Sizzling RHS Hampton Court 2018
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has awarded 154 prestigious medals to the gardens, floristry and floral and plant exhibitors at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, sponsored by Viking Cruises.
With gardens sparkling under sunny skies, visitors were able to see the very best in horticulture at the world’s largest annual flower show.
The medal awards this year comprised of 64 Gold, 38 Silver-Gilt, 42 Silver and nine Bronze medals awarded across the show, demonstrating the quality of show gardens, exhibits and horticulture.
Best Show Garden was awarded to the eye-catching ‘B&Q Bursting Busy Lizzie Garden‘ designed by Surrey-based designer Matthew Childs (Gold). This garden was also awarded Best Construction for contractors Tecwyn Evans. Commenting on the garden, RHS Judge James Alexander-Sinclair said: “RHS Hampton Court Palace never fails to provide something for everyone with a huge range of different styles and interests on display, and we’re particularly excited about our Best Show Garden this year, which added a much needed breath of fresh colour and zing to a hot July day.”
Also awarded Gold was Rosemary Coldstream’s ‘Best of Both Worlds Garden‘, ‘The Landform Garden Bar‘ by Rhiannon Williams, ‘The South West Water Green Garden‘ by Tom Simpson and the ‘Breckland Beauty Garden‘ by Jody Lingard, Nick Fryer and Tim Lingard.
Rosemary Coldstream’s ‘Best of Both Worlds’ garden (pictured above and below) is a clever design created for an imaginary couple who share a love of gardening but with differing tastes. One side of the design is a traditional country garden while the other has a more contemporary feel.
Best Lifestyle Garden went to Ula Maria for ‘The Style and Design Garden‘ (Silver-Gilt) while Best Garden for a Changing World/Conceptual Garden went to ‘Conscious Consumerism’ (Gold) designed by Joseph Gibson. Best World Garden was awarded to Alan Rudden for ‘Santa Rita: Living La Vida 120 Garden’ (Gold).
The high standards in the Floral Marquee saw a total of 54 Gold Medals awarded. The prestigious Best Exhibit in the Floral Marquee went to Roualeyn Fuchsias (Gold). David Austin Roses were awarded Best Rose Exhibit (pictured above) – www.davidaustinroses.com – and Gold and Best Plant Heritage Exhibit was awarded to Allium National Collection (Gold). Best Dig In Exhibit went to Pennard Plants (Gold) and Master Grower was Hampshire Carnivorous Plants. Congratulations also go to Lauren Easter who was named RHS Future Florist of the Year. Somerset Postal Flowers was awarded Best Exhibit in the Floral Design Studio.
In the Flower and Vegetable Box category, the ‘Herbs and Preserves Garden – An Ode to Antiquity’, was awarded best in category for their flower box celebrating the ancient tradition of flavouring and preserving food with herbs. Plenty to inspire today’s population to address food waste here.
There was a lot of interest in Rose McMonigall’s ‘Rias de Galicia: A Garden at the End of the Earth‘ (Silver) depicting the breath-taking Atlantic coast of north-west Spain. Visitors were transported to a small cover, sheltered by two coastal pine trees with a path winding up from the beach to a traditional weather-beaten fisherman’s cottage. The garden, sponsored by the Spanish Tourist Office had some very special visitors members of the BBC’s Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago cast, Neil Morrissey, Raphael Rowe and the Reverend Kate Bottley, came to officially open the garden (see above and below).
With splendid weather and an amazing variety of gardens and exhibits the 2018 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show was yet another brilliant success.
All photographs strictly copyright: banner ©RHS/Luke MacGregory (feature on The Style & Design Garden, designed by Ula Maria); Best of Both Worlds images ©RHS/Joanna Kossak; ©David Austin Roses; The Road to Santiago cast ©Spanish Tourist Office; ‘Rias de Galicia’ ©RHS/Joanna Kossak.
