The exhibitors: 600 in total, including 19 show gardens, 24 smaller gardens and about 100 nursery and floral exhibitors.
The judges: The 122 Royal Horticultural Society judges are divided into 19 panels.
Photo-ops: Celebrities wheeled out on press day included Ringo Starr, Maureen Lipman, Julian Clary, Loyd Grossman, Joanna Lumley, Jane Asher, Gerard Depardieu, Trevor McDonald, Jon Snow, Ainsley Harriott, Lord Lichfield and Princess Anne