On 5/27/11 1:07 PM, Mucky Gardener wrote:
The Chelsea Flower show – ‘the world’s most famous flower show’

The web is alive with bloggers stating which is their favourite show
garden and the new plants that they simply must have.

What was my highlight you ask? I can’t tell you, because I didn’t go. I
couldn’t go. You see, I am a father of young children and so I am
prohibited from attending.

Children under 5 are not allowed. Period. I quote from the RHS website;
‘For reasons of comfort and safety, children under five, babes in arms,
pushchairs and prams are not admitted to the show under any
circumstances.’

Ok so the RHS have one of the best flower shows in the world but I
cannot take my 4 year old daughter who loves all things gardening.

You catch my point but if your interested, see my full rant at the link
below. Yours, Mucky.

I am a docent at a garden owned by a charitable foundation. One major
problem is that parents too often think this is a public park. They
even ask, "Where is the playground?"

Two sections of the garden are supposed to be "quiet places". Screaming
children definitely do not belong there. (Also, I ask people using cell
phones to move to the outer walkway.)

The rules of the garden state, "Adult supervision is required for
children at all times." and "Running through the Gardens and climbing on
rocks, rails or fountains is strictly prohibited." Yet parents often
let their children wander off unsupervised. Children climb on the rocks
and run up the terraces of chain fountains. The parents are at fault
for not controlling their offspring and for not raising them to
understand appropriate behavior.

Yes, children are allowed. We even conduct tours for groups of school
children.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary