Primavera

The garden

The border is designed with two contrasting sides: a dry, rugged section featuring boulders, pine trees, gravel and moss, and a lush, softer side planted with Japanese dogwood, cherry trees, iris varieties, great forget-me-not, ferns, foamflower, providing texture and gentle pastel tones.

The garden has a strong, clear structure with layers of planting that provide interest throughout the seasons. The pond acts as a focal point, anchoring the design and shaping the surrounding soft planting. Azaleas and carefully placed trees help frame the space, giving the garden depth and balance. The azaleas provide vibrant spring colour, while the trees contribute seasonal foliage, fruit and valuable habitat for birds.

No hard landscaping materials will be used within this border. The designer likes to incorporate water features and stones into his designs to create harmony between the vegetal, mineral and water elements. This balance not only enriches the aesthetic of the garden but also supports wildlife, providing habitat, shelter and valuable ecological benefits.

The border draws inspiration from Japanese gardening principles while incorporating a broader palette of flowering plants. It weaves together both dry and damp garden elements to create a richer, more naturalistic composition. The design also prioritises ecological value, supporting a healthier and more resilient garden environment.

The planting

Key plants will include:

• Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa) for the flower shapes
• Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa variegata)
• Acer palmatum ‘Kinshi’ and Acer palmatum ‘Koto‑no‑ito’ for the shape of the leaves and the small size with large canopy to go around the pound near the azaleas, to add some finesse to the planting
• Stewartia malacodendron is included for its originality in terms of bloomimg
• Pinus parviflora for its high and slim shape
• Pinus mugo for its shape and canopy spread
• Pinus sylvestris for its adaptability to grow in dry garden and the spread branches and shape
• Great forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla)

It will also feature ferns foamflower, iris varieties, cherry trees (Prunus) and Pine trees (Pinus).

Sustainability

All materials for the garden will be sourced from within the UK and 80% of the build materials will be reclaimed or recycled. Every plant and material used will be either reused or sold after the project, with the only waste being plastic pots, which will be fully recycled. Any remaining materials will be incorporated into a private garden in London or donated to charity.

The designer – Damien Michel

Damien has earned an impressive collection of accolades across some of the world’s most renowned horticultural events. At RHS Shows, he received a Bronze medal at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival in 2017 and a Silver medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. His success continued at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, where he achieved a Silver Merit Award in 2016, followed by a standout Gold Award in 2021 and another Silver Merit Award in 2022.

Internationally, Damien contributed as a designer for Moscow Flower Jam in 2018 and 2020, also securing a Bronze Medal there in 2019. His global design work includes representing at major International Garden Festivals such as the Gardeners’ World Cup in Nagasaki, Japan (2015), the Beşiktaş Flower Show in Turkey (2016), and the Festival des Jardins in Cannes, France (2023), where he showcased his creative vision on an international stage.