SMALL GARDENS
Solus Light Bulb “Inspired by Ireland” Garden
SPONSOR: Solus Light Bulbs DESIGNER: Alan Rudden E: design@alanrudden.ie W: www.alanrudden.ie This design examines Solus’s Irish heritage. It creates an innovative space, contemporary in style that represent both rural and urban Ireland. “Inspired by Ireland” combines indigenous flora, local materials and architectural form to create a really unique Irish-inspired show garden.
The Designer’s Back Yard
SPONSOR: Mount Venus Nursery DESIGNER: Liat and Oliver Schurmann Company: Mount Venus Nursery E: mountvenusnursery@gmail.com The Designer’s Back Yard is a small garden in a built up urban environment that provides a habitat for many different plant species as well as the garden designer himself. This is his retreat, where he can enjoy sitting in the midst of his plants, or stare out from the office at them, finding inspiration as he draws up new plans. The surplus materials and ornaments from his work are arranged throughout the garden.
Various design effects make the garden seem much larger. There is a sunken area, a water channel with reflective qualities, a subtle water cascade and a small narrow stream. Plants are arranged vertically, some with transparent qualities. A factory window glassed with mirrors is mounted on the rear wall, reflecting the vegetation, while the visitor observes the garden though various windows, each framing a view inside.
The Tao of Now
SPONSOR: Eight Oaks Holistic DESIGNER: Fiann Ó Nualláin Company: The Holistic Gardener W: theholisticgardener.com E: theholisticgardener@gmail.com “The Tao of Now’ is a garden built upon the foundations of mindfulness and therapeutic horticulture. In a very aesthetic format, it offers a contemplative or respite space that can be easily copied and transferred to an urban community garden, hospice, hospital, health centre, school, college, or even a workspace courtyard. We all need a little time out now and then, and the latest research is proving that sitting in a well-designed garden dramatically reduces stress. The garden is premised upon green healing – the use of predominantly green foliage plants to cause a relaxation effect upon the user of the space. The prime structure of the garden is a sculptural seating platform in the form of a Gyan Mudra – the yogic and meditational hand gesture that represents unity between the self and divine consciousness and which is also the symbol of wisdom. In a hectic world, and a busy 10th anniversary Bloom extravaganza, ‘The Tao of Now’ is a space to find some peace and wellbeing.
Bullets and Boiled Sweets - 1916 Commemoration Garden
SPONSORS: Bord Bia, Irish Independent, Dublin City Council DESIGNER Fiann Ó Nualláin Company: The Holistic Gardener W: theholisticgardener.com E: theholisticgardener@gmail.com The Irish Independent in conjunction with Bord Bia has offered readers the chance to help design the 1916 Commemoration Garden, by submitting a reflection on the events of Easter Week. Previous Bloom Gold medallist Fiann Ó Nualláin has brought to life the winning concept, “Rising Reflections” by Jacinta Sullivan.
“The shooting continued and the dusty smoke and pink flames rose in expanding pockets as we sneaked along the alleyways and skulked along the wall bases, trying to get as near as possible to the action. Still, we changed tracks and raced quickly towards Ryan’s sweetshop, having heard that there were bullseyes and gobstoppers and sweeties we could only dream of, for the taking.”
The garden recreates a street with authentic Dublin cobbles and a barricade of period furniture and paraphernalia. The planting that surrounds the street scene is a kaleidoscope of colourful and brash plants - echoing the riotous eruption of rebellion, but also the excitement of poverty-stricken children braving the crossfire to steal a sweet.
The poignancy of the stories of children who lived through Easter 1916 is shown in the cobbles, which are strewn with bullet casings and boiled sweets. Combining theatre set and living history, the garden invites us to ask if the promise of the Proclamation to “cherish all the children of the nation equally” has been fulfilled.