BRITAIN: King Arthur, Nelson Mandela and the Teletubbies are the inspiration behind some of this year's most eclectic entries at Britain's annual Chelsea Flower Show, the headline event for gardeners around the globe.
The sell-out show, which officially opens today, features about 600 exhibitors, and includes 52 gardens exhibited under the categories of show, chic, courtyard or city.
Gardeners have descended on the annual show - seen as the most important on the horticultural calendar - eager to showcase new design trends.
Among the more unusual entries submitted this year is a medicinal garden inspired by the legend of King Arthur which features a waterfall, a cave and a tower, representing Merlin's ancient fortress.
An entry by Irish television gardener Diarmuid Gavin contains hundreds of multi-coloured spheres resembling lollipops, which he said was inspired in part by the brightly coloured children's TV show Teletubbies and by the work of British conceptual artist Damien Hirst.
The struggle against apartheid in South Africa is featured in a garden containing a water sculpture that reflects the bars of Nelson Mandela's prison cell.
Sports are also featured. A sunken garden bordered by water celebrates the 175th anniversary of the boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Another hails the Newcastle United football team, with a "sacred pitch" as the entry's focal point.
The four-day event, which covers 11 acres, is expected to draw 157,000 visitors, including Queen Elizabeth.
Over the course of the four days, some 6,500 bottles of champagne, 18,000 glasses of Pimms and 5,000 lobsters will be sold, according to the show's organisers.