Thinking about our next show garden...

As the warm weather creeps up on us like a child waiting to go 'boo' to a grand parent, our thoughts turn more towards the summer and the challenge ahead of getting our show garden ready for Sandringham. I don't know what it is but just as I feel the warmth of Spring, it somehow kick starts memories of summer projects passed and in particular to that magical week in July 2008 when our little Fen Ben courtyard garden sprinkled a bit of nostalgia over the visitors of Sandringham Flower Show. It was the first time I had ever been involved in a show garden and I loved every minute of it. The nerves, the adrenaline... the heatstroke - it all mingles together like an expensive perfume that seems to be born again when I smell those first warm breezes of Spring.We all put our hearts and souls into that garden - we fell in love with Fen Ben's story and it was lovely to see the looks on people's faces at the show that told us that they had fallen for him too. So amazed were we at the response from the garden that straight after the show we re-designed it adding even more to the theme and creating a rather complex planting scheme before racing to the post so as not to miss the RHS Chelsea Flower Show entry deadline. To our amazement the garden (now titled 'The Fenland Alchemist Garden' ) was accepted and our nine month journey began! By the time the garden got to Chelsea it had had eighteen months of love and attention lavished on it. Every spare minute of our time was taken up with thoughts of that garden - prop finding - plant finding - swinging from doubt to confidence and back again - a perpetual emotional yo-yo which culminated in a Gold medal sprinkled with the embarrassed, shocked and happy tears of over tired designers and builders...And now as I write this we have nearly come full circle. In less than four months we will be building a garden at Sandringham again - this time in the Royal Marqee! We can hardly believe it! Now the hard work really begins - we have the theme - we have the design - now is the time for sourcing materials and plants and for the Sandringham spell to work its magic again. :Fen Ben's Garden Sandringham 2008

The Fenland Alchemist Garden Chelsea 2009

★
★
★
★
★
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • Fantastic garden - you can see the attention to detail in every inch
  • We really liked your garden at Chelsea last year and you thoroughly deserved your medal. The detail was fantastic.

    We might try and get to Sandringham this year as we've never been. If we do we'll look you up and Shadow of course.


    Simon @ The Perfumed Garden
  • I posted a comment on here earlier that seems to have disapeared.
    This garden is absolutely spot on and I think it could well be that of a local now departed folk hero, Dennis of Grunty Fen, it coud be his eel trap and bike.
    Well done.
  • Thanks folks! Arh yes Dennis of Grunty Fen - you're onto us Phil - he was indeed part of the inspiration behind the garden - the eel traps were kindly lent to us by another Fenland hero - Peter the Eel man and the bike is from Paula (our financial controller's) garage - left behind by a gardener who was a Fen tiger himself.
    Be great to see you Simon if you get to Sandringham - its a lovely show!

    Thanks again for your lovely comments - Jane xx
  • No wonder I couldn't find my comment I had posted it on the video, well worth a look for anyone who hasn't seen it..
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Piers Dixon replied to Piers Dixon's discussion Advertising garden maintenance services
"Thanks for your response. Have you actually tried this??"
16 hours ago
trimmora updated their profile
17 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
After 26 years at Radley College, Adam King has seen grounds management evolve dramatically. Weather patterns have become less predictable, playing surfaces are under greater pressure than ever, and flexibility has become one of the most valuable…
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
GroundsFest has welcomed Christina Walker to its sales team as preparations continue for the 2027 exhibition.Christina joins the award-winning team with an extensive background in publishing and exhibitions spanning more than two decades. She began…
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
When freezing temperatures threaten the pitches at Forest Green Rovers FC, speed is everything. Protecting the stadium and training ground with frost covers can be a race against the weather, but thanks to Kress battery-powered blowers, the club's…
Thursday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
The GroundsFest Academy has confirmed TLS as its newest Platinum Sponsor, adding further industry strength to the Academy's range of sponsors and partners as it continues to expand its training offering for the groundscare sector. The sponsorship…
Thursday
Peter sellers replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi William, I would avoid working as a sub contractor if you can. Yes they will not pay a realistic rate as they will try to keep their profit as high as poss, in my experience getting paid was always an issue. We had a long and profitable…"
Wednesday
Billybop replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Thanks William, yes a bit like being a retained fire fighter I suppose. Monthly payments for a 12 month contract, knowing that worst case scenario only 6 months or so might require visits. Which could be very few and far between, or more numerous…"
Wednesday
William Baker replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi Richard, thank you for your reply. I've not approached either of these companies as yet, would you suggest Outco and Nurture are good companies to contact, and do you have any experience with either?"
Tuesday
William Baker replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi Peter, thank you very much for such a detailed response, and I'm sorry to hear of your ill health, I do hope you are well. Both of my existing clients that I'm looking to bring on board should be manageable, so they can hopefully help me to dip…"
Tuesday
William Baker replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi Billy, that's a really good idea, even if the contracts are a mix of 'subsciption' and ad-hoc, it at least covers the expense in a worst case scenario. "
Tuesday
Billybop replied to Rob's discussion Best professional battery hedge trimmer at present?
"Hi Tim i wear basic disposable ear plugs with either model if using for any extended period... not so much the volume per se, but it takes the edge off that irritating metallic sound... I think these are being sold for below cost, but heart warming…"
Tuesday
Tim Wallach replied to Rob's discussion Best professional battery hedge trimmer at present?
"My 130T arrived and was tested today.   It certainly runs fast...the high motor noise is slightly irritating compared to the rumble of the 130R though.  I've got used to working without ear defenders.    Planet tool owe you a finders fee."
Tuesday
Matt updated their profile
Nov 1
Matt posted a discussion
Morning all,I’m Matt from That Pond Guy, a specialist pond maintenance company based in Burham, Kent. I’ve just joined LJN and thought I’d introduce myself.We cover Kent, London and the wider South East, looking after everything from garden wildlife…
Nov 1
Matt is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
Nov 1
More…