Hampton Court Flower Show

The Hampton Court Flower Show may have been and gone but the summer has rushed on with no time to reflect or even mention it on the website. The idea this year was to keep it simple partly to reduce the build time, but the heat wave that arrived at the Showground with us put paid to that. Our garden, 'Forces of Nature', included a huge number of woodland plants - including shade and moisture loving ferns and hostas - which you could almost hear gasping for water in the days leading up to show. They, and the 21 birch trees, rose to the challenge though and managed to look spectacular throughout the Show. The garden was part of the conceptual garden category and represented a playful look at mankind's interaction with nature. The focal point of the garden, a woven willow figure created by artist Alison Walling, certainly caught the eye, and quite a few visitors thought it somewhat sinister. Homosalix, as he became known, leant stoically into the oncoming birch trees without complaint and has subsequently found a new home in Nottingham.

Well the hard work did pay off and the garden was awarded a silver gilt medal - one better than last year but leaving something to aim for next year! Thanks to everyone involved, particularly the team from Apt Studios with whom the project was undertaken jointly. Until next year.