Lesley Roberts of Pop's Plants in Downton, gold winner at Chelsea.FOLLOWING a frenetic week at London's Chelsea flower show, local growers returned home, some more delighted than others.

The show demands the highest standards and to come away with any medal at all is a real achievement.

It was a wonderful show for Pops Plants, of Downton, with primula auricula grower Lesley Roberts creating a display judges could not resist awarding a gold medal.

Stretching the flowering season of the auricula to its limits, Lesley took with her all the plants that remained in bloom, so there was little room for error in creating the stand, which held about 200 pristine specimens.

"A gold is wonderful and makes it all worthwhile," said an ecstatic Lesley.

"It was more than we had hoped for - the plants have done so well."

Pops Plants holds three national collections of auriculas at its Barford Lane premises, in Downton, but even a wealth of experience cannot guarantee a gold at Chelsea.

Grass specialists Knoll Gardens, of Hampreston, near Wimborne, shared in the feelings of elation after their stunning display also collected a gold medal.

With greens and blues key colours at this year's show, the grasses struck a particularly favourable chord.

Their stunning stand included a new variety, Festuca 'Siskiyou Blue', the bluest of all the blue fescues, which produces amazing long foliage in an eye-catching shaggy mound.

Princess Anne, a big fan of grasses, spent some time at the stand, talking to Neil Lucas, owner of Knoll and designer of the winning display.

Disappointment shrouded the efforts of White Veil Fuchsias, of Three Legged Cross, however, who achieved a silver gilt medal in their 12th year at the show.

Theirs was a beautiful display of fuchsias, with stunning plants, but the stand's designer, Robin Case, took little satisfaction in a 'second place' result and said he was not sure if he would return next year to hunt for the gold medal that has so far eluded them.

Used to high accolades, Hillier Nurseries, near Romsey, brought home their 59th consecutive gold medal with their music lover's garden.

Inspired by the work of English composers Ketelbey, Delius and Vaughan Williams, the stand reflected the mood of each artist's music, using a wide range of trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous plants.

Amid all the high-quality foliage at Chelsea, the celebrities were out in force as usual, reaffirming Chelsea's reputation as the most exciting, as well as the most challenging, flower show in the world.