Grenada's a royal favourite

I've never yet been lucky enough to visit the Chelsea Flower Show and so was thrilled to get an invite this year from Grenada Tourism. We were to gather inside the Great Pavilion beside Castaway, the Grenada exhibit http://www.grenada-at-chelsea.org.uk/ created by Suzanne Gaywood and her team.

It was fantastic news to hear that Suzanne had again won a gold medal at the show, her ninth, for her recreation of Grenada's tropical idyll complete with traditional thatched shack and just the hint of a nearby jetty on a deserted beach. The native bamboo and flamboyant array of flowers, foliage and spices had all been painstakingly packed and flown in fresh from Grenada just a few days earlier. A less arduous journey though was had by the sand that was trucked in from the local builder's yard and with the aid of good local bleach rather than tropical sunshine made to acquire the Grenadian sun-bleached look.


Earlier that morning the Queen had made an unscheduled stop for a chat at the Grenada stand. Suzanne's annual exhibit is one that the Queen always looks out for at the Show and apparently Grenada one of the Royals' favourite islands.

One of my favourite places on Grenada is the Calabash Hotel, one I'd always recommend for peace, quiet, excellent dining at Gary Rhodes' restaurant and, I understand, just over the water from the lavish private island of Calivigny that's now available to hire for just over £25,000 per night. Bargain. Christmas party sorted.

CT