The RHS show was soon in full swing after a glorious spell
of sunny weather, and Tatton’s garden team were in high spirits having been
awarded a Silver Gilt for their entry ‘A flight of Fancy’.
Linking in with the Tatton Park Arts Biennial 2012,
the imaginative concept behind the garden design is that the last Baron
Egerton, who collected plants and garden styles from many continents, including
the famous Japanese Garden, sent plant material to other countries, including pea
and bean cultivators to his estate in Kenya. Combining his
passion for plants with his interests in exploration, early radio cars, and was
a pioneer aviator it helped launch our concept for the 1930’s style rocket, landing on a desolate planet where 1000’s
of seeds spill out onto the baron land and flourished into a mass of colour.
What went into the show...
The build took 2 weeks from start to finish, and much of the
garden’s features were grown or recycled from Tatton’s own gardens including 3-4
tonnes of the rocks and boulders that make up the Moongate!
Since we started growing the plant species in early May we
have nurtured them daily to ensure they are at their best for the show.
We have lots of varieties of plants and vegetables in the
garden this year ...see if you can spot them! They include pineapple plants from
Tatton’s very own Pineapple house! We also have bananas, cannas, runner beans
and cucumbers – all from our conservatory, and palms from our fernery...
...We even have a small rock pool which represents life on the
flourishing side of the garden.
Simon (far right) with
Head gardener Simon Tetlow (centre) and Bob Buckley (far left)
By Simon Kellet, Garden Team member
If you visited the show this year we would love to hear your
comments about your personal show highlights and your thoughts on Cheshire
East’s exhibit by the Tatton Garden team. Leave us your comments below!
For more info on Tatton Parks garden click here.