James Basson’s exhibition for Project Giving Back is less of a garden and more of an installation – the evolution of a Mediterranean landscape. Inspired by the ocher mines of the Luberon, where the mining of sandstone for its pigment has produced extraordinary landforms, the garden is planted with dry-loving species such as Cistus laurifolius And C. salvifolius, Thymus vulgaris And Lotus hirsutum below Pinus sylvestris. As our climate is predicted to remain equable Barcelona In 2030, these are the types of plants we find increasingly important.
Another notable trend in Chelsea this year is the mix of edible and ornamental plants in design-driven schemes. In the RHS King’s Foundation Garden, designer Frances Tophill mixes kale, lettuce, pak choi and herbs with roses, irises and other cottage garden plants to show how ornamental vegetable plants can be considered part of a planting scheme.
Another demonstration by Katerina Cantalis in the Balcony Garden section shows how fruit, vegetables and herbs can be successfully grown in pots in the smallest of plots. In the pavilion, two outstanding performances from the sea spring Seeds (chili peppers and tomatoes) and She Grows Veg (heirloom vegetables) also emphasize the fact that vegetables can be as decorative as they are delicious.
Water facilities
The inclusion of water has become almost de rigueur in Chelsea’s show gardens and one of the most striking water features is in Joe and Laura Carey’s garden, with tine-edged stone features to carry water from the top to the bottom of the garden. One of the most inspiring ideas comes from Baz Granger at Killick & Co Gardens, where a sunken pool and wetland area are cleverly hidden within a natural planting scheme. This central zone is designed to receive stored water from the pavilion through channels in a series of beams and pillars. Patrick Clark incorporates a series of rusted water tank features to pump water around the space: an idea that’s easy to recreate in any garden.
