The Royal Horticultural Society is returning to the parklands of Cardiff Castle with a show that is ready to dazzle the Welsh capital with charming show gardens, beautiful displays of spring flowers and a host of fun activities for gardeners of all ages to enjoy.
History of the show
The RHS Spring Flower Show, Cardiff is in its fourth magnificent year.
The show was first held in 2005 and formed part of Cardiff’s celebratory centenary year as a city, as well as its 50th anniversary as the capital of Wales.
The show was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
Prior to its return to the capital in 2005, the RHS last held a flower show in Cardiff in 1920.
Cardiff University
'The Cardiff University Research Garden’
Designer: Andrew Emery
Sponsor: Cardiff University & St David’s 2
Every gardener uses symbolism to represent things important to them, and this garden is no different. It incorporates many features that represent the research work carried out at the University. This includes many of the plants that play and have played major roles in groundbreaking research over the years. But this garden is much more than that, it is a simple design that would easily transfer to any small garden and provide the right balance of haven, self-sufficiency and sheer pleasure. This year, 2008 the University celebrates its 125 anniversary and so the garden has a dual purpose - it showcases the research projects at the Uni and helps celebrates 125 years.
All of the plants used in this garden have a strong link with the University. Daffodils represent the research work into Alzheimer’s disease being done at Cardiff University, and are also an emblem of the Welsh nation. Bamboo symbolises a panda research project, and the benefits of medical science are highlighted through the chilli plant, which is being used in cancer research. Look closely into the garden for a crop of garlic plants and a eucalyptus tree that symbolise the work of the Common Cold Centre. There’s even an area of edible plants representing the School of Lifelong Learning that runs an Edible Landscape adult learning course.
It’s a garden that celebrates the highs of research and education. Four DNA double helix sculptures represent the vital progress the University has made in gene research. There are more than 28 different academic schools in Cardiff and two-thirds of them are carrying out some form of genetic research. In 2007 Sir Martin Evans from the School of Biosciences won the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
A bicycle leans against the fence, the basket planted with wound-healing plants and four computer monitors are transformed into novel planters, filled with plants used in research in today’s University. Other features include alstroemeria, a Patagonian plant being studied in the School of Biosciences, wallflowers that are part of a research project to study floral senescence and how to lengthen the life of cut flowers and there’s even an area paved using a more environmentally-friendly concrete being developed by the School of Engineering.
You could be forgiven for thinking this garden is on 'message overload', but it is well executed, the messages are clear but subtle and it is only on close inspection and questioning that the full extent of the importance of each and every element becomes apparent. It would be quite easy to view this garden on its visual merits alone and yet, when you scrape a little at its meanings it is a powerful mix of important messages, not thrust in your face but cleverly blended together to create a pretty, inspirational and practical garden.