In pictures: Chelsea Flower Show

1 of 9 Green is in and foliage beats flowers - the Queen was in the know for trends at Chelsea this year

2 of 9 Television presenter Carol Vorderman released white doves into a wild bird garden during a preview day at the Chelsea Flower Show.

3 of 9 Chelsea pensioner Stan Kendrick, 92, found himself in TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin's creation, called A Colourful Suburban Eden.

4 of 9 The sell-out show officially opens on Tuesday, with the public admitted on Thursday and Friday.

5 of 9 The Metropolitan Police showed off the New Scotland Yard rose: it is an extra-thorny variety designed to deter burglars.

6 of 9 Celebrity gardener Charlie Dimmock launched a new set of stamps to commemorate 200 years of the Royal Horticultural Society.

7 of 9 Pershore College tutor Craig Smith is one of 600 exhibitors contributing to the show at the 11-acre London site.

8 of 9 BBC Breakfast's Natasha Kaplinski admired the new Rosa Salvation bloom, bred especially for the Salvation Army.

9 of 9 About 157,000 people will pass through the showground, seeing 105 floral displays, 40 gardens and 15 educational exhibits.