Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Maggi Young on May 16, 2014, 01:20:41 PM
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We've already seen elsewhere the Kevock "run-through" for their Chelsea stand . Billy Carruthers, another SRGC member , of Binny Plants (http://www.binnyplants.com/), is also heading south- with around 1000 paeony flowers! This will be Binny Plants' third year at Chelsea.
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'Mackinac Grand' is their Chelsea plant highlight for Gardens Illustrated magazine.
"It's a strong grower with the sort of red flowers that catch your eye across the garden. A well-deserved Peony of the Year 2014 chosen by the American Peony Society."
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Kevock Garden Plants are among those who will be hoping for Gold again at Chelsea - a pic was shared here (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=11252.msg305306#msg305306) - they'll be dashing back to Scotland for Gardening Scotland just after Chelsea, as will Binny Plants and Jacques Amand too.
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Amand's Chelsea spot
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Amand Gunneras ready to be positioned
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More pix tweeted from Binny Plants
"The Mackinac Grand is opening up and getting ready for its big moment in the limelight on Monday "
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"Watch out! Billy has been let loose with a power tool..."
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"The preparation for our stand is going well! It should look a pretty picture by tomorrow"
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At Jacques Amand's stand the plants are going in :
"Arisaema tortuosum- standing proud
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"Cypripedium waiting in the wings"
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Sorry, no pix tweeted from Avon Bulbs or Kevock meantime.
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Crûg Farm Plants, home of the Wynn Jones dynamic duo of modern day plant-hunting are also hard at work at Chelsea- and today is Sue Wynn Jones' birthday - what a a way to spend it - poor woman is probably too tired to eat cake.
See photos of their set-up here : https://twitter.com/crugfarmplants (https://twitter.com/crugfarmplants)
Bobby Ward (http://www.bobbyjward.com), author, speaker and NARGS stalwart from Raleigh, North Carolina, tells me that two of the student interns from the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh are on a scholarship trip to the U.K for three weeks or so, and they are meeting up with Sue and Bleddyn W-J. to help them set up their exhibit for Chelsea.
Bobby, who has previously written about Plant Explorers includingJim Archibald and the Wynn Jones has also published a biography, "Chlorophyll in His Veins: J. C. Raulston, Horticultural Ambassador " after whom the Raulston Arboretum was named.
Small world, isn't it?
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Ross Barbour has tweeted (https://twitter.com/OldCourtDesign)this photo of the AGS stand :
"AGS at Chelsea. Planting almost done "
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Good use of railway sleepers there, it seems. This seems to be their publicity booth rather than a display...... :-\
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At present the AGS is only having a "full" marquee stand display every other year, I understand. This is an off year so the side avenue display promoting the society is limited in size.
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Thanks Brian - I'm getting muddled - of course the AGS had a full display last year.
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Tall Colin Crosbie, Wisley Curator is enjoying Chelsea - in a borrowed bowler hat!
His tweet: "What a wonderful show Chelsea2014 , the plants and people look good !"
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::) ;)
Another photo, this time from Michael Perry of an auricula display :
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Chelsea Plant of the Year winner is this Hydrangea macrophylla "Miss Saori" - read more about it here :
http://www.newplantsandflowers.com/japanese-pot-and-cut-hydrangea-debuts-in-europe/ (http://www.newplantsandflowers.com/japanese-pot-and-cut-hydrangea-debuts-in-europe/)
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Photo tweeted by Michael Perry (https://twitter.com/gardening_greek)
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Forumist David Wong of Plantedd (http://www.plantedd.com/) has tweeted these pictures of Binny plants at Chelsea - ready for judging
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'Illini Warrior' has a beautiful-shaped flower. A really vigorous peony with a slight scent.
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Colin Crosbie found some colleagues.......
"Curators from RHS Wisley, RHS HarlowCarr RHS Rosemoor and RHS Hyde Hall "
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Colin Crosbie, Wisley, back left. Ian Le Gros Hyde Hall, front. Jonathan Webster Rosemoor rear centre Paul Cook Harlow Carr, right
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Oh - I haven't been to Chelsea for a few years now and am getting withdrawal symptoms! Will have to watch the coverage on the BBC. The Kent HPS are planning an exhibit next year and have been kindly offered some trees for the display by Tom Wood VMH, who was Managing Director of Oakover Nursery in Kent and gave us a tour of his wonderful garden to gain inspiration and possible ideas of suitable trees. We put together some memorable displays in the past - the highlight probably being one based on Margery Fish's garden at East Lambrook and her garden writing. Now there's a thought - who might have written about alpine plants in such an inspiring way...
