Exhibitors
SHOW GARDENS | WATER GARDENS | SMALL GARDENS | CONCEPTUAL GARDENS
INSPIRING SPACES | WINDOWBOXES & HANGING BASKETS
PLANTS | GROWING & SHOWING MARQUEE | MARKET PLACE
Show gardens
The Growing Together Collaboration
Growing Together
Designer: Fiona Stephenson
Sponsors: Fiona Stephenson Designs, SDCL, Clarke & Spears International, Generating Gardens, The KAI Garden Company, Harmony Healing, Rock Unique
Contractors: Generating Gardens, The KAI Garden Company
Click on the image to view a hi-res version
Since the dawn of civilisation, the Vesica Piscis has been a symbol of love and reconciliation, balance and harmony. As the circumferences of two circles intersect at their centre points, they create ‘common ground’ where they overlap. Cultures as diverse as Ancient Mesopotamian, African and Asian have used this to symbolise mutual understanding, a growing together of disparate elements such as science and nature, faith and belief.
This garden uses nature and plants to embody a philosophical ideal and the layout is based around a Vesica Piscis. The design reconciles and celebrates opposites, embracing sun and moon, man and woman, fire and water, uniting all in a centre point of hope and resolution. The front of the garden is a blaze of reds and oranges, vibrant colours that lead the eye and spirit onwards. The rear is dominated by a stainless steel moongate, cascading water through a dappled black and silver leaves, as blue and white flowers embrace the contours of the ebony granite. The visitor can reflect on the peace that Growing Together can bring.
The garden has the objective of encouraging more people to enjoy and reconnect with nature through the creation of an engaging outdoor living space. It also forms part of an ongoing research project by Essex University into the therapeutic effects of gardens. Gardeners know that being and working in the garden makes them feel better.
Show visitors can take part in Essex University’s latest research project by filling in a questionnaire recording their experiences. Growing Together is also launching a new fencing material at the show. Greenscreen is an environmentally-friendly screening solution that can also be used as an acoustic barrier, designed to support climbing plants, creating a dense screen of foliage as the poles of natural coir encourages rooting directly into the frame itself.
This is Fiona Stephenson's first RHS show garden.