MILLAIS Nurseries, based in Churt, has won gold for the last four consecutive RHS Chelsea Flower Shows, and always tries something different each time.

This year their exhibit will be a ‘walk through’ display to encourage visitors to get up close and personal to the blooms and their scent.

It will be divided in two by a path, with one side showing taller plants and those which might have been popular 100 years ago, and the other side showing smaller plants more suitable for today’s smaller gardens.

Their display celebrates the centenary of the Rhododendron Society which later evolved into the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group (RCMG).

The Rhododendron Society held its first AGM at Chelsea Flower Show in 1916 – exactly 100 years ago. The society was founded by a number of enthusiasts, one being the naturalist JG Millais, the great uncle of David Millais, owner of Millais Nurseries and chairman of the committee of the current RCMG.

With the centenary approaching, in the past year the RCMG has surveyed its members and has produced a list of their members’ favourite Top 100 Rhododendrons.

Millais Nurseries will be exhibiting as many of the large old plants as possible and comparing them to today’s modern and more compact range. The members’ number one plant will be announced and will naturally have pride of place.

“We will endeavour to display the RCMG Top 10 Rhododendrons, but this will be subject to trying to make them flower at Chelsea time” said David Millais.

David’s father, Ted, started Millais Nurseries at Crosswater Farm in 1970 turning his hobby into a business. David’s sister, Fiona Millais will be taking a keen interest in the Chelsea display and will be helping to turn David’s plan into reality, focusing on colour, form and the overall aesthetics of the display. Fiona is a successful artist, following in the steps of her great grandfather, the Pre-Raphaelite painter, Sir John Everett Millais.

David is passionate about his plants and the environment. “Over the past few seasons the nursery has eliminated most chemical sprays. This starts by good plant selection to ensure we only propagate healthy trouble free varieties which will perform well in our nursery and well in a garden situation,” he said.

Visit Millais Nurseries at Stand GPF211 in the Grand Pavilion at the Chelsea Flower Show, at their Plant Centre in Churt, or their website at www.rhododen

drons.co.uk.