Exhibitors
SHOW GARDENS | WATER GARDENS | SMALL GARDENS | CONCEPTUAL GARDENS
INSPIRING SPACES | WINDOWBOXES & HANGING BASKETS
PLANTS | GROWING & SHOWING MARQUEE | MARKET PLACE
Show gardens
DialAFlight
Mangetout
Designers: Francesca Cleary and Ian Lawrence
Sponsor: Dial a Flight
Contractor: Francesca Cleary & Associates
Click on the image to view a hi-res version
Spurred on to design this garden after the death of a close friend, designers Francesca Cleary and Ian Lawrence wanted to create an edible, medicinal garden that is a celebration of life.
The design is feminine and curvaceous with organic plants creating structure. Plants draw the viewer into the centre of the garden, which is a place of peace and tranquility. Simple, tubular water features provide sound, energy and movement. A willow/hazel seat and woven hazel sculpture are made by local craftspeople using locally sourced materials.
The colour scheme is predominantly green shot through with purple, yellow, red and dark crimson. The majority of the planting is edible and medicinal, with Francesca growing most of the plants from seed in time for the show. Plants include climbing beans, peas and artichokes for structure and form, delicate fennel and more robust stalks of chard. Basil, endive, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, coriander, rhubarb, chilli peppers, asparagus, courgettes, chicory, celery and edible flowers complete the planting. Companion planting is incorporated into the scheme to encourage beneficial insects as an environmentally-friendly pest control method.
The planting aims to stimulate the senses and demonstrate that a variety of plants can be grown cheaply from seed.
Francesca Cleary originally studied at art college and worked as an antiques dealer for 10 years, but she was always passionate about gardening and so went back to college to study for an RHS qualification. She now works as a garden designer and is making her debut at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.