Coastal Drift...GOLD

Well, my girls went and did it , they won gold...whilst all around them were losing their heads etc etc, they stayed calm, took their time and came up with the best planting on display at the whole show.  The grasses and other plants dotted in and around positively sing and recreate the feel of a small garden near the coast in a British garden and the deckchairs and the old gramophone set it off beautifully.  

Well done Sue and Adele, you deserve it.

In Diamond Jubilee year, a gold medal

 Willmott Ford meeting their public

Vote for Coastal Drift for the People's Choice favourite garden here
 http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Hampton-Court-Palace-Flower-Show/2012/Gardens/People-s-Choice

Coastal Drift at Hampton Court 2

Yesterday was Day 8 for the Coastal Drift team at Hampton Court and it all seems to be going swimmingly!  The deck has had Simon's special stain applied to it, the wall has had another coat of paint and the plants began to go in over the weekend.  All it would seem to be needed to be done at this stage is to continue with the planting and to add the few finishing touches.


Well done gang.

Good luck with the judges, enjoy Press Day and the Gala Evening.

Coastal Drift at Hampton Court

I've just spent the last three days at Hampton Court helping Willmott Ford to build their Coastal Drift garden in time for this year's Flower Show.  The wall and deck were the first things to go up and we have spent the last couple of days dodging the showers and trying to get the wall filled and painted.

It finally stopped yesterday long enoungh to get the final two coats of paint on it and it looks magnificent and really stands out from all of the other gardens when viewed from the end of the row.   

 Waiting for the delivery of compost and sea shells.

 Planting up the wall with grasses to create the movement of the waves.  It works, especially with the recent gale force winds.

Willmott Ford after five hard days work on their creation, just the posts and the planting to go. 

Tunbridge Wells Topiary

So, last week I helped one of my former tutors Marian Boswall (conservation management plan for Greenwich Park - best subject ever) with a planting job of topiary at the front of a house in Tunbridge Wells.  There were some existing box balls that were to be moved and a lot of new stuff to go in.  

We began by lifting the ones that were to be moved and then cut out some turf to make the beds larger (in sunshine). 

 Then it rained.  And rained.  And rained.

 Planting finished with composted bark and awaiting a specimen plant and some large orbs to set it all off (still raining).

We carried on regardless, we're British after all (well most of us were) and I will have to make a detour in a year or so to see how it has filled out and been sculpted into shape.

Planting in Limehouse with Miss Ford

I recently had a call from Miss. Ford asking if I'd like to help with a planting job in Limehouse in London.  It was to plant up some raised beds that had been installed onto a rooftop terrace of a penthouse suite.  Marvellous, I thought, a day in the sun on the 4th floor.  

Unfortunately, when the Buxus sempervirens (Box balls) turned up they were much bigger than intended and we struggled to get 8 at a time in the lift, over 80 was the total.  Luckily, because they were so big we only needed 40 thereby saving the client a few bob and saving us a few trips in the lift!.

However, the landscapers who made the planters (who shall remain nameless) filled the planters up to the top with soil and compost so we had to spend time and effort removing said soil and compost before we could plant the Buxus.  Anyway, once it was all finished with Alliums and Salvias etc, it looked really good and complimented the planters and the slate chippings that the client wanted to use.

 The Shard and Gherkin in the background

 Photinia 'Red Robin' with Heucheras at the rear terrace to create screening from neighbouring properties.

 Bumblebees on the 4th floor an hour after planting!

A bees-eyed view.

Chelsea with Willmott Ford

Yesterday I went to the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time with Willmott Ford.  Having been to Hampton Court I had heard Chelsea was a bit smaller and a bit more cramped.  This didn't seem to be the case although you never felt you got a good look at the gardens, a bit like seeing Lenin in state, a quick look and keep on moving.  

There were some fine gardens on show although I'm getting a bit bored with the wild garden with a ramshackle hut at the end of it.  I know its about the planting but most people just want a garden that is easy to manage with a bit of lawn for their children to play on.  There were lots of reflective pools on show and the dominant type of paving seemed to be similar to Travertine in colour, lots of beige...

 The QR Code Garden by Jade Goto and Shelley Mosco our CAD tutor, well done Shelley its a shame we missed you.

 The Rooftop Workspace Garden by Patricia Fox, one of my favourites

 The Teenage Cancer Trust Garden by Joe Swift, very eye-catching colours, very bronze. 

 The Arthritis Research Garden by Thomas Hoblin, excellent!

 Carol Klein doing her stuff.

Andy Sturgeon's garden, didn't want to like it, but I did.

 Arne Maynard's garden, he was the only top designer we saw standing there talking to the punters, well done Arne, where were the rest of you?  Pleached trees?  Wasn't I doing that at Calverley Grounds in 2010?  We all get our inspiration from somewhere Arne.

 The Blue Water Garden.  Nice, except for the blue water and the hut.

 Alan on top of Diarmuid's fine erection.

 Aha, a useable space.  Willmott Whyte's garden.

 A wild garden with a shack...

 Another wild garden with a shack...

 Guess what?  Yep, another wild garden with a shack.  How many ways to skin a cat?

 Ah, formality.  Bit of a trip hazard though.  The World Vision Garden by John Warland and Sim Flemons.  Could have sponsored a lot of children for the cost of this.  I'm just saying...

 L'Occitane Garden by Peter Dowle, smelt good with all of the Curry Plants.

The Furzey Garden by Chris Beardshaw.  Another one...

And Willmott Ford, Garen Designers of Distinction...