Tranquil 'fusion' garden wins Best in Show
Eight Show Gardens graced the RHS Cardiff Flower Show this year and all were awarded coveted RHS Medals.
Gaynor Witchard’s West Meets East garden (in association with Alfresco Landscape & Garden) was awarded Best In Show. The peaceful, tranquil space demonstrates how Japanese aesthetic elements can be successfully incorporated into a Western garden.
The design is simple and elegant, using minimal plants to great effect. A stream dissects the garden running from a mossy mound into a shallow pool where clumps of Equisetum hyemale create cool reflections. Ferns and moss flourish in the garden shade. Gravel and pebbles create space and elegance, reflecting organic shapes in a tranquil way.
“A garden is many things to all people”, explains Gaynor. “In the West, it brings family together to a place where each other's company is enjoyed and appreciated, a place for children to play or for entertaining. But, the Japanese garden serves a more spiritual purpose. Nature is the source of its inspiration and the look consists of rocks, lanterns, gravel, water, bridges, plants and bamboo fences.
"Going for the look is not the Japanese way - by doing so we ignore the spirit of the garden and we miss the sense of well-being a garden brings.”
All the Show Garden results (pdf)
Words: Jean Vernon
Images: Martin Mulchinock