Oh Chelsea, you're a flower show that a whole country stops to notice, can us Americans imagine what that means? I don't think so. Prime time television coverage, of a garden show? Ha! Not in this county. However the stories do trickle in, and the first to grab my attention this year is the Seedlip Garden. From the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea page:
"The Seedlip Garden celebrates the humble garden pea, Pisum sativum...
The planting, forms, colours and multi-sensory elements within this conceptual installation are all relevant to the pea, producing a contemporary and educational compendium in praise of one of the nation’s favourite vegetables. A garden path, formed of circular elements, representing the form of the pea, leads to the elevated Peavilion, a ‘shrine’ housing a collection of articles relevant to the pea. All species of plant used in the garden are from the pea family Fabaceae. Peas & Love!"
Gardenista explains what "Seedlip" is: "Seedlip is a young business, having launched in 2015 as the world’s first nonalcoholic spirit. Its founder is the irrepressible Ben Branson, whose enthusiasm for the core ingredient of Seedlip spirits is evident when he mixes a drink, the legend PEAS tattooed across his fingers."
More, from Gardenista: "Branson descends from a long line of Lincolnshire farmers and, along with an increasing number of his peers, does not drink alcohol. Bored by the sugar-laden alternatives (besides water), Ben began to experiment with a small copper still, encouraged by the writings of mainly forgotten alchemists. One book was particularly intriguing: The Art of Distillation by John French, published in 1651. Branson found that it was possible to make a spirit by distilling a vegetable and removing the alcohol at the end of the process. The chosen vegetable in this case was a pea."
Describing the garden: "There’s something about peas, and it’s perfectly described in the design of this garden, which features only one plant family: Fabaceae, family of peas. There is scope within this plant group for considerable variety, from crimson clover to an acacia tree, with sweet peas, broad beans, and six different kinds of lupines along the way. Lupines are rather ubiquitous at this year’s show, but this is one garden where they absolutely belong."
Think about it, everything from a ground cover to a tree, all within the same plant family, wouldn't that be a fun garden to visit?
Of course to really understand Seedlip as a brand you should also visit their webiste (here). I must admit I am very curious. "A floral blend of hand-picked Peas & homegrown Hay from Ben’s Farm with traditional garden herb distillates in celebration of the English countryside."....what does that taste like?
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Weather Diary, May 30: Hi 69, Low 45/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
"The Seedlip Garden celebrates the humble garden pea, Pisum sativum...
The planting, forms, colours and multi-sensory elements within this conceptual installation are all relevant to the pea, producing a contemporary and educational compendium in praise of one of the nation’s favourite vegetables. A garden path, formed of circular elements, representing the form of the pea, leads to the elevated Peavilion, a ‘shrine’ housing a collection of articles relevant to the pea. All species of plant used in the garden are from the pea family Fabaceae. Peas & Love!"
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| The Seedlip Garden, photo borrowed from the RHS Chelsea page |
- Unusual varieties of sugar snaps and snow peas feature in the garden, an homage to the late American pea breeder, Dr Calvin Lamborn
- Mirrored silver stepping stones, featuring a pea pod design, are embedded into the path alongside split pea shingle and pea mulch
- Edible pea shoots adorn the roof of the pea green 'Peavillion' and miniature willow wigwams highlight the vibrant yellow and red pea pods
 |
| The Seedlip Garden, photo borrowed from the RHS Chelsea page |
Gardenista explains what "Seedlip" is: "Seedlip is a young business, having launched in 2015 as the world’s first nonalcoholic spirit. Its founder is the irrepressible Ben Branson, whose enthusiasm for the core ingredient of Seedlip spirits is evident when he mixes a drink, the legend PEAS tattooed across his fingers."
 |
| Pea fancier and Seedlip founder Ben Branson, with garden designer Catherine Macdonald, Ph.D. photo borrowed from Gardenista |
More, from Gardenista: "Branson descends from a long line of Lincolnshire farmers and, along with an increasing number of his peers, does not drink alcohol. Bored by the sugar-laden alternatives (besides water), Ben began to experiment with a small copper still, encouraged by the writings of mainly forgotten alchemists. One book was particularly intriguing: The Art of Distillation by John French, published in 1651. Branson found that it was possible to make a spirit by distilling a vegetable and removing the alcohol at the end of the process. The chosen vegetable in this case was a pea."
Describing the garden: "There’s something about peas, and it’s perfectly described in the design of this garden, which features only one plant family: Fabaceae, family of peas. There is scope within this plant group for considerable variety, from crimson clover to an acacia tree, with sweet peas, broad beans, and six different kinds of lupines along the way. Lupines are rather ubiquitous at this year’s show, but this is one garden where they absolutely belong."
Think about it, everything from a ground cover to a tree, all within the same plant family, wouldn't that be a fun garden to visit?
Of course to really understand Seedlip as a brand you should also visit their webiste (here). I must admit I am very curious. "A floral blend of hand-picked Peas & homegrown Hay from Ben’s Farm with traditional garden herb distillates in celebration of the English countryside."....what does that taste like?
Weather Diary, May 30: Hi 69, Low 45/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.