For the serious gardening fanatic, the Chelsea Flower Show is not a matter of life or death — it’s far more important than that. Chelsea is gardening’s World Cup, its Olympics and its Alamo, all rolled into one. This year is my 25th in attendance (I started going when I was very young), and I’m already excited and writing this with more haste than usual so I can get ready.

On just one weekend at the end of this month, more than 150,000 gardening and horticulture devotees will gather to view the brightest new ideas and varieties and to hob-nob with like-minded souls. In the process they’ll consume 6,500 bottles of champagne, 18,000 glasses of Pimm’s, 5,000 lobsters, 28,000 rounds of sandwiches, and 110,000 cups of tea and coffee.

It’s not just Damien Duff making the running for the Irish at Chelsea these days — Irish involvement has already created quite a stir at recent flower shows. Two years ago Mary Reynolds and her Celtic retreat garden won a gold, and last year Diarmuid Gavin took a silver for his fun Lotto garden of coloured steel balls. This year Ireland is again well represented, with two out of 19 of the prestigious show gardens — the highest honour in the horticultural world.

The inimitable Gavin will once again be exhibiting and his recent talk about getting back to gardening’s traditional roots will have the crowds straining to see what he comes up with.

Then there’s the entry of Elma Fenton, an Irish newcomer to Chelsea, who will be entering a garden entitled The Moat and Castle Eco-Garden. The go-getting thirtysomething from Athy has managed to battle her way through the fierce pre-show competition to reach final selection.

“What I believe makes my garden design really special is its focus on creating a completely environmentally sound landscape. Sustainability is key to the garden design: wildflowers mingle with meadowland and a home is created for wild birds and animals.

“I have used old apple trees to give the garden maturity,” she says. Fenton spent six months sourcing the right apple trees. Her original vision consisted of large, mature, romantic-looking trees but three months into the hunt she was rudely brought back to reality.

“I was lucky to source apple trees, maybe not quite as large as hoped for, but mature specimens all the same. These were saved from a building development and were lifted, potted and carefully re-established by a nursery who made them available to us.”

Another important feature of Fenton’s garden is water. She has incorporated water with a practical, unique twist — a natural, chlorine-free swimming pond. “The swimming pond is bordered by plants that organically

filter the water, leaving us to swim close to nature without the need for harmful chemicals,” she says.

One of the prime directives of recent shows is that gardens put a strong emphasis on eco-friendly design, construction and materials. Fenton’s garden conforms beautifully on this level. “Our garden is a simple ecological ‘cut and fill’ design,” she explains. “The earth excavated from the pond is used to make the landforms of the meadows behind. Even the hedgerow is reclaimed from building developments.”

Creating a garden for Chelsea usually takes years of planning. Fenton’s garden existed in her head for some time as she developed her ideas. Then came the actualisation process, starting with sourcing materials, labour and, of course, funding for the garden. At €110,000, this garden is considered one of the least expensive show gardens this year.

Gardens at Chelsea can cost in excess of €500,000. One of the most difficult parts of the whole project for Fenton was the sourcing of sponsorship and funding. Bord Bia stepped in early on, which was a great help, and many appeals were made within the Irish horticultural industry. Slowly but surely everything began to fall into place, but not before Fenton had had many sleepless nights.

“I now have a wonderful team of over 40 people, including many volunteers who have offered their services and time,” she says. “In many cases these volunteers are paying their own airfare and accommodation to be here with me, absorbing the atmosphere and excitement that everyone experiences at Chelsea.”

This garden could also have a life after Chelsea. Fenton explains: “There are several places already interested in giving this garden a home after the show comes to an end in May. Among those interested are hospices, a hospital, residential care units, educational institutions and other places in the local community where people in need can have access. Hopefully, the garden will live on, enhancing the environment and people’s lives.”

As Fenton sets off for London, she says she is experiencing mixed emotions: feelings of anticipation, excitement, worry about everything going well and, of course, a great sense of finally bringing everything to fruition.

“It does have diversity: a body of water organically filtered and a sculptured landform that creates garden microclimates for work, play, relaxation, sustenance and physical connection. I really would hope it can go on to take on a life of its own in people’s minds.”

The Chelsea Flower Show was set up in 1913 and has become synonymous with the very best in horticulture. Exhibitors come from all over the world. So from me to our two Irish hopefuls: “Give ’em hell, folks!”

The Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 24-28. For more details visit www.rhs.org.uk.



Dermot O’Neill’s articles are archived on his website, www.dermotoneill.com

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