Visiting an RHS flower show is often an inspiring experience for anyone interested in gardens. The atmosphere, planting and craftsmanship can feel immersive from the moment you arrive, with each space offering a different interpretation of how outdoor living can be shaped through design.

Yet one of the most valuable things about visiting a show garden is not simply admiring individual plants or beautiful materials. It is learning to notice how a garden makes you feel. The most memorable gardens are rarely memorable because of one single feature alone. More often, they succeed because every element has been considered carefully together, with the layout, planting and materials all working in harmony to create a particular atmosphere within the space.

Whether visiting RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, RHS Malvern Spring Festival or RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, taking time to observe how gardens feel as a whole can often provide far more lasting inspiration than focusing on individual plants alone.

SLOW DOWN AND TAKE YOUR TIME

It can be tempting to move quickly from one garden to the next, especially at larger RHS shows where there is so much to see within a single day. However, some of the most interesting details are often noticed when you pause for a little longer and allow yourself to properly experience the garden as a whole.

The way light moves across planting, the sound of grasses shifting in the wind and the way pathways guide movement naturally through the space all contribute to how a garden feels emotionally as well as visually. Many show gardens are designed to create a sense of calm, enclosure or connection rather than simply showcase individual plants, and slowing down allows these quieter details to become much more noticeable.

LOOK BEYOND THE FLOWERS

Whilst planting naturally draws attention at flower shows, some of the most valuable inspiration often comes from looking beyond the flowers themselves. Notice the structure of the garden, how seating areas are positioned and how the balance between hard landscaping and planting has been handled throughout the space.

Successful gardens are rarely created through planting alone. It is often the relationship between space, structure and softness that gives a garden its sense of cohesion and ease. Even small details such as edging, transitions between surfaces or the placement of a single tree can quietly influence the overall atmosphere of the garden far more than expected.

PAY ATTENTION TO HOW PLANTING IS LAYERED

One of the most useful things to observe within a show garden is how planting is combined and layered together. Rather than focusing only on individual plants, pay attention to how texture, height and movement are used throughout the scheme to create rhythm and seasonal interest.

Notice how foliage colours sit together, how taller planting creates structure and how softer planting spills naturally across pathways or hard landscaping. Many of the most beautiful planting schemes rely on repetition and restraint rather than using large numbers of different plants, creating a more timeless and cohesive feel within the garden overall.

THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD WORK IN YOUR OWN GARDEN

Whilst show gardens can be incredibly inspiring, they are also highly curated spaces designed for a specific moment in time. Taking inspiration successfully often means adapting ideas thoughtfully rather than attempting to recreate a garden exactly as it appears at a show.

A planting combination, a material palette or even the way a seating area is positioned can often translate beautifully into a domestic garden when considered carefully within the context of the space. Light conditions, soil type, maintenance requirements and the scale of the garden all play an important role in determining what will work successfully long term.

The most successful gardens are usually those that feel connected to both the house and surrounding landscape rather than trying to replicate another space entirely.

NOTICE THE SMALL DETAILS

Often, it is the quieter details that leave the strongest impression after visiting a show garden. The texture of gravel underfoot, the way planting softens the edge of paving or the movement of grasses catching evening light can all contribute to the atmosphere of a space in surprisingly powerful ways.

Whilst these details may appear effortless within a finished garden, they are usually the result of careful refinement and thoughtful design decisions throughout the process. It is often this attention to detail that allows a garden to feel calm, immersive and emotionally connected to the people using it.

garden design in solihull & warwickshire

At Carly Tong Garden Design, inspiration is often found not only in planting, but in the atmosphere and feeling a garden creates as a whole. Across Solihull, Warwickshire and the surrounding West Midlands, gardens are increasingly becoming spaces that support rest, connection and everyday outdoor living throughout the seasons.

The most successful gardens are rarely shaped by trends alone. They are created through thoughtful observation, careful planning and planting-led design that responds naturally to both the home and surrounding landscape.

Because a garden should not only feel beautiful when first experienced. It should continue to evolve and inspire over time.

beginning the garden design process

If you are considering redesigning your garden, the process begins with understanding how you want to use the space and how it can evolve over time.A considered design ensures that every decision has purpose by creating a garden that feels calm, connected and lasting.

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