We are hoping to be able to reveal the winners of this years show gardens design competition tomorrow (fingers crossed)
As usual it's taken ages from the deadline to sort it all out and to email everyone that entered the competition feedback on their designs. So before that here's some newsy bits:
Now into its
fifth year, this project has graced the Kent HQ of Jacksons with
amazing displays of up to the minute examples of designer show gardens, aimed
at providing visitors with inspiration for their own projects and bringing a
little of the glamorous world of Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows to this
little corner of East Kent.
The connection
with the prestigious RHS shows has taken root (pardon the pun) with two of the
first years competition winners: Heather Appleton and Matthew Childs scooping
gold medals at the big shows in the years after creating their first show
gardens at Jacksons.
I am delighted to
hear that this year at Chelsea it is rumoured there will be even more
ex-Jacksons show gardens winners exhibiting their design skills, when Heather
and Matthew are joined by one of the 2011 winners, Helen Elks Smith. Her garden
‘The City Of London Corporation Oak Processionary Moth
Garden’ aims to raise awareness of OPM with landowners and the general public,
and underline the need and importance for co-ordinated treatment, infestations
of the pest have proved impossible to eradicate in some areas of West and
South-West London.
It’s an interesting choice of inspiration for a show
garden and having seen some of the plans it’s definitely one to look out for if
you watch the TV programmes on Chelsea or if you are lucky enough to visit the
show.
And, I’m happy to say there’s another connection to
Jacksons at the Chelsea Flower Show this year; our Venetian panels and the
lovely new Retreat shelter will be starring in Chris Webb’s Sculpture garden,
designed by Liz Brewer. It will be hard to miss right near the entrance to the
Grand Pavillion!
We launched our
Retreat shelter last year, and it was developed from an initial idea of a
garden structure in The Sanctuary by Joanne Winn, one of the winning show
garden designs last year.
It was certainly
well received and I’m pleased to say that it now gets to kick its heels up at
the RHS Chelsea flower show in May. This will be a space where visitors are
warmly invited to freely touch and explore his work. The sculptures are thoughtfully positioned in a beautiful
garden setting themed to complement the work. Chris will be working on the completion of a large stone
carving during the show in his ‘pop-up’ workshop. Our Retreat will lend itself
perfectly to a ‘sheltering’ role in the garden.
So on to this
year and the Jacksons show gardens design competition, the opening is planned
for the 31st May at Jacksons HQ at Stowting and the two new winning
designs will be revealed, with the other five gardens having been livened up
for the new season.
The two gardens making way for new young blood are Helen Elks Smith’s Chill Out garden:
and the lovely Paradise garden by Mary Ann le May.
It will be sad to see them go, but exciting all the same to see what’s new. So to tip our hats at them, here they are on this page to enjoy for the last time. We’ll miss the wonderful colour of the Paradise’s planting and the great relaxing vibe when imagining chilling out in the hammock!
The two gardens making way for new young blood are Helen Elks Smith’s Chill Out garden:
and the lovely Paradise garden by Mary Ann le May.
It will be sad to see them go, but exciting all the same to see what’s new. So to tip our hats at them, here they are on this page to enjoy for the last time. We’ll miss the wonderful colour of the Paradise’s planting and the great relaxing vibe when imagining chilling out in the hammock!
For more info on
the show gardens go to:
