The Morgan Stanley Garden for the NSPCC won Best Show Garden Award this year. Photo: RHSThe Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) annual Chelsea Flower Show drew to a close over the weekend and 26 gardens competed in different categories for various awards.
Some of the common trends found among the garden designs this year included a focus on environmental and sustainable gardens, wild irregular plantings and the colors of green, white and yellow.
Replacing the category of fresh gardens from the past few years is the space to grow gardens, while the show gardens and artisan gardens remain the same. The new garden category offers ideas for working in smaller gardens.
The Best Show Garden Award went to the Morgan Stanley Garden for the NSPCC. This garden was designed by Chris Beardshaw, with the intent to serve as a metaphor for the transition that occurs once a child is affected by NSPCC’s work.
The winner of the new category Best Space to Grow Garden was Urban Flow Garden.Photo: RHS
The garden path is at first uncertain but as it rounds a corner, there is an open and calming space. The pavilion provides a safe and secure environment to enjoy the textures of the garden.
The Best Space to Grow Garden was presented to the Urban Flow Garden. Designed by Tony Woods, this garden’s plant palette was selected with the ability to tolerate unpredictable climate conditions as well as providing interest beyond peak-flowering season in mind.
It included plants such as salvias, lupins, iris and euphorbias, and used materials such as clay bricks, corten steel and porcelain cladding.
The O-mo-te-na-shi no NIWA – The Hospitality Garden designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara won the Best Artisan Garden Award. This garden focuses on the Japanese concept of hospitality and the desire to create this feeling with visitors to this green space. The planting style is based on Ikenobo, a type of Japanese flower arranging from the 15th century that is mindful of the placement of plants and color in relation to space.
The O-mo-te-na-shi no NIWA – The Hospitality Garden features many traditional Japanese practices.Photo: RHS
The garden also features an octagonal garden house with a copper roof and a central pond with a waterfall.
Welcome to Yorkshire received both the Best Construction Award and the People’s Choice Best Show Garden Award. Mark Gregory created this garden to capture the essence of the Yorkshire Dales. It is set along the edge of a woodland with a mountain stream running past a stone bothy surrounded by pastureland.
The other two People’s Choices were The Claims Guys: A Very English Garden and The Silent Pool Gin Garden, which were for Best Artisan Garden and Best Space to Grow Garden, respectively.
The Very English Garden celebrated craftsmanship and tradition with its half-dome drystone construction and was designed by Janine Crimmins. Jewel-tone plants surround the stone focal point. Meanwhile, the Silent Pool Gin Garden was inspired by the Silent Pool Distillery with the gin-making process signified with copper panels and distillation helmets, and ‘citrus peel’ sculpture.
Many gardens and elements from others will be relocated or donated to various charities and causes to ensure these beautiful spaces are not wasted. To view all of the gardens, click here.
Welcome to Yorkshire was a favorite among both the judges and the public.Photo: RHS
Gold medalist
Show gardens
- The M&G Garden
- The Morgan Stanley Garden for the NSPCC
- Welcome to Yorkshire
- The Wedgewood Garden
Space to grow gardens
- The Seedlip Garden
- New West End Garden
- The Pearlfisher Garden
- Urban Flow Garden
Artisan gardens
- The Viking Cruises Wellness Garden
- O-mo-te-na-shi no NIWA – The Hospitality Garden
Silver-gilt medals
Show gardens
- LG Eco-City Garden
- The Lemon Tree Trust Garden
- The Trailfinders South African Wine Estate
- VTB Capital Garden – Spirit of Cornwall
Space to grow gardens
- The Myeloma UK Garden
- The Silent Pool Gin Garden
- Skin Deep
- The CHERUB HIV garden: A Life Without Walls
Artisan gardens
- The Embroidered Minds Epilepsy Garden
- The Claims Guys: A Very English Garden
- British Council Garden – India: A Billion Dreams
Silver medals
Artisan gardens
- The Supershoes, Laced with Hope Garden, a partnership with Frosts
- The Warner Edwards Garden
Bronze medals
Show gardens
- The David Harber and Savills Garden
- Wuhan Water Garden, China
