Chelsea Flower Show 2011 – Best Show Garden
Cleve West‘s elegant design for The Telegraph lyrically combined graceful, harmonious plantings and a hardscape tableau that grabbed the attention of the botanically inclined and savvy garden insiders, alike
Featuring contemporary concrete sculptural elements created by Serge Bottagisio and Agnes Decoux, West’s garden reflected the designer’s memories of ancient Roman ruins encountered at Ptolemais, Libya. The sunken layout – set off by a bright burnt gold wall with fountain and water rill – resulted in an enchanting, serene space.
Warm-hued Cotswold drystone walls and paved cobbled floor were alluringly, effectively minimal, while the softening effect of herbaceous flowering herbs – textural bronze fennel, yarrow, Anthriscus ‘Ravenswing’ -worked to perfection with perennial selections, including Acaena microphylla ‘Copper Carpet.’ Brilliant blooming parsnips cooperated by strutting their stuff ahead of schedule, along with a blaze of red Dianthus cruentus, serving to punctuate, bolster, and braid together plant medleys.
Cleve West’s beautifully composed design garnered Best Show Garden award for Chelsea 2011, adding Gold to The Daily Telegraph‘s efforts 3 years running.
Alice , thank you for the wonderful photographs.
The texture on the columns is alluring ! – looks with some kind of woven / braided textile imprint.
fantastic !
Alice:
I have been waiting patiently for your Chelsea postings, in particular this one! Cleve has certainly outdone himself with this smashing garden!
Are the gardens prepared just for the show? How much space does each group get?
Bom,
Show gardens are prepared specially for the period of the show. Space varies for each exhibit. Thanks for stopping by!