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I was at Chelsea yesterday scorching hot some of the plants were already wilting (so was I) the whole thing is very interesting with so much time and effort to create all the fantastic gardens and displays in the floral hall. I somehow feel tha many of the exhibits were all about sensationalism a million miles away from gardening I am sure however that is what the visitors come to see. I post my selection, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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last few
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Just come into the office at lunch time and I see the results are on the RHS website.
Congratulations to all.
John Amand and his team for a Gold Medal
Kevock a Gold Medal
Binny Plants a Silver Gilt Medal
They will of all worked so hard to get there displays ready and with the heat yesterday :)
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Well done for finding the list on the RHS site, Julia - I can't find it for the life of me!
Avon have tweeted they have a Gold -
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John Grimshaw has tweeted this photo of Amand's cypripediums -
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At last - http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/PDF/Chelsea/2014-awards/RHS-CFS2014-Great-Pavilion-Awards (http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/PDF/Chelsea/2014-awards/RHS-CFS2014-Great-Pavilion-Awards)
And for the outdoor gardens : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/chelseaflowershow/10842936/Chelsea-Flower-Show-2014-the-winners-in-full.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/chelseaflowershow/10842936/Chelsea-Flower-Show-2014-the-winners-in-full.html)
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For those who cannot access the BBC TV programmes on the Chelsea show, there are some little videos on the RHS about (some of) the show gardens http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/awards (http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/awards)
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I see that there's a local gold medal winner also - Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries - who will be familiar to vistors to the Hexham show. I don't t think that they have been in existence for that long (5-10 years??), so they've done really well.
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From the tweets by Gary McDermott (https://twitter.com/HarperleyHallFa) of Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries
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Dactylorhiza 'Harold Esslemont'
and this pic of their stand from https://twitter.com/summerdalegn
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Avon Bulbs' Chris and Alan being interviewed for Radio Bristol
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More from behind the scenes at Jacques Amand - and Nesta J. was interviewed on TV this afternoon
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Debbie J.
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Maria
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Carol Klein filming at the Avon Bulbs stand about 1/2 an hour ago - tweeted by Maxine G.
( DingDong)
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She's sitting on the plants!!!!
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As Ian said, it was wonderfully warm on Monday when the Joint Rockers met at Chelsea. Not sure that the plants appreciated it though, as there were signs of some wilting. Apparently the Sunday had been sweltering also. Anyway here's some images and my perspective on what is a fabulous display.
Congrats to Kevock, Binny Plants, John Amand, Avon Bulbs and Harperley Hall Farm on their awards (oops no picture of the last). First some pics of Kevock
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Binny Plants with their theme of Paeony Pioneers and the fabulous 'Mackinac Grand'. Billy looks suitable relaxed after judging had taken place......
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The displays put on by Jacques Amand International are always stunning, but I never thought of Cypripediums as "bedding" plants!! It's good to see the variety of hybrids now available but some of the species such as C reginae seen here take some bettering.
The Avon Bulbs display (before the plants were sat upon :P)
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There were heady scents throughout the pavilion:
wonderful hyacinths - but a long way from the original wild plant
and lilies galore
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We were also entertained by a steel band and dancing from Grenada, along with their display which included locally grown spices.
The "tropical" theme was continued by the stunning display of orchids from Thailand.
I've always enjoyed the bright colours of Bougainvillias ever since a spell living in suitable climes - here from Westdale Nurseries.
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Others that took my eye
Rickards Ferns - distinctly reminiscent of times geologically past.....
stunning Rebutias
colourful heucheras etc
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Ian showed one of the displays of carnivorous plants here's the other, which included sundews.
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There were a couple of displays from South Africa: Cape Town (first image) and Kirstenbosch Botanics. Wonderful landscape effects created in these displays, though one could say that the monster skeleton is anatomically incorrect.....
