Wednesday 4 June 2014

Time out

Been having a garden overdose time these last two weeks.
Hence no post.

First week away from normal routine was spent in the company of friends and family enjoying the delights of this year's Chelsea Flower show followed later in the week with garden visits to Beth Chatto's and the Garden Museum which I will blog later.

Chelsea, an all day extravaganza for me on members' day with my three great companions - all very knowledgeable and plant mad - or should that just be mad? 



An early start, as usual, to ensure we saw as much as possible before all the crowds arrived but obviously everyone else had the same idea.
First stop was Cleve West's garden.


His designs usually include sculpture, water and greenery.
I adore his laid back, understated and deceptively simple planting which in fact is unique, original and very clever.


The great man himself again achieved a Gold. No mean feat year upon year.
For sheer ingenuity my vote went to the Cloudy Bay garden which had a wonderfully subtle perspective on a very narrow site.


Viewed from the front the white obelisk was  indistinct and looked out of place. From the side it was a brilliant contrast to the charred oak and the planting echoed the form superbly. Very clever.

This year I felt that the visitors were more polite - no pushing and jostling to get a good view -  and they even gave way for wheelchair users. 

I wondered if the delicate and subtle designs and planting had influenced this behaviour as I heard not one dissenting comment or criticism about any of the gardens.

Quite an achievement.

Or was that because they were all so unchallenging as to provoke no strong feelings? Hmm.......

Can't deny the skill with which these gardens are built but I do miss Diarmuid Gavin and his refreshingly quirky ideas.  




Luciano Giubbilei's garden for me was a step up from his normal offering.

 I have long felt he was intimidated by plants and repeatedly used non-scary stuff like box, trees and grass. Relaxing but not inspiring.

This year his design was much improved with the rumoured help and facilities given to him by Fergus Garrett at Great Dixter.



And the result. 

Definitely better.

A fantastic and well earned lunch with liquid refreshments in the Rock Bank Restaurant and then off to breathe in the scents in the Great Pavilion.

Magic.

A great day out...........but it's hard work having so much fun!!!!!

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