Two visitors take a rest to contemplate the day ahead

There are more than 30 gardens to see, including the 12 main show gardens – some of them drawing crowds

The show offers plenty of opportunities to get a closer look at plants

Colour and variety abounds in every corner of the gardens

The show makes a backdrop for a performance drawing on motifs from myth and folklore

One of the themes emerging was the use of herbs, wildflowers and plants that used to be known as weeds

Water features contributed to the sense of calm and wellbeing that many of the garden designers were seeking

At £14.50 a glass, Pimm’s was not something to leave unattended

Chelsea is always a welcoming place for bees, even if they are puppets

The show is a good place for deep conversations

The show had its usual allotment of celebrity visitors – including Joanna Lumley, here being shown one of the gardens that won a silver medal

Taking a break from the hustle and bustle

Manoj Malde, who designed the RHS and Eastern Eye Garden of Unity, married his partner at the show, in a first for the RHS

Each year the show has about 170,000 visitors

Actor Matthew Macfadyen, from Succession, diverts attention from the flowers for a moment

The flower show has been held for more than 100 years in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, home of Chelsea pensioners – here sharing a laugh with a drag artist

The show offers gardeners the chance to get ideas for their own schemes

With more than 500 exhibitors, a day at the show can be exhausting

No one is too young to take part in the event

Performers join in the fun

There are nurseries, florists and more than 250 shopping stands for anyone wanting to take something home

Some visitors contributed their own efforts to the floral display

Others chose to capture the flowers with their cameras

Straw hats, especially panamas, were a popular choice for the crowds

Nurseries exhibit shrubs and plants in the Great Pavilion, which covers almost 3 acres

Many of the gardens had themes of relaxation and restoration – a message taken to heart by some visitors

Some of the visitors to Chelsea brought their own flowers – and were keen to show them off