Monday 21st May 15:30hrs. Tension is mounting as the opening day of the RHS Chelsea flower show gets under way - heralding the traditional visit from the Queen, and the start of the all-important process of judging the blooms and gardens. Chris Beardshaw and Kim Wilde report live from the show in the afternoon, taking in the sights and sounds, and talking to the many celebrities enjoying the first-day festivities. Also on hand is five-times Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave, as he is presented with a rose which has been bred in his honour and aptly named Pure Gold. And for those who don't have five gold medals to their name, BBC2 finds out just how to get your own moniker on a flower. Chris discovers how long those last-minute preparations take as he stays up through the night watching the gardens grow right up to the judging deadline. And he finds out what makes the differnece between gold and silver and which gardens are going to carry off the coveted gold medal. Alan Titchmarsh and Diarmuid Gavin, who have both had their horticultural handiwork under the scrutiny of the Chelsea judges in the past, take over for the evening coverage at 20:30hrs with a look back at the day's events. They try to pick out the possible winners ahead of tomorrow's announcements. But it's not just the big budget show gardens that are vying for gardening glory so coverage includes a look at the contenders for prizes in the Show's ither categories - from courtyard gardens to sun-dried floral displays. Meanwhile, Diarmuid catches up with two exhibitors with very different outlooks on Chelsea. He finds out how the preparations of a first-time Chelsea "virgin" and a seasoned old-hand compare. And Alan meets a team from Cincinnati who have the Chelsea bug so badly that they-ve set up their own Stateside version of the show - with a little help from the RHS. On Tuesday (14:55hrs BBC1) judgement day arrives as hundreds of exhibitors wake up to discover if their blooms and gardens are award winners. Chris Beardshaw and Kim Wilde report live from the show in the afternoon, announcing just who has walked off with the coveted Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. However, the awards aren't handed out through the day - the results are announced in the wee, small hours of Tuesday morning. Chris Beardshaw joins the 2am results run as good news is delivered to nervous exhibitors. And Kim and Chris catch up with the "punters panel" - how did their predictions for gardening glory compare with the actual results? Viewers take a peek around the garden of a mystery Chelsea-loving celebrity. In the evening programme, (20:30hrs BBC2) Alan Titchmarsh and Diarmid Gavin analyse the day's results and pick out their own personal Show favourites. The programme also discovers just what marked out the winners from the gardening crowd by hearing from the judges themselves. As well as the headline-grabbing Show gardens. Alan and Diarmuid delve into the Show tents and floral pavilions to discover the fantastic flowers and prize winning plants which have carried off this year's awards. Meanwhile, viewers hear what happened when Alan met an exhibiting garden designer called Diurmuid for the first time at Chelsea many years ago. Wednesday's show starts at 14:55hrs on BBC1 and 20:30hrs on BBC2. After the excitement and tension of the judging, it's time to look at the trends and tips to take away and try at home from this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. During the afternoon programme, Charlie Dimmock and Chris Beardshaw delve into the Show gardens and floral tents around the site t seek out the inspiration and ideas from the Show's designs and displays. Charlie visits the "Help the Aged" garden, which recreates the look of a garden from 40 years ago, and asks what inspiration today's gardeners can take from the past. Meanwhile, Chris looks around the courtyard gardens of the Show, which are packed with ideas and influences which can feature in any garden, whatever its size. As well as having some great-looking gardens, The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is home to the latest in cutting-edge garden designs and ideas. In the evening highlights, Alan Titchmarsh and Diarmuid Gavin set off round the Show looking for the hottest horticultural trends. The programme looks into the Show's past to see how the latest looks from over the yearss have found their way into the nation's gardens and greenhouses. What will be this year's decking? Among the tipped trends at the Show is the "Japanese" look, and blue looks like being the only colour to be planted this season. Diarmuid lloks at the impending influence coming from the Middle East, and takes a trip around a Show garden inspired by the Bedouins of the desert. The BBC's coverage of the flower show continues on Thursday, looking beyond the glamorous show gardens at the work of the many amteurs who display their talents alongside the professionals. Charlie Dimmock and Chris Beardshaw take a look at the smaller courtyard gardens created for the show by the many horticultural colleges, individuals and gardening clubs, and follows one club on its journey to Chelsea. As well as flowers , the Show is home to a vast variety of vegetables - an area in which amateurs at the Show excel. Among them is Medwyn Williams, who cultivates his carrots in Wheelie Bins and his parsnips in pipes - all in pursuit of the perfectly shaped vegetable! They look fantastic, but how do they taste? Chef Phil Vickery rustles up some recipes and puts them to the test with the punter's panel. In the evening progeramme, Alan Titchmarsh and Diarmuid Gavin take a look at the truly international flavour of the event. Over the past 50 years, the Japanese influence has been much in evidence at Chelsea, but this year marks a change. For the first time, a Japanese garden designed by a Japanese person is at the show. Diarmuid investigates. The range of overseas exhibitors doesn't end in Japan. This year sees a strong Caribbean representation at the show by various different West Indian Islands. Jamaica has a healing garden, Barbados has a tropical theme and from Grenada comes a spice display in an old colonial style. But how do they get all those exotic plants across the Atlantic? The programme also checks on the progress of the South African exhibitors, who are planning to reconstruct Table Mountain for their display. And Alan picks out the best of the exotic plants, which will continue to thrive in the British back garden. As the Show draws to an end, Alan Titchmarsh and Diarmuid Gavin take a look at the "wow" factor that makes the Show one of the most spectacular and colourful in the world. This year rare plants, big plants, giant redwoods, the latest innovations and the most beautiful new varieties on the markt have all taken a bow at the Show. Amongst them is the garden created by the inmates and staff of HMP Leyhill, Gloucestershire, who this year attempted an ambitious "mini-Eden Project" - complete with biospheres and tropical plants - all grown at the prison. Many of the flowers in bloom are distinctly unseasonal, so the team uncovers the science and skills needed to "force" a plant to flower - and how to keep it looking good throughout the Chelsea week. Diarmuid delves into the world of show garden sponsorship, asking what sponsors get from an association with a Chelsea garden and whether the designer still has free reign for their ideas. Diarmuid also questions whether it is still possible to display without a sponsor's backing. The programme also asks the Shows organisers, the Royal Horticultural Society, how it went for them, and what they are planning for next year's event. Earlier in the day Charlie Dimmock, Chris Berdshaw and Kim Wilde are on hand to guide viewers through the final day's festivities and identify some of the best bargains on offer. Thousands of visitors continue to come through the doors to marvel at the gorgeous gardens and beautifulblooms on display, and hopefully take a piece of the show homw with them. But with the end of the week in sight, how do the gardens remain looking fantastic as the days tick by? Chris investigates. The programme also hears from a West Country couple who are displaying their range of carnivorous plants - from the Venus Fly Traps to the Cobra Lily which rowns its prey - which they claim make wonderful "pet plants". And today's the day when the viewers' votes are counted to see which garden has scooped the award as the TV audience's favourite. Still looking for more?
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The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a Gardening programme.
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