Number 1 - arid
There was a lot (well, maybe not a lot, but quite a bit) of sandy, arid looking conditions around.
This is the Massachusetts Garden designed by Susannah Hunter and Catherine MacDonald. It won a silver which was probably about right in my view. It was well planted and I think it did what it set out to do but I have to say I could not get away from the painted backgrounds.
For me they did not work, I kept thinking of Andy Pandy.
Cleve West's garden, the M & G Garden, is based on Persian gardens so the aridness again was warranted. This garden won a gold medal and it was beautifully done......
the central foundation and rills were impressive,
and on Monday when it was really hot it felt very apt; and yet and yet something about it did not quite sing to me. Cannot explain it, it just did not ring my bell.
Yes, arid was a definite trend.Number 2 - lupins
Lupins were not everywhere, but where they were they made a real statement. I love lupins.
Luciano Giubbilei used them to great effect,
The Massachusetts Garden used them also incredibly well,
as did Marilyn Abbot in the Topiarist Garden (probably the best Artisan Garden in my opinion by the way). This garden won a silver-gilt medal, I have not seen why it did not get gold and I fully appreciate the medals are not just about a garden looking good or being well planted, yet it still seems a shame.Number 3 - irises
Irises were everywhere, often red or muddy brown, but no one, no one used them as well as Hugo Bugg in the RBC Waterscape Garden.
It is a masterclass in iris planting and shows how en masse planting can give a real wow factor. This garden did get a gold medal and it was definitely deserved. It was noticeable that people just stood and stared at the river of irises, that's the sign of something a bit special.Anyway, enough of trends, the next (and I think final) post on Chelsea Flower Show will look at a different aspect I think as there is more going on than just gardens.
