Monday 23 May 2016

Chelsea Flower Show: Maths, medicine and 'a little madness'

Display of crocheted poppies at Chelsea Flower ShowImage copyrightPA
Image captionAt this year's Chelsea Flower Show, a field of almost 300,000 crocheted poppies pays tribute to those who have served in war
Garden designers and their teams stood proud and nervous as the judges began their rounds at the Chelsea Flower Show.
If they needed a little calm, the gardens they have created - many on themes of peace and tranquillity - could have provided it.
Jekka McVicar, who designed A Modern Apothecary for St John's Hospice, says the garden is about health and wellbeing.
Everything in it - from rosemary and fennel to the sound of running water - can be good for body and mind, she says.
She spoke to doctors, carers and artists before creating the garden, which is about the "power of plants".
Also focusing on health and healing is Paul Martin, creator of The Garden of Mindful Living for Vestra Wealth.
It is intended as a calm space for mindfulness and wellness in a busy city life, with soft colours that are "not jarring on the eyes".
There is plenty of green - a colour Mr Martin says has proven calming effects on children with ADHD.

'Colourful tapestry'

Matthew Wilson designed God's Own Country - A Garden for Yorkshire based on inspiration from York Minster's East Window, which is the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in Britain.
"Trying to get something of that scale and presence and sheer power in a Chelsea garden is an interesting challenge," he says.
He says he set about "deconstructing" all elements on the window's design and "putting them back together in a different order" in the garden, which is sponsored by Welcome to Yorkshire.
As well as a "colourful tapestry" of planting, there is an arch laid on its side containing benches which point towards a "very calm, small cloister garden".
Chelsea Flower Show: Welcome to Yorkshire - God's Own Country - A Garden for YorkshireImage copyrightPA
Image captionMatthew Wilson's Yorkshire garden contains a "contemplative area"
Nick Bailey, designer of The Winton Capital Beauty of Mathematics Garden, says the concept is about "subtly highlighting the mathematics that underpins everything".
"No matter how wild something looks it's actually driven by algorithms and equations," he says.
A copper band runs through the garden, and on it are equations for processes including photosynthesis and cellular expansion.
Diarmuid Gavin, who designed the Harrods British Eccentrics garden, says he mixed traditional themes with "a little bit of madness".
Diarmuid Gavin's garden at the 2016 Chelsea Flower ShowImage copyrightGRAHAM EVA
Image captionThe trees on either side of the path in Diarmuid Gavin's garden spin every 15 minutes
As well as "fireworks" of brightly-coloured plants among more traditional planting, every 15 minutes the trees and one of the borders rotate and some bob up and down.
"I like to have a bit of fun and try something new," he explains.