Chelsea Flower Show 2006

Rain rain go away...
This year has been rain wind cold more rain and gusts off wind and a tiny bit of sun. No sooner have you but your umbrella away and got a camera out spots of rain appear again.
I'm voting in the BBC's People's Choice Award for the Africa garden this year. I love the red colour of the soil and the concept behind the garden and the charity Garden Africa. Their aim is to reduce poverty and malnutrition in Africa by creating 1001 training and resource gardens across Southern Africa. They have a really good website with links to the Chelsea garden www.gardenafrica.org.uk
I like seeing unusual plants from different parts of the globe - far more interesting than a new variety of pelargonium. Whilst I'm not a fan of show gardens that recreate a scene like an olde worlde cottage this little piece of Africa is sympathetic and authentic as parts of it have been created by Garden Africa's training partner, Zimbabwean John Nzira.
Whatever medals are awarded tomorrow I think all the gardeners deserve a prize for 'Achievement in adverse weather conditions'.
Special thanks to my assistant Nikki today for chasing after me around the show and for putting up with the bad weather.

BBC presenter Carol Klein and crew interview specialist daffodil grower.














Cut and blow dry for irises

Asia Exhibition and Persian Food

Last night I was invited to the private view for photographer Michael Freeman's exhibition - Asia 30 years of documentary photography.
I arrived for the talk a little late, thanks to a London cabbie with a hatred for women drivers.
It was impossible to see or hear Michael talk about his work properly as everyone else was talking and the projector screen was too low. It was a real shame because bits that I did hear were to do with the stories behind the pictures in particular about the political situation and subsequent changes. In Cambodia he photographed Dith Pran, whose story was told in the film The Killing Fields.
The show runs until 21 May.
Light Contemporary 5a Porchester Place London w2 2BS

After the talk someone tapped me on the shoulder and it was LW which was a bit spooky as I had been thinking about her and the book we are working on together about South Korea. It is impossible to go anywhere in London and not bump into someone you know. The nibbles and wine had run out so I suggested we sample some Persian cuisine as we were in Little Arabia aka The Edgware Road. We were joined by two of her friends one of whom is Linda Barker's agent.
In the same street as the gallery is Colbeh a Persian restaurant. It was a little daunting at first going into a place full of men, but the staff were welcoming and the smell from the kitchen was enough to persuade us to stay.
The seating area is quite small and this is not helped by a whacking great tandoor oven right by the door. Perhaps it was not the best place to go on an exceptionally hot spring day!
Persian food is a combination of Middle Eastern, Indian, Greek and Turkish. Two huge but light naan breads were made for us before I eyes. To accompany them we chose kashk-e-bademjan (grilled aubergine, walnuts, mint and khask (whey) dip. This looked a bit like melenzanes salades but without the garlic. We also had the obligatory houmos and mast-o-mousir, a yoghurt dip with wild garlic. FL popped out to get some alcohol as the restaurant does not have a license and while we waiting for her to return we ordered mint tea which came in a fabulously kitsch red and gold teapot with a sultan motif. The best mint tea I've had since Egypt. Sometime later FL returned from her impossible mission to find a bottle of booze on the Edgware Road and we ordered our main course. I chose chelo khoresh fesenjan or king of stews. The menu described it as shredded chicken but it was actually three large chunks. with a walnut, pomegranate and pumpkin sauce. The thick sauce was not the coloured that I had expected and I have to admit it did not look apppestising. Anything the colour of cooked liver and pureed will not win any awards for presentation. But restaurants like this are about fresh, honest food. The stew was wonderful, slightly sweet tasting and served with a light nutty pilau rice. The bill was just over £60 for 4 without wine. Vegetarian dishes are also served but if you have a walnut allergy probably a dangerous place to visit.
Colbeh - 6 Porchester Place London W2 2BS