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Now a few from outside, though the gardens in general don't interest me in quite the same way somehow.
Plant sculptures
M & G garden
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In celebrating the Britain in Bloom competition the RHS commissioned Alan Titchmarsh to design a garden, themed 'From the moors to the sea'.
Two views of the garden and indeed the maestro was on hand to explain all..... I particularly like the planting on the shore, but the blocks of rock leave something to desire!
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Finally, some members of the Joint Rock Committee discussing plants on the Kevock stand. From left Martin Sheader, Ian Bainbridge, Chris Grey-Wilson, Robert Rolfe, Peter Semple, Ian Christie (just visible behind), Joy Bishop, Carol Bainbridge, Michael Pitcher (RHS, Committee Secretary), Tony Hall and Bill Baker with his back to camera.
What they had been looking at:
Primula ambita - probably the only plant in cultivation and probably has never previously been cultivated. It is in the same section as Primula obconica. David Rankin explained that seed was collected recently and this is the only seedling to grow to flowering. The committee saw this as it started to flower at the Glasgow SRGC show recently and here it is much further on. It was awarded a Botanical Certificate.
Interesting, but probably not as exciting as this Trillium flexipes hybrid......
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Bowled over by the Kevock display and Martin Rickard's ferns (which always gives a wonderful green oasis amongst everything else). Withdrawal symptoms growing! Next year must visit Chelsea.
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Did anyone record or note the names of three roses featured on ?Monday. Carol Klein talked about them. One was Frilly Cuffs and the one I wanted was a white repeat rambler
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At £58 entrance fee I could order £50 worth of plants and have them delivered.
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£58 in to Chelsea!!
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Wow. I just wouldn't be prepared to pay that.
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I read somewhere today that the tickets were £68 - which made me choke on my cuppa -
perhaps £58 is for RHS members?
edit : £68 was for an "all-day" ticket on Tuesday 20th - I didn't imagine it. :-X
The £58 all day tickets for the other days are for non-members.
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Well everyone the £58 is just the beginning add the cost of getting to the show then lunch a wee sip of champers or similar then a bite to eat on the way home, for me every penny spent was very worth while what are we living for go and see what is on show spread the word about plants and gardening they are cheap to other extravagances (which I also enjoy) perhaps more than once a year as well, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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She's sitting on the plants!!!!
What do you expect from Carol Klein and why is she wearing a pinny :o
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........ and be herded around like a recalcitrant school child too and pay well well over the odds for food and drink? Not me I'm afraid, I'd choose Cardiff or Malvern everytime. Cheaper; far fewer of the 'glitterati' of the horticultural world and other world as well; fewer designer follies and I could buy plants as well.
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When I first joined the RHS as a student way back in the distant yonder Chelsea came free with your membership! Can you believe that. I'm with Ian though - if plants captivate you then so does Chelsea too, and if you are lucky enough to be one of the glitterati then quite often you get in free! (And a lot of the glitterati are actually humble nurserymen and growers if you look at it the right way). The thing to do is to get involved with one of the displays - exhausting but at the same time exciting - and you also see the reality of what is behind making all these gardens and displays which is often not too different to what you spend time doing in your own garden too.
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Yes, £68 does seem steep at first sight, but that's the entry for the whole day, early in the week. However, it's not so bad compared with the cost of say a top game in the Premier League (not that I go mind you....). Chelsea is the premier show in the UK with lots of wonderful plants to see - I'm glad I went and enjoyed the day out. Yep, I'm with Ian and Tim - cheers!!!
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The BBC coverage of Chelsea has been truly dire! I used to go till about 3 years ago when it became too crowded.
The coverage seemed devoted to the presenters slapping each other on the back endlessly...'tell me how many golds you got Andy', 'tell me how many best in shows you have won Chris'...I asked my husband to tweet Beardshaw, who I previously rated, to ask if they could tone down the mutual adulation, the result my husband was immediately blocked! Beardshaw is another of the 'celebrities' who believe that 'online abuse' is when somebody does not say something positive about you! Ego the size of Yorkshire.
Comments of the week from the coverage:
'Celebrity', What's that plant Mum?, Answer from Mum, an Iris!
