Exhibitors
Show gardens
Hasmead
The Hasmead Sand & Ice Garden
Designer: Linda Bush
Sponsor: Hasmead plc
Contractor: Hasmead plc
Click here to view a panorama of this garden.
Click on the image to view a hi-res version
This garden addresses concerns about global warming, melting glaciers, and expanding deserts. The soft flowing lines of the desert contrast with the jagged edges of melting ice.
A focal point in the garden is a large water wall, which looks like cracked ice that is slowly melting. A series of curved dry sandstone walls sweep down from the rear boundary to ground level at the front of the garden. The silhouettes of the rear boundary and the central wall echo the outlines of rolling sand dunes.
The plants in the garden have a water-efficient character and are ideal for areas that have periodic water shortages. They are all suited to an open, sunny, well-drained garden. Some plants look like alpine plants and others more like desert plants. They range in colour from the white and silver of ice to the yellow of the desert. A touch of lilac and purple provides contrast and lifts the colour scheme. Architectural plants such as Elaeagnus ‘Quicksilver’ and Stipa gigantea provide height and structure. Acacia trees add balance to the planting.
The garden designer, Linda Bush, says that the sourcing and building of this garden will be carbon neutral.
This is Linda’s first time designing a show garden at Chelsea.