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England Controversial… crowd-pleaser: Irish Sky Garden designed by Diarmuid Gavin
On Press Day Monday, the so-called flying machine… a hanging eden, aka the ‘ Wonkavator’ dangled high above, a massive crane off to the side. The garden, which won ‘ Gold ,’ revealed an expansive, lush landscaped realm of reflecting pools playing off the dense greenery of plantings: An evocative layout that brought to mind the emerald countryside of Ireland. Not to be mistaken, the site proclaimed itself in no uncertain terms as the largest gardenscape ever to emerge at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
 Chelsea Irish Sky Garden Photo © Alice Joyce
Clipped boxwood, yew, and stately conical Carpinus contributed structure, allied with masses of exuberant grasses. Once the ‘pod’ touched down, in a bright punctuation of the space, the form appeared comfortably ensconced on the earthly plane.
 Irish Sky: Diarmuid Gavin, designer Photo © Alice Joyce
Note: Gavin drew inspiration for the project’s floating structure from Dublin animator Richie Baneham’s visual effects work in the film, Avatar.
Having wished to dazzle, designer Diarmuid Gavin achieved his goal. Captivated crowds were drawn to his ambitious, rather breathtakingly costly endeavor.
 Irish Sky clipped yew and box Photo © Alice Joyce If a garden show is meant to set one’s imagination afire, not necessarily with ideas to try out at home, then the over-the-top energy, the fantastical world of the Irish Sky Garden hit its mark.
 Opening Day: Chelsea Flower Show 2011 – Irish Sky Garden
England Chelsea Flower Show 2011 – Best Show Garden
 Cleve West Garden Design for The Telegraph (Photo © Alice Joyce) Cleve West‘s elegant design for The Telegraph lyrically combined graceful, harmonious plantings and a hardscape tableau that grabbed the attention of the botanically inclined and savvy garden insiders, alike
 Telegraph Garden - Sculpture by Bottagisio and Decoux (Photo © Alice Joyce) Featuring contemporary concrete sculptural elements created by Serge Bottagisio and Agnes Decoux, West’s garden reflected the designer’s memories of ancient Roman ruins encountered at Ptolemais, Libya. The sunken layout – set off by a bright burnt gold wall with fountain and water rill – resulted in an enchanting, serene space.
 Chelsea 2011: The Telegraph Garden Detail (Photo © Alice Joyce) Warm-hued Cotswold drystone walls and paved cobbled floor were alluringly, effectively minimal, while the softening effect of herbaceous flowering herbs – textural bronze fennel, yarrow, Anthriscus ‘Ravenswing’ -worked to perfection with perennial selections, including Acaena microphylla ‘Copper Carpet.’ Brilliant blooming parsnips cooperated by strutting their stuff ahead of schedule, along with a blaze of red Dianthus cruentus, serving to punctuate, bolster, and braid together plant medleys.
 Cleve West Design: The Telegraph Garden Photo © Alice Joyce Cleve West’s beautifully composed design garnered Best Show Garden award for Chelsea 2011, adding Gold to The Daily Telegraph‘s efforts 3 years running.
 Chelsea 2011 - The Telegraph Garden Water Feature Photo © Alice Joyce
England Chelsea Flower Show 2011
Having returned late yesterday from traveling in England – a trip that revolved around attendance at the Chelsea Flower Show’s Press Day, I lead off my first report, not with a controversial show garden, but rather, by offering a rare example of a heart-stopping moment: Certain to shine brightly in the constellation of countless garden sojourns.
 Kevock Meconopsis punicea Perhaps it goes without saying: Moments of pure magic are few and far between.
 Meconopsis punicea Certainly I was totally unprepared for the experience, which took place while roaming The Great Pavilion, hallowed site of much oohing and aahing over horticultural displays put together with impressive finesse in tandem with a keen, even lustful appreciation for plants from every corner of the garden realm.
And so, walking along past the Kevock Garden Plants display I stopped in my tracks at the sight of Meconopsis punicea, an alpine species grown in Scotland by Stella and David Rankin.
Kevock Garden Plants: Rare plants from around the World
Visit their web site: You’ll enjoy reading the story of the Rankins’ garden, plant nursery, and architecturally significant Modernist home. Look for photos of the garden along with details on ‘garden open’ visits through Scotland’s Garden Scheme.
Although it’s not likely you’ll find me traveling to wild high-altitude mountain environments, nor will I be able to cultivate such delicate beauties in my garden’s Mediterranean habitat, I have been enraptured by my encounter with this small-in-stature poppy. Akin to a memorable encounter with the heavenly blue poppy – Meconopsis grandis – at Portland’s Berry Botanic Garden, which has now, sadly, closed.
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Opening Day: Chelsea Flower Show 2011 – Irish Sky Garden
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