Frisbees, solar panels, and even a toilet are among the unconventional highlights of the Chelsea Flower Show, where gardeners are striving to illustrate that gardens can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Now celebrating its 112th edition, this event traditionally favors classic blooms like peonies and roses over less conventional items. However, the Garden of the Future, crafted by Matthew Butler and Josh Parker, includes a lavatory designed to transform waste into biochar compost ideal for vegetable cultivation.

“It processes solids into biochar and converts liquids into a safe irrigation water for ornamental plants,” Butler explained. Holding up a small container of the resulting material, he noted, “This comes from the toilet. It’s similar to light, friable soil. There’s a handy drawer beside the toilet that you can pull out to use those contents in the garden to enhance the crops.”

Additionally, the garden prominently displays a solar panel mounted on the ground, providing energy for an irrigation pump. This year’s heat and sunshine have led to early drought conditions in parts of the UK, emphasizing the necessity of irrigation. In light of the extreme weather linked to climate change, the garden incorporates drought-resistant crops suitable for home gardens.

“Our chickpeas are thriving,” Butler shared. “We also cultivate them at home along with sweet potatoes, which are increasing in popularity among UK farmers, especially in southern regions.”

Lucy Hutchings from She Grows Veg, showcasing her produce in the Great Pavilion, has also been working with drought-resistant varieties.

“We’re situated in East Anglia, and it essentially hasn’t rained for over a month,” she said. “In these conditions, leafy greens tend to bolt, and some have, so we’re testing drought-tolerant varieties like amaranth.”

Despite the challenges posed by drought, there is a silver lining; Hutchings noted that this will be an excellent year for tomatoes.

“While we need to keep them irrigated, they’ll mature more quickly,” she stated. “It promises to be a fantastic season for tomatoes, as the slight drought enhances their flavor.”

Frisbees and tennis balls are seldom a part of this refined event; however, Monty Don from BBC Gardeners’ World introduced them to his dog-friendly garden.

His golden retriever, Ned, joyfully chased toys around Don’s design, which features a durable lawn suitable for dogs, non-toxic flowers, and a pond for canines to enjoy. BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley also brought her dog, who played alongside Ned on the lawn.

Pointing to the turf, Don remarked, “You can see it’s already a bit worn out. I can only imagine what it will look like by the week’s end, but it’s a proper lawn designed for dogs to frolic.”

Don also shared that Ned contributed to the garden’s design by carving out pathways through the flower beds: “If you look closely, you’ll see trails where the dog has wandered through.” He mentioned that a fox had already found these disrupted areas and made itself comfortable among the poppies the prior night.

Queen Camilla, a known dog enthusiast, was expected to visit Don’s garden with her newly adopted terrier, Moley, from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where the garden will be relocated after the event concludes.

Though canine companions are celebrated at Chelsea, cats are not permitted in the SongBird Survival Garden.

Susan Morgan, the chief executive of the SongBird Survival charity that sponsored the garden, mentioned that plants with sharp thorns were chosen to deter cats from climbing and disturbing the birds.

“Just look at it—a cat wouldn’t want to scale that,” she emphasized, pointing to a broad-leaved cockspur thorn. This garden is designed to attract and support songbirds, which are in a state of significant decline in the UK.

The space is filled with berry-producing plants like blackcurrant and alpine strawberries to feed birds, along with flowers that attract pollinators, which birds rely on for food.

“We also established dense yew hedges, perfect for nesting,” Morgan added.

Although she hasn’t yet spotted any songbirds in the garden, signs suggest they’ve already taken an interest. “It does get a bit busy here during the day, but we’ve noticed bird droppings on the plants—which suggests they visit at night. We’re hoping to attract a blackbird as it quiets down,” she shared.

Celebrities such as Cate Blanchett, Carol Vorderman, David Tennant, and Judi Dench enjoyed the gardens during the press day preceding the public opening of the show.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 20 to 24 in the Royal Hospital gardens.