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Spirals of Broken Glass (Hampton Court Flower Show 1999)

© Jane Hollis

Hampton Court Flower Show is rather different from the renowned Chelsea Flower Show. The venue is on a much larger scale so, although it is still busy, it is not as crowded as at Chelsea. Exhibitors are also allowed to sell plants throughout the show, where as at Chelsea they can only sell the contents of their display after the final bell on Friday afternoon. Another difference is that many of the show gardens are designed to be walked through by the public, rather than viewed over a barrier.

The two most noticeable trends in the show gardens this year were the use of spirals as a motif, and the use of glass gravel as a surface or mulch. (Glass gravel is small pieces of broken glass, tumbled to remove all sharp edges). A combination of the two appeared in the Still Water & Dreams garden (left) (created by the Anglo Aquarian Plant Co) - a small pool fashioned out of blue-green glass fragments with a spiral of white glass fragments formed on the base of the pool.

The Garden of the Flower Fairies used spirals in two different ways. The first was a pool (right) similar to the above, but the pool was lined with dark pebbles, with a spiral of pale pebbles. The second was a spiralling thyme path edged, again, with pale pebbles (left).

Yet another glass gravel spiral (left) appeared in the Metropolitan Police's Safe Haven garden. This garden was designed to demonstrate how beauty, nature and security can co-ist in complete harmony.

The oriental art of Feng Shui is the latest trend in home and garden design, hence the Feng Shui garden by Pamela Woods of Sacred Gardens (right). The gravel path running through the garden is to allow the Chi (or energy) to flow freely, whilst the concept of Yin and Yang is used to crate a balance between the opposites of bright and muted colours, rough gravel and soft vegetation, etc. Different parts of the garden relate to different parts of the human journey - for example, there is a statue in the area of 'relationships' with two people in a state of receptivity.

In the various marquees, a wide variety of nurseries were exhibiting their plants. If I had to choose a favourite it would be Border Alpines who stand demonstrated how alpine plants can be integrated in an attractive patio or terrace design (left).

The copyright of the article Spirals of Broken Glass (Hampton Court Flower Show 1999) in English Country Gardening is owned by Jane Hollis. Permission to republish Spirals of Broken Glass (Hampton Court Flower Show 1999) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.