'Go Modern' garden is no flash in the pan

Approximately 150 porcelain toilets and other porcelain sanitary ware will be used to create the ‘Go Modern’ urban show garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show!

Award-winning gardener Jamie Dunstan, owner of Gardeners’ Boutique in Braithwell, is using the porcelain as an eco-friendly aggregate to utilise its light reflective qualities to enhance the stems of the silver birch trees used in his planting scheme.

“This year I wanted to really exhibit my design flair and use a variety of contrasting materials to create a contemporary and informal area to relax mirroring the current trend for more outdoor living spaces,” said Jamie. “The two tonnes of recycled porcelain sanitary ware, which equates to approximately 150 toilets, displays how more unusual materials can be successfully utilised alongside more traditional materials such as the Oak walkway which was sourced for its sustainable qualities.”

Other hard landscaping materials include a striking stainless steel structure which unites all elements of the garden and rusty planters and a beautiful wall made from reclaimed stone all of which provides a stunning backdrop for the Mediterranean planting scheme.

“As a small business it was especially important to either recycle what we have commissioned or use recycled products,” said Jamie. “The plants from the garden, which have all been grown at our nursery, will be either sold at the end of the show or will be brought back and all our hard landscaping materials will be re-used in gardens that I am designing. You may get a little of a Chelsea 2010 in your garden!”

RHS Chelsea Flower Show commences on 25th May and runs until 29th May. The ‘Go Modern’ garden can be found at Stand RHW45.