I visted the Chelsea Flower Show for the very first time and one thing stood out to me, and I would give a single piece of advice to anyone who is planning on attending. My first experience at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show was certainly an enriching one and I learned a huge amount about growing flowers, planting herbs and attracting birds and bees to my garden. I can see why it is one of the most hotly anticipated events of its kind in the country.

I spent most of Wednesday at the show, getting expert tips and tricks from growers and sellers, smelling fragrant English roses and enjoying a coffee while I strolled through engaging and artistic displays. It was truly an experience like no other and one I am glad to have seen with my own eyes (and smelled with my own nose). But there is one very important piece of advice that I would offer to anyone planning to attend the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Arrive as early as you can.

I got to the Chelsea Flower Show just before 9am. Already, there were people busy exploring and taking it all in. But as it got further into the late morning and early afternoon, the crowds grew substantially. 

As a result, I was able to have more enriching conversations with growers from around the country when they weren't as busy with other visitors, and I was able to easily meander through the central pavillion and the rest of the grounds before the crowds really grew. 

However, the late morning and early afternoon seemed to see a huge boost in visitor numbers and stalls and displays were notably more crowded. Plus, there were longer queues for food stalls, coffee trucks and toilet facilities. While it was excellently managed by staff there, I couldn't help but notice how much easier it was to get around in the earlier hours of the morning.

The Chelsea Flower Show opens at 8am this week. I would advise that you arrive at that time or shortly after to make the most of your day there. 

When you are there, you will be met with some of the most beautiful flower displays you have ever seen. Stand-outs for me included the immersive English rose set-up near the centre of the pavillion as well as the sculptures at the front of the big main building.

Dotted around the grounds were a number of bars where I could grab a Pimm's, if I was that way inclined. The later the day got, I saw more people enjoying wine, champagne and beer. Plus, there are some great food options such as smash burgers and vegan bowls.

Another stand-out for me, something I stopped to take in for a while, was the funeral flower display inside the pavillion. Here, a gorgeous wicker coffin was surrounded by bright and vibrant flowers, showing how funerals can be a colourful celebration of life. There were notes from visitors hung up around the display and each of which had a guest's description of what they want their funeral to look like.

Some enriching conversations were had at the Chelsea Flower Show. If you are attending, I advise you to talk to as many of the experts as you can. Not only did I learn some tips and tricks for growing great flowers, but I also heard about important issues in the gardening and horticultural world. 

One particular conversation with a man called Jake, who is one of the co-founders of Beehive, stuck with me. We discussed the importance of bees for crops, why they should be attracted to gardens and why we shouldn't be afraid of them. 

Another expert told me about the importance of peat-free compost and how people are waking up to that issue. It is clear that Chelsea Flower Show selects exhibitions and sellers based on their gardening expertise and values, and everyone there had a truly unique perspective about gardening and growing the most beautiful and abundant flowers.