Garden designer and founder of Outside Options, Alan Rudden received a gold medal for his Life is Rosé by Santa Rita ‘Living la Vida 120’ garden at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show which ran from 3-8 July. Only seven gold medals were awarded out of a total of 31 gardens exhibiting at what is the world’s largest annual flower show. Alan was the only Irish garden designer to exhibit at the show and the only recipient of a gold medal in the world gardens category. He told HC, “I am really thrilled to have received a gold. It has been a lot of hard work, in intense heat, to get the garden built to the standard expected at a show like this. There are some truly stunning gardens here, and for ours to be classed
among the top is a huge honour.”
Another success on the international circuit was for Billy Alexander, who won a silver gilt medal at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show. The garden showcased a collection of ferns grown at Billy and his wife Penn’s nursery, Kells Bay House and Gardens in Kerry. HC spoke to Billy when he exhibited at this year’s Bloom in the Park. “It was an amazing experience to exhibit at Chelsea. The medal win was very much welcome, but what feeds and nurtures me as a designer and nurseryman is the reaction from visitors to the exhibit. Also, we set out to bring this underutilised range of plants to a bigger audience and I can happily say that we achieved that.” Also active on the international scene, selected by a jury to represent the North and South of Ireland in the Jardins de la Paix, were Ian Price and Peter Donegan. Launching in October 2018, this summer will see the start of the build of the Jardins de la Paix (Gardens of Peace), a series of perennial gardens on the theme of peace in the Hauts-de-France region which will pay tribute to the countless deaths on French soil between 1914 and 1918, and bear witness to the number and diversity of the countries involved in this conflict. The pair will create a garden at the Château de Péronne, Historial de la Grande Guerre in the Somme region of Northern France. With two stays already completed, Donegan and Price will next take up a residency in the Somme region, to see the gardens’ designs and construction to completion.
HC ASKED GARY GRAHAM OF BORD BIA TO COMMENT ON THE INCREASING SUCCESS OF IRISH DESIGNERS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
“Alan Rudden’s performance at Hampton Court this week and Billy Alexander’s performance at the Chelsea Flower Show in May reinforce my long-held view that when it comes to garden design and horticultural prowess, the Irish can compete (and win) with the best in the world. It was this firm belief that gave me the confidence to seek support for the creation of Bloom back in 2007 so that the Irish public could experience and enjoy these Irish masterpieces up close and personal at an Irish garden show.
Designers like Diarmuid Gavin, Paul Martin, Elma Fenton, Mary Reynolds and the Schurmann’s (who gave up Germany for Ireland) have clearly demonstrated our ability to shine at international level. JJ Costin’s garden at Expo 1991 in Osaka Japan was an early indication of what was possible. Gold medals achieved by Frazer McDonagh and James Comiskey at RHS Tatton Park are further demonstrations of the Irish skill set. Orla and Paul Woods gold-winning display at Chelsea in 2006 provided the impetus for the development of Bloom’s nursery and floral pavilion. Paul Martin deserves a second mention here, for his Singapore achievements. I may be missing other names from the long list of luminaries who should be mentioned and for that, I apologise.
I was struck by a number of facts at Hampton Court this week. RHS judges, major exhibitors, journalists, top British garden designers and contractors all speaking of Bloom in glowing terms and of equal standing with the top RHS shows. While constantly striving to innovate and improve, Bloom has come a long way in its first 12 years. Alan’s mammoth achievements in scoring a gold at Bloom and gold and best in the show (world category) at Hampton within weeks of each other set him apart from all other garden designers working on both sides of the Irish Sea this year. Not only was Alan’s garden a best in category winner, he was also awarded the special RHS Tudor Rose plaque, which is only awarded to the winners of two categories – Show Gardens and World Gardens. So not only is Alan a recipient of one of the seven gold medals awarded, he is, in effect, the joint winner of the overall best in the show at Hampton Court. Supported by Santa Rita, a committed and highly supportive sponsor, Alan and his team have done us all proud. On behalf of everyone in Bord Bia and all the Bloom garden designers who will recognise his huge achievement in 2018, well done to Alan Rudden!” ✽
