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.
Caerphilly County Borough Council Park Services
A Taste of the Orient
Designer: Steven Trew
Within the hustle and bustle of this busy flower show is a quiet oasis of calm. A Taste of the Orient successfully incorporates strong influences of Japanese and Chinese garden design into a modern garden, without following the apparent strict rules that normally accompany such garden creations. This garden is simply intended to reflect and inspire others in the use of Oriental garden themes.
A secluded Zen garden, complete with raked silver stones is accessed via a small bridge and through a rich red Torii gate where it provides a haven of peace and tranquillity. It’s a private space shaded by symbolic clumps of bamboo, representative of a strong and resilient character. A seating area creates a place for quiet meditation. The main focal point of this garden is the Teahouse, a space for relaxation and entertaining friends. It is complete with a moon window that transfers light onto the large, central pool to create a full moon effect on the water. The moon represents homecoming and love and affection. In Chinese tradition water is regarded as the veins of the earth and rock and stones are the bones of the earth.
The planting includes many traditional Asian plants such as plum blossom (Prunus mume), which symbolises renewal and strength of will, bamboos (Phyllostachys nigra), Paeonia lactiflora and also Chinese tree peonies, which represent love and affection in Chinese traditions, especially red cultivars.
It’s a magical space that brings together plants and landscape design from another continent that could easily and successfully be transferred into a contemporary British garden.