While Chelsea is hosting its annual flower show, Teddington held its own private garden show.

On Sunday, 18 May, Teddington in Flower offered hundreds of individuals, including families, the opportunity to visit and explore 15 uniquely landscaped local gardens.

Visitors enjoyed a variety of garden designs during the event and several gardens were arranged into small, intimate sections, guiding visitors through the space in a natural flow.

Ros Laidlflow's garden located at 111 Fairfax Road (Credit: Kitt Garrett)

Other garden features included a swimming pool with a barbeque station, woodland areas with roses, lavenders and alliums, water features ranged from shady areas with stepping stones to gardens full of shrubs and a large pond which encourages frogs, toads, and other wildlife.

Gianna Saccomani's garden located 31 St Alban's Gardens, TW111 8AE (Credit: Kitt Garrett)

One cottage garden featured a mix of plants timed to bloom throughout the season.

Jill and Paul Smith's garden located at 29 Elmfield Avenue (Credit: Kitt Garrett)

In a garden located on Udney Road, carved stone bowls offered water for birds, while another included tiered levels with different seating areas to take in the seasonal blooms.

Shirley Meaker's garden located at 42 Udney Park Road (Credit: Kitt Garrett)

In a garden of Fairfax Road, a long wooden table was set up for outdoor dining with views across the garden, encouraging guests to linger over a meal before strolling through the surrounding greenery.

Jo and Martin Nichold's garden located at 59 Fairfax Road (Credit: Kitt Garrett)

Another garden on Fairfax Road featured a substantial central bed filled with rhododendrons and azaleas. The house had sliding glass windows connecting the interior to the patios and garden, making the garden an outdoor room.

Ros Laidlflow's garden located at 111 Fairfax Road (Credit: Kitt Garrett)

Speaking about this year's event, Jo Nicholds, Chair of the Garden Group at The Teddington Society said: "What a successful day - everybody seemed to enjoy it hugely.

"We had a really enjoyable afternoon, and it was a joy seeing gardens and meeting people."

Before Covid, the event was annual; now it is planned as a bi-annual event.

This year, ticket sales surpassed 300, reflecting a 33% increase of 100 compared to 2024.

Some gardens reported over 280 visitors in the afternoon. 

Over 24 volunteers from the Teddington Society Community Gardening Group and Kingston Samaritans coordinated the event by setting up tables and chairs, checking people in, and handling a plant sale and teas.

The team at the Landmark helped set up the plant stall and volunteers from St Mary with St Alban church were on hand to serve teas and give demonstrations of hand bell ringing in St Mary's Parish Hall in Langham Road.

As in previous years, the funds raised will go to the Landmark Arts Centre charity for further improvement of their woodland gardens, and to Kingston Samaritans, an independent local charity providing emotional support and run entirely by volunteers from across Richmond and Kingston boroughs.

A further portion will be set aside for the future planting and maintenance of community garden areas around Teddington.

The Teddington Society reached out to garden owners to invite them to open their gardens.

Nicholds added: "For all of us who love gardens and gardening, we want to encourage others to share their own plots and the joy they bring."

Teddington in Flower began in 1974, with occasional breaks to raise money for a variety of charities.

"The September 1974 edition No 5 of the society's newsletter, reported that the first show was "a very successful 'Teddington in Flower' weekend on June 29th and 30th which was a rather rainy weekend but all those who took part……. seemed to enjoy themselves.

"In 1974, the gardens were judged, and the winner was awarded a prize of £2.50, the whole weekend raising the important sum of £18!"