Azores: revealing the mid-Atlantic archipelago

Designer Stephen Hall brings the Azores to Hampton

It’s the first time at Hampton Court for Chelsea Gold medal–winner Stephen Hall, who is here with his sub-tropical Azorean Garden. The Azores are a group of islands that lie in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean but Stephen is confident his design is home and dry.

How did you feel about designing this garden?

I was a bit daunted, frankly. I’ve never been there and didn’t even have much of an idea where they are located, but after I’d done some research it fell into place and I got very excited.

You must have had to do a lot of research

David Sayers, who has written the Bradt Travel Guide to the Azores, was tremendously helpful, not least because he also happens to be a botanical horticulturalist! He painted a wonderful picture of the islands for me and gave me a real sense of their environment and culture.

Why do the Azores want a show garden?

They want to show what a great place the islands are to visit. They are still largely unspoilt and they aren’t that far away.

What were you asked to include in the design?

They wanted me to use the local rock, and also to incorporate water. The islands have lots of fresh water, pools and lakes, so it follows that they have beautiful gardens as well. We’ve also included a fumarole which is a volcanic vent that discharges steam, and a hole in the ground where the islanders cook a hearty stew using geo-thermal heat.

What sorts of plants are common on the islands?

Tree ferns and cannas self-seed, not to mention the agapanthus. Imagine agapanthus growing wild everywhere. In the summer thousands of hydrangeas turn the islands completely blue which is a fantastic sight.

What can visitors take home?

Apart from a strong urge to visit the Azores, I think the ferns are exciting. If people have a damp shady spot in their gardens, they could put in a tree fern and some smaller ferns around it, add a some tree stumps and roots, let the moss grow and hey presto, a fernery.

Is this a true representation of an Azorean scene?

Yes, it’s the Azores in a nutshell, specially adapted for Hampton Court.