Philip
took part in the 2002 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with a garden in the
'chic' category called Flow Glow.
Generously sponsored by A-Z Restaurants (Aubergine, L'Oranger, Rosmarino,
Spiga, Zafferano etc) the garden's brief was to be "bold and
controversial" and to incorporate new ideas, modern materials
and imaginative design.
The concept
challenged the convention that contemporary ('chic') design had to
be hard-edged or minimal. In contrast, Flow
Glow used curves and flowing lines incorporating unusual
materials - rubber flooring, a perspex pool, neon lighting (many gardens
are used as evening entertaining spaces) and dry stone walling in
metal gabions.
The
garden also featured two illuminated Boo! stools
which doubled as tables and a stylish ferro-concrete sculpture from
New Zealand.
The lush
planting incorporated ferns (Polystichum setiferum and Asplenium
trichomanes) in the wall and the bold use of oranges and purples
such as Geum 'Borisii', Euphorbia palustris, Geranium
psilostemon, Gladiolus communis, Osteospermum 'Stardust',
Papaver rupifragm 'Double Tangerine Gem' and Trollius
x cultorum 'Orange Princess'.
The dry-stone
wall was built in three days - relatively easily as the stone blocks
were contained in the metal gabions which gave structure and support
to the wall. Five copper pipes were included so water could trickle
into the pool below.
