City College Wins Silver Gilt at Hampton Court


From RHS Website

City College have won the Silver Gilt award at Hampton Court Flower Show. The tropical garden display, with plants provided by House of Plants is an exciting and delightful presentation of a relaxing garden of tropical plants.

This tropical garden has an Eastern feel and is inspired by the designers' travels, as well as TV horticulturist Chris Collins who gave a talk on exotics to students at City College of Brighton & Hove. The garden has a bamboo fence on three sides and other Eastern influences such as Indian stone urns, an Indian temple room and a Buddha's head statue, to create an air of contemplation and meditation. Antique stepping stones lead through the lush lawn to the temple room which is draped with rich fabrics and cushions.

The rear and sides of the garden are densely planted to display a wide variety of unusual, beautiful tropical plants from around the world. The temple room has plants climbing up it and trailing down from its roof. Innovative Paisley pattern beds of solenostemon (coleus) set in a lawn of lush soleirolia add vibrant colour at the front of the garden. Specimen plants include a Ficus microcarpa. The planting includes new varieties of solenostemon and the Solanum quitoense. All hard-landscaping materials are natural, recycled or sourced locally.

Both Beth and Julia are making their debut at this year's show while they continue studying horticulture at City College of Brighton & Hove. The college itself has an impressive track record at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show winning several RHS medals.

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