Location

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024.

Brief

With a grant from the Royal Horticultural Society and the London College of Garden Design, I was briefed to create a show border which portrayed the theme, “All About Asteraceae: the plant family with flower power.” The border welcomed visitors entering the Festival via Hampton Court Palace.

Design

Taking inspiration from the flower power hippee movement of the 60s and 70s, I created ‘The Flower Power Field'.

The Flower Power Field was a tribute to the iconic Woodstock Festival - the home of flower power.  Held in the state of New York in the summer of 1969 and a symbol of the hippie era, the border represented an imaginary place to chill out between bands. A tepee was pitched amongst a field of kaleidoscopic Asteraceaes’ and ornamental grasses, which bask in the sun. Whether you’ve come to see Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin or The Who, make sure you’re wearing an Asteraceae garland, from the range hanging on the tepee. Amongst the asters, 60s and 70s hippie style signs stood proud, channelling the Woodstock spirit: ‘Flower Power’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’. Messages of universal harmony which of course, are still so poignant today.

Top Takeaway from the garden:

The garden aimed to remind us of the collective spirit of flower power. Be it through nature, music or art, from Woodstock to the current day, we call spread the peaceful message of flower power and help make the world a better place.

Response

I was blown away with the positive visitor reaction to The Flower Power Field, which was shared across Instagram. The garden also featured on BBC Gardens World RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival special, with presenter Arti Anderson.

Credits

Client: RHS & London College of Garden Design.

A massive thank you to:

Build Sponsors: Acacia Gardens

Artwork:  Katiemo London

Homeware Sponsor: Ella James

Size: 15m²

Duration: 2024

Status: Completed