YORKSHIRE bloomed at the official opening of the famous Chelsea Flower Show.
The event is being sponsored by Birkby-based building products group Marshalls.
And celebrity guests at yesterday's launch included chat-show host Michael Parkinson, who unveiled a new white rose named in his honour.
The Barnsley-raised presenter launched the "Parky" rose at the show in London, adding: "My father was a great gardener.
"He particularly loved white roses which is why this is so nostalgic for me.
"He was a miner, and because miners spent so much time underground, in their time off they spent time in gardens or allotments.
"He couldn't understand my lack of ambition to follow in his footsteps. He would have been very proud today."
More than 157,000 people are set to visit the Royal Horticultural Society's annual event, where 600 exhibitors are displaying a huge variety of plants and gardens.
Celebrities were out in force at the official opening, including actress Joanna Lumley, Kim Wilde, Carol Vorderman, Katherine Jenkins and Charlie Dimmock.
Marshalls, which manufactures and supplies stone and concrete paving for gardens, drives and pathways, is sponsoring Chelsea Flower Show for the next three years.
The sponsorship helps the Royal Horticultural Society - the charity which runs the show - to fund work to help gardeners and advance horticulture through its gardens, events and scientific research.
It also provides opportunities for Marshalls to raise awareness of its brands and promote high standards of design and installation.
The show opened to the public today and continues until Saturday.
