace" by Croatian artist Ana Tzarev. © Splash News/Corbis
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© Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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Hillier Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. © Keith Larby/Demotix/Corbis
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Organisers hang an advertisement in preparation for the Chelsea Flower Show. © TOBY MELVILLE/Reuters/Corbis
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Animals, including dinosaurs, monkeys and dogs, made from dry flowers and shells by designer Polly Fields. © Veronika Lukasova/ZUMA Press/Corbis
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An exhibitor carries a floral display into the Chelsea Flower Show. © TOBY MELVILLE/Reuters/Corbis
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An exhibitor works on a display at the Royal Thai Embassy garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. © TOBY MELVILLE/Reuters/Corbis
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Poppies at the Chelsea Flower Show. © TOBY MELVILLE/Reuters/Corbis
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An exhibitor is reflected in a mirror as she arranges flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show. © TOBY MELVILLE/Reuters/Corbis
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The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show takes place every year at the Chelsea Hospital grounds and draws worldwide attention. The 101-year-old show requires 25 days to put together, and draws over 150,000 visitors each year – even the Queen comes out to see the displays. This year, 550 designers created displays ranging from instructional vegetable plots to avant-garde horticultural sculptures to elaborate, themed show gardens. Several somber installations paid tribute to the centennial of the First World War, with gardens featuring memorial poppies and representations of trenches and mine craters.  

Awards are given out in various categories, and this year, 27-year-old Hugo Bugg became the youngest-ever gold medal winner. His first time participating in the show, the Exeter designer created an environmentally conscious show garden meant to draw attention to water conservation issues.

The show is open to the public through May 24; tickets required.

Erin Corneliussen is a multimedia intern at Smithsonian.com.

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