Chelsea Flower Show Explores Climate Change
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.21.08
With 157,000 visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show over a five day period, there is a huge opportunity to not only amuse but also educate the public. This year the Show is working hard to address environmental issues and improve its sustainability. Several displays in the large tent pavilion are addressing the theme of climate change and its impact on gardens of the future. The displays show what gardens will look like in 2050, particularly the plants that will be grown then as compared to now.
The 2050 Garden envisions a low emission garden (with a one degree change in the climate) and a high emission garden resulting from a 2 degree change. In that case study, the growing season will be longer with more extreme weather--more rainstorms and more drought periods. Succulent plants will be the most hardy during times of extreme drought and poppies will do well. There will be 26 more hot days per year, so tropical plants that would have needed greenhouse shelter in the UK climate will now be grown outside all year round. Growth of many more fruit trees such as apricot and fig will be possible, along with many more kinds of palms. With the hotter weather there will be more bugs and infestations in plants. Good ground cover is needed to prevent water run off during storms and the associated loss of nutrients. :: 2050 Garden Via :: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
As a newly certified EcoBroker®, I'm hoping to find ways to provide another service to my real estate customers in Jacksonville Florida about living more eco-friendly. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I would love to hear comments about what advice could be given to homeowners about taking care of their plants naturally and adjustments that may need to be made with the climate change.