It's really growing on me...a day of stars and blooms

IT’S the Baftas for botany, the Proms for plants, Glastonbury for gardeners. So I made sure to bag myself a Chelsea Flower Show preview ticket and it did not disappoint.

- By Frances Millar

You're never more than 3ft from a Dame here and bumping into national treasures is par for the course. While trying to snap one of the stunning Japanese-inspired balcony gardens, a man stepped aside to give me a view.

When I thanked him, I did a double take. It was only Queen legend Sir Brian May. Of course, it was. It’s Chelsea.

Naturally, there is Pimm's on tap and rows of champagne flutes stand at the ready.

Main Avenue is a river of women in floral maxi-dresses and men wearing linen suits and fedoras. Chelsea Pensioners trundle past on mobility scooters.