Lawn and order! Wimbledon in full bloom

Wimbledon head gardener Martyn Falconer is the only man at the All England Club who welcomes a drop of rain.

- 

While wet weather wreaks havoc with the tournament schedule, he is not disappointed with the occasional cloudburst to keep his spectacular flower displays in perfect condition.

Falconer oversees the delivery of 27,000 plants for the Championships in leafy southwest London to add to thousands already in place in the immaculate grounds.

Hydrangeas and petunias in blues, purples and whites tumble over the sides of hanging baskets and window boxes, filling herbaceous borders and floral installations.

Roses are scattered throughout the grounds and Boston ivy creeps over the outside walls of Centre Court to create the picture-perfect Grand Slam event.

Falconer, who has worked at the All England Club for 25 years, spending 11 years in his current role, says Wimbledon’s ethos is “tennis in an English garden”.

He manages a team of 10 permanent gardeners and two apprentices, which expands by around 10 in the lead-up to the tournament, which this year starts on June 30.