RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – Garden #1

ATHANASIA Designed by David Sarton

This beautiful little show garden was my favourite in the show this year. Largely reminiscent of our own garden, it’s a woodland garden offering a calming retreat from the turmoil of modern life.

Athanasia is a place for reflection, rest and a celebration of the beauty of nature. It is a serene garden that offers a moment of tranquility, as well as hope for the future.

The design was inspired by the sudden death of Emma Peios in 2012 from leukaemia. Amongst other things, Emma was a founder member of the Professional Garden Photographers’ Association (PGP).

What struck me most about this garden was its simplicity. Just five wooden, seating blocks are nestled snugly within the garden, offering the visitor an intimate view of the exquisite woodland planting. This planting comprises:

Acer campestre
Amelanchier lamarckii
Asplenium scoloprendrium
Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata’
Actaea simplex
Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’
Astrantia major
Brunnera macrophylla
Digitalis parviflora (probably the most used plant in the snow this year)
Epimediums
Geraniums
Tiarella wherryi

A well observed, understated and truly beautiful garden.

For more information go to http://www.weald-design.co.uk

Author: Mike the Gardener

Freelance gardening writer, consultant and designer. Mike Palmer is a passionate and professional plantsman, offering services in garden writing, consultancy and garden design. Mike is also available for garden and plant related talks and presentations. Mike has been a professional horticulturalist for over fifteen years. View all posts by Mike the Gardener