Swift 'Word from the street is that the designs all have similar flowers!
'Celebrity Mum, I used to come until a few years ago but it was too crowded and impossible to see the exhibits, today is great though (VIP Tickets)
Question to many 'celebrities, Do you garden, Answer not really! One though had a gardener!
Mystery of the week...What happened to the young garden designer who was getting wall-to-wall coverage before the judging, then when he blew Gold vanished without trace...is he buried under a garden and will he be found during the plant sale???
The BBC has a bad reputation and they have done nothing to improve it with this effort.
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At £58 entrance fee I could order £50 worth of plants and have them delivered.
What a superb idea Ian, I'll never feel guilty again and must look at what I want from Crug Farm. Cheers ;D ;D
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Yes, £68 does seem steep at first sight, but that's the entry for the whole day, early in the week. However, it's not so bad compared with the cost of say a top game in the Premier League (not that I go mind you....)
When I was caring for my Father 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the government allowance paid to me was less than £46 per week - I believe that has risen now to a little more than £50 per week, though I would no longer be getting that, were I in that position now, because I'm over 60 - so I do believe there must be an awful lot of people who just could not afford that ticket price. As to the price of football tickets - those are a mystery to me, but given the huge wages the players receive, it does not surprise me that tickets costs will also be high. :(
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Maggi - this Forum comes free even without membership; isn't that amazing. One can get a lot of inspiration from other people for nowt so giving something back seems a nice idea.
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As I've just said in a thread about Bodnant, it is wonderful that we are able here to enjoy these "virtual visits", whether as a tasting to tempt a visit or for those who cannot visit - of course the sharing of plant and cultivation experiences is really important in the forum, but these simple sharing pleasures are a real delight.
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Well, Maggi, I'm hooked! I'd love to visit this Show at least once. Have been looking (drooling) at all the Show pictures - raining too hard to do anything in the garden and the laundry can just wait. Loved the pictures of Primula japonica which is budding now in the stream garden. It certainly seeds itself like crazy and that makes me happy.
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Some Chelsea photos from today.
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Some more
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nearly done
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Sorry they are a bit blurred. The martagon is Jennifer Evans and the chestnut is Aesculus flava.
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Super photos, Margaret - did you have a good day? ( it looks like you did!)
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Really lovely photos Margaret.
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Such wonderful photos - far better than anything I've seen this week on the BBC. It's so so nice to see plants rather than celebrities.
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Thanks so much Margaret - that was so enjoyable.
Edna
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Wonderful photos Margaret, with the focus where it should be - on the plants. Thank you.
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Quote of the week from the BBC coverage: Flower arranging Traffic Marshall "I'm on a diet - actually I'm on two diets because you don't get enough to eat on one".
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Wow, thanks for the kind comments folks. I had a great day. Found out a few more things I didn't know - like arisaemas don't tolerate winter wet which explains why mine hasn't appeared. It was a bit challenging getting two large bags of plants home on the tube and a crowded bus but worth the effort.
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Re Chelsea Show TV coverage : comments about the show coverage in general - please let New Exec producer know : simon.shaw@bbc.co.uk
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Wow, thanks for the kind comments folks. I had a great day. Found out a few more things I didn't know - like arisaemas don't tolerate winter wet which explains why mine hasn't appeared. It was a bit challenging getting two large bags of plants home on the tube and a crowded bus but worth the effort.
Don't give up on your arisaemas, Margaret, - my A. candidissimum does not appear above the ground until mid June. I too thought I had lost it until I discovered its tardy habit.
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Thanks, Maureen, for the hopeful information. I'll be careful where I put my feet for a week or two.
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While I'm on the subject of TV and Chelsea.......
" Designs on Chelsea (working title) BBC Two
Designs on Chelsea (working title) is a new series made by BBC Productions in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society. We're offering one passionate amateur garden designer the chance to win the ultimate prize in gardening - the chance to go to the RHS Chelsea Show and design a garden on Main Avenue.
We're looking for keen amateur garden designers to take part in the competition. Filming will take place in July, August and September."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/beonashow/designs_on_chelsea?utm_content=buffer9d999&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/beonashow/designs_on_chelsea?utm_content=buffer9d999&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer)