Mark’s ‘Supergarden’ design takes top prize
THERE were celebrations in Julianstown last week, as local man Mark Hoey was crowned winner of RTE’s Supergarden.
The Smithstown man may have replanted himself in Cork with his family in recent years, but his family and friends back in Co Meath are still claiming victory for the county!
“I had hoped from the start I would have a chance of winning, but the standard was very high this year, and nothing was certain,” says Mark, who now lives in Midleton with his wife Emma and daughter Bella (2). “But it was lovely to win and even though I will have to wait until next year to recreate the garden at Bloom 2021, it’s no harm, as it was quite stressful completing it, and now I have more time, and will get a second year out of my reign.”
Although not formally educated as a horticulturist, Mark has learned from the best, as he began working as a landscape gardener with previous Bloom champion Andrew Dunne from Clogherhead.
“I started with Andrew when I was 18, and he has been an amazing mentor to me, not only for the nine years I was with him, but in the years since,” he explains. “There has been a lot of interest in my work since I won, and I think I’ll be flat out now, which is great.”
The show finished recording in March, just shortly before the lockdown, which means Mark has known for months that he won.
“It was so hard to keep it under wraps, and I couldn’t even tell my family,” says Mark, whose mum and dad Paddy and
Bernie Hoey live in Smithstown, and sister Laura is in Drogheda. “My father-in-law, dad and brother-in-law were a great help to me and I have to thank them for all they’ve done too.”
‘Reflections’, was inspired by a sudden death in his family, and Mark wanted to create a sanctuary space with a focus on mental health.
“There have been issues over the past while which have affected my family and me, and I wanted to create a calming space, where you can put things into perspective,” explains Mark. “I think people have taken time now to us their gardens more and hopefully entertain a little more at home now too.”
Mark’s company is called Green Ideas and can be contacted on Facebook or Instagram at that name.