My other favorite main exhibit gardens were Cleve West’s Brewin Dolphin Garden, for its strong symmetrical design incorporating truly wonderful stonework, water rills and balance of structural as well as naturalistic planting – this was sensational, and quite rightly won best in show.
Arne Maynard’s Laurent-Perrier Bicentenary Garden also won gold. I always LOVE his work (well, from all the articles I’ve read!), and again, a strong layout and bold structure, combined with a haze of romantic planting. This was the fave of my English girlfriends – they all wanted to transplant it immediately!
And this garden (which I felt would look very happy in Sydney): The Daily Telegraph Garden by Sarah Price. Slightly more contemporary in feel, but once again a spectacular use of stone, water and naturalistic planting.
Rocks, rills and weeds (or more correctly: stone, perennials, rushes & grasses!). For me, these were the three outstanding features of Chelsea’s gardens this year and I happily love them all.