It has been another golden year for Leicestershire and Rutland's gardeners at the Chelsea Flower Show, with five of this year's crop scooping top awards.
Nurseries and garden designers have been showing off their pride and joy to hundreds of thousands of visitors at the Royal Horticultural Society's centenary show, held at the Royal Hospital, in West London.
The medal haul includes three gold awards, a silver medal and a silver-gilt flora award.
Top of the tree was Rutland gardener Adam Frost – a former Best in Show winner – who earned his fifth Chelsea Flower Show gold medal.
The 43-year-old wooed judges with Sowing the Seeds of Change, an ornamental kitchen designed for DIY retailer Homebase, in association with the Alzheimer's Society.
Bringing together floral and edible plants, Adam's brief was to show how both can compliment each other and help a younger generation to understand more about the natural world.
A delighted Adam, who is based at Barnsdale Gardens, in Exton, said much of his inspiration came from the late Geoff Hamilton, who created the Barnsdale Ornamental Kitchen Garden in 1990 and who Adam trained under in his early years as a gardener.
"It was designed with a small family in mind," he said.
"The idea was to provide them with a space to enjoy an every-day connection with their food and nature.
"I've really enjoyed bringing it to life and would like to thank Homebase for its support."
His garden was the setting for a fund-raising tea party for the Alzheimer's Society, at which guests included actress Lynda Bellingham, The Great British Bake Off presenter Mary Berry, TV presenter Ruth Langsford and actor Christopher Biggins.
Matthew Compton, of Homebase, said: "We are hugely grateful to Adam for creating the garden with us and we hope Adam's vision and creativity will inspire even the most novice of gardeners to grow some Chelsea magic in their own gardens."
It was a double celebration for Barnsdale, which won a silver medal for a display designed by owner Nick Hamilton, son of Geoff.
"It's a great way to celebrate both our 30th anniversary and the flower show's centenary," said Nick, 51.
The display was based on his father's ornamental kitchen garden at Barnsdale, featuring flowers mixed with organic vegetables such as purple podded peas.
"The display really represents what Barnsdale is all about,' said Nick.
Husband and wife team Linda and Philip Smith, of Waterside Nursery, Sharnford, also struck gold – their third gold medal in four years – for their aquatic garden, featuring flowering plans, foliage and different coloured water lilies charting the plant's history in Britain over the past 100 years.
Philip, 61, who set up the family nursery 17 years ago, said: "We are more than thrilled – we're absolutely delighted!
"Three golds in a row is a great achievement, especially for a small village nursery like ours.
"We were also nominated for Best in Show and finished in the top five, which isn't too bad at all."
A third gold medal went to Philip Tivey & Son, of Syston, for its floral marquee display of cut alstroemeria flowers.
Oska Copperfield Nursery, in Birstall, scooped a silver-gilt flora award for its display of chrysanthemums.
