LONDON: Beatlemania erupted at London s Chelsea Flower Show on Monday, as Ringo Starr joined George Harrison s widow for the opening of a garden inspired by the quiet Beatle.
Photographers swarmed around as Starr drove up in a Mini brightly painted with symbols of the Hindu faith that George Harrison embraced.
Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001, was a keen gardener, and the garden at the flower show reflects that interest.
He always told me his first garden was his father s vegetable patch, said Harrison s widow, Olivia.
She said that as a teenager, Harrison was unhappy at being kicked out of a local park at closing time.
He always said, One day I will have my own garden.
The garden s designer, Yvonne Innes, said it was designed to depict Harrison s journey from the material to the spiritual world.
Olivia Harrison said her husband enjoyed working on the garden at Friar Park, his mansion near London.
Above all in the garden, no one asks about business, she said. I think that s why he liked it.
Also at the opening was Starr s wife, Barbara Bach, and Beatles producer George Martin.
The world s most famous flower show, Chelsea is a cross between trade fair, horticultural competition and showbiz ball, with some 600 exhibitors and more than 150,000 expected visitors.
Queen Elizabeth II was due to visit later Monday, a day before the show opens to the public. It runs to May 24. -AP
