Show garden moments

A few images from my early morning visits to the show gardens at bloom.

It is not all glamour and glitz for garden designers. Top pic; Gold medal winner Jane Mc Corkell is busy watering her garden in the sunshine on Saturday morning, her garden is called “The Rain Garden”. Upper Middle pic; the GIY garden being watered on Saturday, no need to water tomorrow after all the rain today.
Lower Middle pic; Dawn Aston’s shoes in her Engaging Space -”Urban Oasis” her garden allows people to walk around inside- it was awarded a silver gilt medal; view from terrace of Dawn’s Urban Oasis, it was amazing to see throngs of people crowding through her garden in the rain today.

The Rain Garden designed by Jane Mc Corkell

Jane Mc Corkell returns to Bloom this year performing her own style of alchemy, using steel and water to produce gold. Steel structures form dramatic shapes above the patio where a central sculpture rises from the ground. Her brief for Bloom explains the function of the garden. “Water is collected from the roof, and the hard surfaces in the garden, it flows to an underground ‘Rain Water Harvesting Unit’, and can then be used internally and externally in a variety of ways.”

The garden also features stylish planting; pristine white stemmed birch, upright spires of foxgloves and swaying stems Stipa grasses. Ivy clad boundaries feature rusted iron butterflies nestled amongst the verdant backdrop. A garden awash with innovation and style.

http://www.janemccorkelllandscape.ie/

Specsavers Garden- Eclipse 2010 by Paul Doyle, Gold Medal

Paul Doyle returns to Bloom this year, after winning a Gold medal in 2008. This years garden once again demonstrates Paul’s sense of style with a formal garden featuring a sculpture of his own design. Formal lines are enhanced with wonderful details. Upturned wine bottles fill the central aisle, succulent plants carpet the earth and pairs of glasses decorate planters. Truly a great spectacle!

I am delighted to see a clasmate from the Botanic Gardens being so successful.