ENTERTAINMENT SHOW GARDEN
So, what is it like to design and build a show garden, and why do designers do it?
I designed my first show garden for RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2019, a Green Living Space Garden, called ‘Defiance’. It was inspired by balconies that are over spilling with plants in an otherwise concrete façade; defiant of their location, and the message to be taken from it was matter how small or ugly a space may seem, anything can be made to be beautiful and inviting, it just takes imagination and creativity and some key specimen plants to create a lush, enticing haven, even in the middle of a concrete jungle.
I had eight months to plan and prepare. I spent two months constructing all the components in my back garden and for those eight months the garden controlled my life, it filled my thoughts and my diary, it was like being on a runaway train I couldn’t get off. I held on for dear life, hoping everything would go according to plan. The 15 days on site for the build were intense, the structures went up in three days with the help of a landscaper and the rest was completed with the help of volunteers. I went through the full gamut of emotions and on top of that we had to contend with all the weather could throw at us, gale force winds that brought half the floral marquee down, luckily before the exhibitors moved in, baking sunshine, driving rain and everything in-between.
By judging day, I was spent. 56
It was pouring with rain, and I watched from afar the judges spend an eternity in my garden. After the rollercoaster build and all the planning it was in the hands of the judges. I had no idea what I was embarking on when I started but I was proud of what I had accomplished, irrespective of what medal I was to be awarded. The next day the medals were awarded, and I got Gold! I was thrilled, and the following day whilst talking to visitors, a crowd of people came towards me, with photographers in tow, and I was awarded Best Green Living Space Garden, presented by the President of the RHS. I couldn’t have done any better…what a journey it had been. But why do designers like me put themselves through that such an intense experience? I chose to do mine to launch my garden design business, without a portfolio of gardens behind me, I saw it as an opportunity for me to validate my skills, and showcase my
SEPTEMBER 2021 - THINGS TO DO:
New Moon - September 7th 1:52am Full Moon - September 21st 0:55am
Lift and divide perennials to plant around the garden Start planting spring bulbs, but not tulips
PLANT OF THE MONTH – ASTERS
Asters, or Michaelmas daisies as they are also known are stalwart plants for late summer into autumn, they look great with grasses for that prairie look.
ASTER × FRIKARTII 'MÖNCH'
This aster has vigorous growth, has lavender blue flowers and is floriferous, disease resistant and doesn’t need staking. A garden designer’s staple.
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
creativity, and hopefully get some good publicity from it, which I did.
Writing this now, it all seems a distant memory and at the time people asked me if I would do another and I was hesitant, it had taken a lot of effort, and I was exhausted and drained, but deep down I knew when the time was right I would and I had always believed I had a Chelsea Garden in me and one day it would happen.
Well, that day has arrived, I am riding that train once more, a shorter three-month journey with an even shorter seven-day site build with the next stop being RHS Chelsea Flower show 2021 with my Container Garden Category Garden ‘The IBC Pocket Forest’.
As a designer I like to challenge convention where I can and designing small spaces does not mean you have to have use small containers or plants ...I like to think big! This garden’s aim is to create an urban pocket forest and haven for wildlife repurposing Intermediate Bulk Containers into a sanctuary to sit and be immersed in nature.
This one won’t be judged for medals, but of course it will be by the public and the world’s press.
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