Five-time Bloom gold medal-winning garden designer Alan Rudden from Castleknock is creating one of the 31 show gardens which will feature at the prestigious RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in Surrey next week. Alan will be the only Irish garden designer included in what is the world’s largest annual flower show, stretching over 34 acres flanking both sides of the Long Water at Hampton Court Palace.
Alan is a Dublin-based garden and landscape designer who has designed numerous award-winning gardens, most recently achieving five Gold Medals at Bloom, including the coveted ‘Best In Show’ and ‘Best Show Planting’ prizes. Alan is also the founder of Outside Options Ltd, a company specialising in the creation of high-end quality private gardens.
Speaking about the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, Alan Rudden said, “I am honoured to have the opportunity to feature alongside some of the UK’s top garden designers at this hugely celebrated and respected flower show. The location is truly stunning, not to mention the really high standard of garden design which is apparent. I am excited to be able to represent Ireland’s horticultural industry in such a prominent setting and to gain inspiration for future projects from some of the stunning show gardens on show.”
The Garden
Alan’s ‘Santa Rita Living La Vida 120’ garden was inspired by the colours and terroir of the countryside which surrounds the Santa Rita vineyards in Central Chile which Alan recently visited with his sponsor. The garden is a contemporary space that blends arid and Mediterranean planting with strong architectural forms.
The planting scheme features plants that thrive in Chile but can also withstand the Irish and UK climate, with the exception of a small number of key plants such as various cacti. Key plants include multi-stemmed Arbutus unedo trees, Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’ (Japanese mock orange) and Agave americana (American aloe).
Hard elements are made up of earthy raw materials, with the addition of a steel wall that cuts through the garden, adding a punch of oxide yellow. The garden has been designed to provide a tranquil, secluded and beautiful space; the perfect place to sit back, relax, enjoy a moment with loved ones, pour a glass of wine and live ‘La Vida 120’.
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show
The RHS Hampton Court Flower Show runs from 2nd – 8th July 2018. The show is attended by an average of 140,000 people each year. For 2018 it will feature 31 gardens in six categories including Gardens for a Changing World; World Gardens; Conceptual Gardens; Lifestyle Gardens; Feature Gardens and Show Gardens. Alan’s garden will compete in the World Gardens category and medals will be announced on the opening day of the event.
