Andrew Duff previews Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2008

The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (8 – 13 July 2008) is a highlight in every garden lover’s calendar. The show falls into five categories - show gardens, water gardens, small gardens, conceptual gardens and inspiring spaces and takes place in the beautiful environs of Hampton Court.

Andrew Duff, Director at the Inchbald School of Garden Design, previews a selection of this year’s gardens which are of particular interest to him.

Duff comments, “There are a number of exciting gardens at RHS Hampton Court 2008 and this year’s show has two very clear messages - conservation and sustainability.

“I’m delighted to see Inchbald graduate Caragh Walsh take part. Caragh’s garden, Somnium Argentum, evokes a dream-like scenario which she sees appropriately sited in the grounds of a hotel, spa or spiritual retreat, symbolising an individual’s journey through life, where trees represent encounters and wonderfully original Perspex ladders weave in and out of the foliage. I anticipate that it will be a truly inspiring project.

“I’m also looking forward to the wonderfully named Burgbad Bathroom Garden which is inspired by the Temple grounds of South East Asia. Featuring a seductive spa and bathing pavilion surrounded by ferns and orchids, the garden is planted with the relatives of those plants that are crucially endangered or extinct in their native habitat.

“The Porsche Garden, a Piece of Green, looks at the plight of our disappearing front gardens, ingeniously creating a green space and a parking space which is both attractive to the home owner but also has ‘kerb appeal’, maximizing the potential of the space.

“Holiday Inn is looking at ways of improving our living space and making the most out of the smaller space by literally bringing the outdoors inside with their garden The Green Room; the garden seamlessly appears to move from outside to inside. The garden incorporates an innovative transitional area with a glass screen that can either be partitioned creating a safe haven or opened up to provide an inspirational space.

“Hampton Court would not be complete without its water gardens and Claudia De Yong’s garden is full of romance and charm, based on a Mediterranean style garden with sweet smelling plants in gently running water. This garden addresses the issue of climate change, as many of the plants will survive in increasingly warmer summers. The pool is rather rustically clad in stone and raised to draw the eye to the beautiful lilies floating within to create a calming and relaxing space.

“English Heritage Gardens have this year produced Nature Will Improvise, centered around an rustic structure, which allows nature to encroach in an organic, natural way creating a very soft look. It is also the perfect environment for insects, fungus and other plants to survive on the living wall. I am really excited by this structure as it has a multiple of uses, from a shady garden which many of us have, or any garden where sunlight is reduced and it also means that moisture is retained.

“The conceptual gardens are back and there are a number of ground-breaking gardens. The idea of this category, although hidden away in a corner of the showground, is to highlight new and up and coming garden designers. I recommend that anyone seeking out stars of the future takes time to fully explore this area.”