The first week in July means it’s time for the annual Hampton Court flower show, reported to be the largest show of its kind. And this year certainly didn’t disappoint. Approaching the site by water taxi along the banks of The Thames you pass by the magnificent Hampton Court Palace, home of King Henry VIII - could there be a more majestic setting for a flower show?
Fittingly, Kings & Queens, White Rabbits and Mad Hatters were in abundance-the Alice in Wonderland theme was omnipresent. From the wonderful rose marquee to the scarecrow competition; the love of vintage tea parties; and children’s classics - all are making a big statement in horticultural trends.
If you wanted to capture the Alice in Wonderland spirit in your own garden, there were ample shopping opportunities with stalls selling everything from stone rabbits to tea cup bird feeders.
‘Curiouser and curiouser!’ cried Alice and nothing could be truer in the show gardens featuring concepts such as Daniel Lobb’s ‘Landscape Obscured’ – the underground mushroom garden viewed by mirrors; Kari Beardsell’s ‘A Garden by Night’ – entirely constructed within a blacked out marquee and lit by eco and plant friendly LED lighting; and the wonderful upside down garden by Anoushka Feiler, ‘Excuse me while I kiss the sky’.
These gardens demonstrate how to push the boundaries of what we believe a traditional garden should be and to consider every space within your garden as having incredible creative potential.
Finally, this year’s best in show deservedly went to the CDN Consular Services Limited garden ‘I am, because of who we are’ designed by Caroline Comber with Petra Horackova.
This truly is a garden we would all love to own, the soft delicate grasses are interspersed with foxgloves and astrantia under a canopy of birch adding height and dappled shade.
This garden has been created to emphasise the need for communities, societies and nations to build mutually beneficial partnerships. Each circle is planted with a single species and where they interlock they create layer and depth with each part combining to create a cohesive design. The garden clearly demonstrates that when we all pull together greatness can be achieved.
Dovetail Design is a full-service interior and exterior design consultancy based in Warwickshire, the West Midlands and London. Dovetail has an established reputation for creating and delivering stunning and innovative interior designs and garden designs, coupled with outstanding customer service. Specialising in marquee events, Dovetail also creates bespoke and inspiring designs which reflect the mood or theme of your wedding or special occasion perfectly.
Expert commentary by Phil Clayton – Features Editor of The Garden