20 I http://www.thegardener.co.zaI took a while to find The Artisan Gardens,
which were situated a bit off the beaten track.
These gardens demonstrate new ways to design
gardens for different purposes, resulting in
quirky, bold and exciting creations.
The Family Monsters Garden,
designed by Alistair Bayford, won Gold and Best
on Show. This garden represents the pressures
facing family life today. Through a circular
design, the garden leads to a family space
where all can come together and reflect and
talk about the highlights of their day in a safe
space. The pool of clear water offers reflection
and perspective, and the large boulders
represent the obstacles that need to be
conquered. The trees surrounding the garden
shield from the outside forces and are symbolic
of generations of family members as they age.
Pinus nigra is symbolic of the older generation
within the family, and birch and hazel trees
signify the younger generations. Planting
represents the diversity of our families with
plants such as Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Munstead
White’, Aster divaricatus, Digitalis purpurea
‘Snow Thimble’, Iris sibirica ‘White Dwarf’
and Euphorbia amygdaloides (wood spurge).
Artisan Gardens
GOLD WINNERS
Birch and hazel trees create a refuge for families
who need to reconnect in nature. The vegetation
at different stages of growth represents children,
teenagers and young adults in a family unit.RHS CHELSEA 2019
GOLD
B
ES
T^ IN^ SHOW
GOLD