Fionna Hill creates a colourful winter wreath from mostly foraged materials when there are not many garden resources to choose from.
You will need

• Vines - long , supple and freshly cut – basket willow ,periwinkle, grape vine pruning, birch, kiwi fruit are all suitable
• Thin lemon verbena branches or other long supple trails like ivy
• Rose hips on short stems
• Mandarins - the small the  better
• A butchers’ hook or floristry wire
• Ribbon
• Secateurs, scissors

 

1. Cut long, thin, supple basket willow stems. Alternative vines could be periwinkle, grape vine, birch, or  kiwi fruit
2. Begin entwining the willow into a circle. Start with the longest stems and hold onto the circle until it is entwined enough not to spring apart. Leave a few leaves on if you wish and weave in both directions; this is a casual wreath and does not have to look perfect
3. The wreath is now ready for the lemon verbena. Cut the spiky willow bits off later – they can be useful to hook stems into.
4.  Long supple branches of lemon verbena. These leaves will dry and retain their lemony perfume.
5. the wreath entwined  with lemon verbena trails
6. Pruned rose hip branches and tree cut mandarins
7. Rose hip prunings  – these are  Wedding Day; it’s a good choice as the stems are thin and easy to bend.
8. Wreath with added rose hips. The hips have been threaded through the willow and the cut tips hooked in.
9. Tree cut mandarins. Alternatively, use small bought mandarins that have been wired.
10. Wire individual mandarins with long floristry wire pushed through and tightly twisted at the top.
11. Mandarins on long soft stems being placed at intervals. Remove their lower leaves to allow the stems to be pushed in more easily. Leave a few top leaves on.
12. Butchers hook and ribbons are used to tie the wreath up.

Dibber
A dibber or dibble or dibbler is a pointed wooden stick for making holes in the ground to plant seeds, seedlings or small bulbs. Dibbers come in an assortment of designs including the straight dibber, T-handled dibber, trowel dibber, and L-shaped dibber.

I seem to have become a collector of dibbers. The large dibber in the photo was made long ago by my dad from a recycled spade handle. I think he liked it for potato planting. The classic T shape dibber is my most useful; it’s useful to have a handle to grip onto to make it easier to apply pressure and  create consistent hole depth, the wooden ones without handles are good for ‘up close’ planting although a pencil may be almost as appropriate as the tiny one. The tin one is most appealing to look at.
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The dibber was first recorded in Roman times and has continued mostly unchanged since. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, farmers would use long-handled dibbers of metal or wood to plant crops. One man would walk with a dibber making holes, and a second man would plant seeds in each hole and fill it in.  From the 14th to the 17th centuries dibbers became a manufactured item, some made of iron for planting in harder soils and clay.
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A few hints to make your Chelsea Flower Show visit as hassle free as possible.

• Temperatures can be extreme. Wear adaptable clothing.
• Rain is not unlikely and can be torrential; a waterproof hat and raincoat is a good idea. Umbrellas can be a hazard in crowds.
• Sunshine can be stiflingly hot. Take sunscreen and a hat.
• Sensible shoes are essential, and flat, waterproof soles are best as the ground can become muddy if there has been heavy rain.
• It’s worth buying the Chelsea Flower Show catalogue as soon as you enter the grounds. Map inside back cover, to find facilities, meeting places, bank, lost property, first aid posts and much more.
• There is a left luggage area at the showground.
• There is a bank at the show grounds and it will exchange foreign currency however it’s a good idea to take plenty of cash with you.
• Reduce the contents of your handbag and pockets before you go but be sure to take a notebook and pencil.
• It can take ages to get from A to B at the show so if you are meeting someone allow plenty of time
• If possible visit the loo at times other than the lunch hour rush.
• There are a range of eating outlets at the show – plan to eat early to avoid a rush
• If you consider buying seeds do your homework about what kiwis may legally bring back into New Zealand before leaving NZ. Before you can establish if a particular species can be imported into New Zealand you will need to find out what the scientific name is (genus and species). Of course you probably won’t know what you would like to buy until you see it, but if you’ve got your heart set on something do research in advance. The Ministry for Primary Industries plants biosecurity index (the searchable database of approved species) identifies approved species for importation by their scientific name; you will not be able to search by the common name. Only species listed in the Plants Biosecurity Index with a valid seed for sowing import specification (e.g. Basic, see 155.02.05 under xxx) can be imported. Check out the web.
• Your ticket does not allow you to leave the show  and return
• Sloane Square is the nearest underground station to the show (short walk down Lower Sloane Street), Victoria is the nearest mainline station (there is a shuttle bus to Victoria as it’s a bit far to walk), buses go down Royal Hospital Road and Pimlico Road and Sloane Square is a  stop for many bus routes. A taxi may be best caught in Sloane Square rather than beside the show because of congestion. Beside the show taxis arrive at the Bull-Ring Gate and Chelsea Embankment.
• If you leave the show early and would like an unusual public garden to visit, the Chelsea Physic garden is at 66 Royal Hospital Road just a short walk down the road from the show. London’s oldest botanic garden, Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants. It subsequently became one of the most important centres of botany and plant exchange in the world. It’s got a café and book/gift shop too.
• In the other direction is a beautiful shop Daylesford Organic - albeit expensive and a little pretentious – but it has appeal for gardeners; it has a cafe too. Daylesford Organic is at 44B Pimlico Road and you can walk there from the show.

 
The show can be exhausting. Take it easy.
It may sound a bit like a military operation but it’s worth it –
 its the greatest flower show on earth      .
Enjoy.
Fionna
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