SILVER FLORA
The LK Bennett Garden by Rachel de Thame

Rachel's garden lived up to her promise to her sponsors, reflecting the bold blowsy prints of this year's clothes and fabric fashions. Sumptuous David Austin roses, including 'Munstead Wood', 'Wisley' and Chelsea's very own 'Alan Titchmarsh' mingle with astrantias, Geranium phaem, and irises (the “must-have” plants of the show, and so easy to grow) on the raised beds behind the seating area. The ensemble of pink planting, curved dusky pink wall, cantilevered bench, and stone spheres works really well, but to my eyes the garden just seemed too small for the sculpture and tiny pool squeezed in at the front. A larger plot would have suited the design better, and perhaps Rachel will expand her horizons next year and go for a bigger space.

Weary from planting late into Sunday night, Rachel still managed to look stunning on Monday morning in a crisp white suit, smiling for the paparazzi at her photo call. The only hint of hard graft were her dirty fingernails, a true sign of the die-hard gardener. “I'm very happy with the garden and really pleased with my sculptural structure,” she says. “But I'm most keen to hear what my husband thinks; he always tells me the truth.” I am not sure what he did say but Rachel's garden is sure to catch the public's eye.

ZIA ALLAWAY

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