Chelsea flower show 2012 - in pictures

The Brewin Dolphin garden, designed by Cleve West, won best in show. It is the second time in a row West has triumphed, after his success in 2011 with a garden for the Daily Telegraph. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Cleve West's garden featured topiary yew 'sentinels' and beech hedging, with a planting palette of white, lime green and yellow punctuated with splashes of red and purple. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Andy Sturgeon, received a gold medal for the The M&G Garden, which was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. For a 360º panoramic shot of the garden, click here. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Winning one of Chelsea's coveted top prizes (RHS plant of the year), Digitalis 'Illumination' bred by Thompson & Morgan, is a beautiful foxglove available exclusively at Walberton Nursery Photograph: Julian Weigall/PR

Delicate flowers in the M&G garden Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A flower-covered Mini Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A line of lovely lillies Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The Laurent Perrier garden, designed by Arne Maynard, also won a gold medal. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The pink fluffy lollipops of Persicaria bistorta 'Superba', the dark red cornflower Centaurea 'Jordy' and the pink and white blooms of Geranium phaeum 'Walküre' in Arne Maynard's garden. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Gorgeous grasses on display Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The Arthritis Research UK garden, designed by Tom Hoblyn Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Blossom-covered trees Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Auricula plants, on the W S Lockyer stand in the Great Pavilion. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Daffodils of every conceivable hue (well, white and several shades of yellow) Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

A Chelsea pensioner flies a Chelsea FC flag from Diarmuid Gavin's Westland Magical Garden Photograph: Sang Tan/AP

The Chelsea pensioners have a tea break after climbing to the top of the pyramid Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The slide on Diarmuid Gavin's creation Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The Hillier Nurseries exhibit will feature live fencing demonstrations from Team GB athletes all week Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

A perfect pink rose. Two new roses are being introduced at Chelsea this year Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Sir Cliff poses at the Barbados Horticultural Society's display, fittingly entitled 'Summer Holiday' Photograph: Sang Tan/AP

A visitor gets a close-up of a lovely digitalis 'Silver Cub' in the Great Pavilion Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

The QR Code Garden - never let it be said that Chelsea is stuck in the past Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Dusting flowers with a paintbrush - just an ordinary, everyday occurrence at Chelsea Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

A gold lantern at the opulent Thai garden Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

The Guardian's gardening editor, Jane Perrone, has warned of Jubilee overkill at Chelsea this year Photograph: Fred Duval/FilmMagic