The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is on this week. The gardens are impressive, but my favourite part of the show has always been the enormous tent in the middle of it all, in which flowers from all round the British Isles are displayed. Radiant pots of daffodils sit alongside obscene-looking collections of orchids – and people come from around the world to ogle at them.
So at this time of the year, thoughts naturally turn to flowers. If, like me, you only have limited space in your garden – or window box (where I am currently attempting to grow sweet peas) – then you may find yourself in need of a few reliable places from which you can always buy a handsome bunch of flowers for yourself or someone more deserving.
There are plenty of mediocre florists around. When I was younger, I used to work as a florist, so know some of the more unappetising tricks of the trade.

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